Bucks County Realty Transfer Tax Guide

Pennsylvania imposes a realty transfer tax on the sale or transfer of real property. The total rate in most of Bucks County is 2% of the property's value (1% state + 1% local), typically split equally between buyer and seller.

Key Exemptions (72 P.S. § 8102-C.3)

• Transfers between spouses
• Transfers between parent and child (including stepchildren since July 2, 2012)
• Transfers to or from a revocable trust where the grantor/beneficiary is the same person
• Transfers by will or intestacy
• Transfers to a surviving spouse from a decedent
• Certain transfers between family members for no or nominal consideration

The transfer tax statement of value must be filed with the deed at the Recorder of Deeds. Failure to properly claim an exemption or undervaluing property can result in additional tax, penalties, and interest.

The Common Level Ratio (CLR): What It Means for Your Transaction

Most people do not know this until it costs them money: the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue does not just accept the sale price on your deed at face value. It checks that price against the property's assessed value multiplied by the Common Level Ratio (CLR) factor for your county.

Bucks County's CLR Factor: 17.86 (July 2026 to June 2027)

Bucks County has one of the highest CLR factors in Pennsylvania. Its properties are assessed at a small fraction of their actual market value because the county has not done a reassessment in decades. The CLR factor bridges that gap.

A Worked Example

Say you are selling a property to a niece for $200,000, but the county's assessed value is $15,000. A niece is not on the exclusion list in 72 P.S. § 8102-C.3(6), so this sale is taxable, unlike a sale to a child or a sibling.

• Assessed Value: $15,000
• CLR Factor: 17.86
• Computed Fair Market Value: $15,000 × 17.86 = $267,900

A discounted sale to a relative is not a bona fide arm's-length transaction, because the parties are not dealing at arm's length with adverse economic interests and full knowledge of the value (61 Pa. Code § 91.131). The Department of Revenue will therefore calculate the 2% transfer tax on the computed value of $267,900, not on the $200,000 price (61 Pa. Code § 91.135). That is an extra $1,358 in transfer tax you did not expect.

CLR and Inheritance Tax

The CLR factor also applies on the Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Return (REV-1500). When reporting real estate on Schedule A, you must report the property at fair market value, not the assessed value. The Department of Revenue will compare your reported value against Assessed Value × CLR. If your reported value is significantly lower than the CLR-derived value without a supporting appraisal, expect a notice of deficiency and additional tax.

Practical tip: For any estate with real estate, get a date-of-death appraisal from a licensed appraiser. An appraisal costs $300 to $500, far less than the additional inheritance tax you will pay if the Department substitutes the CLR-derived value, which often overshoots actual market value. A professional appraisal is your best defense against an inflated assessment.

Bucks County Recorder of Deeds: 55 East Court Street, Doylestown, PA 18901. Phone: (215) 348-6209. The Recorder collects realty transfer tax at recording. Documents must meet specific formatting requirements or they will be rejected.

Facing a Bucks County deed transfer or a family transfer that may trigger the CLR? Marc Lynde can confirm the correct value, claim every exemption you qualify for, and prepare the deed and statement of value. Schedule a consultation or call (215) 949-0888.

Legal and factual content on this page was last verified: Aug. 2026. If you are reading this significantly after that date, confirm key provisions with current statute text or contact our office.