Virginia Closing Costs for Sellers in 2026: Transfer Tax, Fees and Real Numbers

Virginia has two deed taxes. The grantor’s tax is 50 cents per $500, paid by the seller unless the parties agree otherwise. The state recordation tax is 25 cents per $100, paid by the purchaser or designee, and localities add their own. Commission, loan payoff and prorated property taxes are the other main seller costs.

Virginia taxes the deed twice, and the seller’s piece is the grantor’s tax

Virginia does not use a single transfer tax. It uses two deed taxes with different payers, and a few localities add to them.

The grantor’s tax. Virginia Code section 58.1-802 imposes a tax of 50 cents for each $500 or fraction thereof when the consideration exceeds $100. The statute says the grantor, or any person who signs on the grantor’s behalf, pays it, and that the grantor and grantee may arrange for the grantee to pay all or a portion. For a seller, this is the tax that matters most.

The state recordation tax on deeds. Section 58.1-801 sets this at 25 cents on every $100 or fraction thereof of the consideration or the actual value of the property, whichever is greater. The City of Alexandria’s recordation tax page says the purchaser or designee pays the state and city taxes on deeds, and that the grantor pays the state and regional grantor taxes.

Tax	Rate	Who pays (per sources)
State grantor’s tax (Va. Code 58.1-802)	$0.50 per $500	Grantor (seller), unless the parties arrange otherwise
State recordation tax on deeds (Va. Code 58.1-801)	$0.25 per $100	Purchaser or designee (per City of Alexandria)
Local recordation tax (Alexandria example)	One-third of the state rate, $0.083 per $100	Purchaser or designee
Northern Virginia regional grantor tax (Alexandria example)	$0.10 per $100	Grantor

The last two rows come from the City of Alexandria and may differ elsewhere in Virginia. Ask the clerk of the circuit court where the property sits.

Worked example: a hypothetical $300,000 sale

Seller side (grantor’s tax)

$300,000 divided by $500 = 600 units
600 x $0.50 = $300

If the property is in a Northern Virginia locality with the regional grantor tax listed by the City of Alexandria

$300,000 divided by $100 = 3,000 units
3,000 x $0.10 = $300 regional tax
$300 + $300 = $600 seller-side deed taxes

Buyer side (state recordation tax)

3,000 x $0.25 = $750, plus any local recordation tax

Because the statute lets the parties agree otherwise, the contract can move some of this around. Read the closing cost clause and ask your title company what is customary locally.

The other costs a Virginia seller should plan for

Agent commission. Negotiable.
Mortgage payoff. Your balance plus interest through payoff.
Prorated property taxes. Settled at closing by your contract.
Title, escrow and settlement fees. These vary by company. Who pays each is set by your purchase contract.
Title insurance. We did not source a Virginia rate schedule, so ask your title company for a quote.
Repairs and credits. Whatever you agree to after inspection.

What this means if you flip or wholesale in Virginia

The grantor’s tax follows you as the seller. On a flip you pay it on your exit, and on your purchase you pay the recordation tax as the purchaser, assuming your contract follows the usual split in the sources above. A $200,000 purchase carries $500 of state recordation tax (2,000 x $0.25) before any local add-on, and a $300,000 exit carries $300 of state grantor’s tax (600 x $0.50), more in a locality that adds a regional grantor tax.

For wholesalers, an assignment usually means one deed from the original seller to your end buyer, with one set of deed taxes. A double close means two closings and two sets of costs. In the first, you are the purchaser and pay recordation tax. In the second, you are the grantor and owe the grantor’s tax. That is the whole point: a double close makes you both purchaser and grantor on one property, so it stacks both taxes. Whether an assignment fee changes the taxable consideration is a question for your title company.

For your maximum allowable offer:

Start from after-repair value and subtract repairs, holding costs, financing costs and your profit target.
Subtract commission and selling costs, including the grantor’s tax on your exit.
Subtract the recordation tax, state and local, on your purchase, plus title and escrow on each closing.

Run your numbers

Automize CRM has a free closing cost calculator for building these deed taxes into an offer.

This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. Confirm your exact figures with your title company or closing attorney.

Sources

Rates checked October 24, 2026. General information, not tax or legal advice.

Common questions

What is the grantor’s tax in Virginia?

Virginia Code section 58.1-802 imposes a tax of 50 cents for each $500 or fraction thereof when the consideration exceeds $100. It is paid by the grantor, meaning the seller, or whoever signs for the grantor. The statute adds that the grantor and grantee may arrange for the grantee to pay all or part of it.

How much is Virginia’s state recordation tax on a deed?

Section 58.1-801 of the Virginia Code sets the state recordation tax on deeds at 25 cents on every $100 or fraction thereof of the greater of the consideration or the actual value of the property. The City of Alexandria’s page says the purchaser or designee pays the state and city taxes on deeds.

Does Northern Virginia have an extra seller tax?

The City of Alexandria lists an additional Northern Virginia regional grantor tax of $0.10 per $100 on top of the state grantor’s tax, paid by the grantor. Other localities can differ, so ask the circuit court clerk or your title company which taxes apply to your property.

Do localities add their own recordation tax in Virginia?

Yes, in at least some localities. The City of Alexandria lists a local recordation tax of one-third of the state rate, or $0.083 per $100, paid by the purchaser or designee. Rates differ by locality, so check with the clerk of the circuit court where the property is located.