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Changes to Realty Transfer Tax Rules

Official:Amending Chapter 19-1700 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Finance, Taxes, and Collections," to amend excluded transactions to the realty transfer tax, all under certain terms and conditions.

Sponsor: Councilmember Gilmore Richardson

Introduced: January 22, 2026

Signed: March 19, 2026

: Committee on Finance

finance housinginheritancetaxation

Plain-Language Summary

This bill amends Philadelphia's realty transfer tax law to exclude certain transfers from taxes. Specifically, it removes a tax exemption for property passed down by inheritance if the decedent's primary residence has existing liens or encumbrances.

What This Bill Does

AI-written. Every figure is checked against the bill text.

Removes a tax exemption for property passed down by inheritance if the decedent's primary residence has existing liens or encumbrances.
The tax exemption is now limited to only transfers with no or nominal actual consideration, rather than all transfers by testate or intestate succession.
The definition of "actual consideration" is clarified to exclude liens or other encumbrances on the property existing before the transfer.
The bill's changes to the realty transfer tax law take effect immediately.