The Des Plaines transfer tax is $2 for every $1,000 of the sale price, and the seller pays it. On a $300,000 home, that comes to $600 owed to the city. The city won’t issue the transfer stamp — and without the stamp, the Cook County Recorder won’t record the deed — until every municipal balance tied to the property, including the final water bill, is paid in full.
What Sellers Actually Pay at Closing
Title 15, Chapter 7 of the Des Plaines Municipal Code sets the rate at $2 per $1,000 of consideration on any transfer of title or beneficial interest in property inside city limits.1City of Des Plaines. Real Estate Transfer Stamp and Refund Consideration means the cash paid plus any mortgage or lien balance the buyer assumes. Section 15-7-3 puts the liability on the seller.2American Legal Publishing. Des Plaines Code 15-7-3 – Liability for Tax That’s worth flagging, because plenty of Illinois municipalities either split the cost or push it to the buyer. Des Plaines does not.
The city tax isn’t the only one. Illinois charges $0.50 per $500 of value, which is $1 per $1,000.3Illinois General Assembly. 35 ILCS 200/31-10 Cook County adds $0.25 per $500, or $0.50 per $1,000. The state and county pieces are customarily paid by the seller as well. Stacked, that’s $3.50 per $1,000. A $300,000 sale looks like this:
- Des Plaines municipal tax: $600
- Cook County tax: $150
- Illinois state tax: $300
- Combined total: $1,050
How to Get the Transfer Stamp
Every transfer, taxable or exempt, needs a completed City of Des Plaines Real Estate Transfer Declaration. The form asks for the property’s Permanent Index Number, the full legal description from the current deed, the date the deed was signed, the total consideration, and signatures from both the seller and buyer or their authorized agents. Having the unsigned deed and the sales contract in front of you when you fill it out saves time.
Stamps are issued at City Hall, 1420 Miner Street, through the Finance Department, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Cash, certified checks, and credit cards are accepted. Allow at least five business days for processing; the city won’t hand over the stamp until it has verified that municipal balances are cleared and the paperwork is in order.4City of Des Plaines. Real Estate Transfer Stamp Application and Guidelines Once issued, the physical stamps are attached to the deed, which then goes to the Cook County Recorder.
Clear the Water Bill Before Closing
This is where closings get held up. Des Plaines requires all city fees, fines, and water balances to be paid in full before it issues any stamp, taxable or exempt.1City of Des Plaines. Real Estate Transfer Stamp and Refund The final utility amount is rolled into the transfer tax payment at closing.
Schedule a final water meter reading two to three business days before the closing date. If the property still has an older meter that hasn’t been upgraded to the Sensus system, call Public Works at 847-391-5464 to arrange both a final reading and a meter swap before the stamp can be issued. A completed Final Utility Bill Refund form is submitted to the Finance Department as part of the transfer paperwork.4City of Des Plaines. Real Estate Transfer Stamp Application and Guidelines Even exempt transfers that only change who is on title can trigger a requirement to settle the current water balance.
Exempt Transfers Still Need a Stamp
Section 15-7-7 lists the transfers that are exempt from the tax itself. The common ones include transfers to or from a government body or a charitable, religious, or educational organization; transactions where the total consideration is under $100; corrective deeds that fix a prior recording without new consideration; partitions among co-owners; instruments that secure or release a debt; deeds issued through foreclosure or in lieu of foreclosure; and transfers made under a corporate merger, consolidation, or reorganization plan.5American Legal Publishing. Des Plaines Code 15-7-7 – Exemptions
Moving property from individual name into a land trust or an LLC, without an actual sale, also qualifies. The city’s guidelines call out changes in the form of ownership specifically.4City of Des Plaines. Real Estate Transfer Stamp Application and Guidelines Family transfers for no consideration usually fall under the under-$100 exemption, and the declaration form asks you to state your relationship to the grantee when claiming it.
An exempt transaction still needs the city to mark the deed as exempt before the Recorder will accept it. To get the exemption stamp, submit a completed transfer declaration, the original deed, a certificate explaining which exemption applies, and a $10 processing fee.4City of Des Plaines. Real Estate Transfer Stamp Application and Guidelines Skip this step, even on a zero-dollar transfer between spouses, and the deed cannot be recorded.
Refunds if the Deal Falls Through
If a sale collapses after stamps are already purchased, Des Plaines will refund them, but the timing matters. Under Section 15-7-13, you have to notify the city of the failed transaction and return the unused stamps. Stamps returned within 90 days of purchase get a full refund. Between 90 and 180 days, half. After 180 days, nothing.6American Legal Publishing. Des Plaines Code 15-7-13 – Real Estate Transfer Tax Refunds If a deal is in limbo, return the stamps early to preserve the full window.
Penalties for Underpayment
Not paying the transfer tax, or underreporting the sale price to reduce it, exposes the seller to 1 percent interest per month on the unpaid amount, plus additional penalties. The city can also refuse to issue the stamp until the correct amount is paid, which blocks recording entirely. Because the declaration requires both parties to sign and attest to the consideration, misstating the sale price is a risk both sides carry.