Short answer
New Hampshire's transfer tax applies to sales, but RSA 78-B:2 lists exemptions. The most common ones for homeowners: a refinance or new mortgage (a mortgage isn't a transfer of the home), inheriting a home by will or from a joint owner who dies, transfers between spouses under a final divorce decree, transfer-on-death deeds with no payment, and deeds that only correct an earlier deed. A regular purchase is taxed, with both buyer and seller paying.
Do I pay transfer tax when I refinance?
No. A mortgage or other document that secures a debt is exempt, and so is a release of a mortgage. A refinance has other closing costs, such as a new lender's title policy and recording fees, but not the transfer tax. See when to refinance.
What about inheriting a home?
Transfers by will, by the laws that apply when there's no will, or to a surviving joint owner are exempt, even if the person receiving the home takes on a mortgage. So is a transfer under a transfer-on-death deed when nothing is paid. If one heir buys out the others, ask the estate's attorney how the tax applies; see buying out siblings on an inherited home.
Is a transfer in a divorce exempt?
A transfer between spouses under a final divorce decree is exempt. If you're refinancing to buy out a former spouse, see keeping the home after a divorce.
What other transfers are exempt?
- Deeds that only correct an earlier deed
- Transfers to the state, a town or other government body, or to the federal government
- Transfers with no payment when a business changes form, or between an entity and its owners, where the ownership stays the same
- Leases of less than 99 years
- Transfers that aren't made under a contract
Whether a specific transfer fits, such as adding a family member to a deed or moving a home into a trust, depends on the facts, so ask a real estate attorney or the NH Department of Revenue Administration.
How much is the tax on a purchase?
On a sale, the tax is $0.75 per $100 of the price, paid by both the buyer and the seller. The transfer tax calculator figures it for any price, and the closing cost guide shows where it fits in your cash to close.
Sources
Checked November 2, 2026. Rules and dates change, so confirm current details before you rely on them.
General information only, not tax or legal advice. Program availability, eligibility and terms vary by lender and are subject to change and to underwriting approval. Not a commitment to lend.