Short answer. Most home sellers in Suffolk County pay New York State transfer tax when a property is sold. The amount depends on the sale price and, in some cases, the town where the property is located. There is no single flat number, which is why this often causes confusion.
At the state level, New York charges a real estate transfer tax of four dollars for every one thousand dollars of the sale price. This equals four tenths of one percent. In most standard Suffolk County home sales under one million dollars, this is the primary transfer tax sellers should expect. It is typically paid by the seller at closing, not the buyer.
For homes that sell at one million dollars or more, New York also applies what is commonly called the mansion tax. This is an additional one percent of the sale price and is usually paid by the buyer, not the seller. This distinction matters, especially in higher price ranges, because it affects negotiations and net proceeds differently for each side.
In certain parts of Suffolk County, especially in some East End towns, there may be additional local transfer style taxes tied to community preservation funds. These are location specific and do not apply county wide. This is why two homes with the same sale price can have different total transfer costs depending on where they are located.
One of the biggest mistakes sellers make is assuming the transfer tax is the only cost to plan for. While it is an important line item, it sits alongside attorney fees, title charges, and other closing costs that together determine the final net number. Looking at any one cost in isolation rarely gives a clear picture.
Bottom line. Transfer tax in Suffolk County is straightforward once you know the sale price and the town, but it is not one size fits all. State tax applies to nearly all sales, mansion tax applies at higher prices, and local add ons depend on location.
If you want to know exactly what transfer taxes apply to your home and what that means for your net proceeds, tell me the town and the estimated sale price and I will walk you through it clearly.