Costs of Selling Land in Florida

Selling Costs in Florida: What to Know

Selling land in Florida comes with a few set costs. The biggest is the documentary stamp tax on the deed. Title insurance, recording fees and your share of property taxes come next.

This page lists each cost, who usually pays it, and the official rule behind it. A worked example shows the seller side on a $25,000 lot. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Florida documentary stamp tax on deeds

Florida charges documentary stamp tax when a deed is recorded. In 66 of 67 counties the rate is 70 cents per $100 of the price, or portion of $100. A $25,000 sale has 250 units of $100, so the tax is $175.

Miami-Dade County is different. The base rate is 60 cents per $100, plus a 45 cent surtax per $100. The surtax does not apply to a single-family dwelling, so a vacant lot pays both, or $1.05 per $100. See the Florida Department of Revenue.

• Most counties: $0.70 per $100
• Miami-Dade, single-family home: $0.60 per $100
• Miami-Dade, vacant land and other property: $0.60 + $0.45 surtax = $1.05 per $100

Who pays what by custom

Florida law makes every party to the deed liable for the documentary stamp tax, no matter what the contract says. In practice, the sales contract decides who pays it, and local custom varies by county.

The same is true for the owner's title insurance policy. The Florida CFO notes that the party who pays the premium gets the first choice of closing agent. Read your contract before you sign so you know which costs are yours.

Title insurance rates are set by the state

Florida sets title insurance premiums by rule, so every company charges the same base premium. For an owner's policy, the rate is $5.75 per $1,000 of coverage up to $100,000, with a $100 minimum. On a $25,000 sale, that is $143.75.

Title search, closing and settlement fees are not set by the state. They vary by company, so ask for a written quote.

Attorney or title company closing

Florida closings are handled by a title agent or a real estate attorney. Either can run the closing, issue the title policy and record the deed. An attorney can also give legal advice, which helps with estates, liens or unclear title.

Recording fees and property taxes

The county clerk charges $10 for the first page of a deed and $8.50 for each extra page, under section 28.24 and related fees. The buyer usually records the deed, but check your contract.

Florida property taxes are billed once a year in arrears. At closing, the year's taxes are usually prorated so each side pays for the days it owned the land. Any unpaid prior-year taxes are paid from the seller's proceeds.

Capital gains tax on land in Florida

Federal tax on the profit depends on how long you owned the land. Land held more than one year gives a long-term gain, taxed at 0%, 15% or 20% based on your income. For 2025, a single filer pays 0% on long-term gains if taxable income is $48,350 or less. Land held one year or less is taxed at your regular income rate. See IRS Topic 409.

Florida has no state personal income tax, so there is no state capital gains tax for individuals. This comes from the Florida Constitution. Inherited land often gets a stepped-up basis, which can lower the gain.

How selling to a cash buyer changes the costs

When you sell to EasyLotBuyer, we pay closing costs and you pay no fees or commissions. You get a cash offer within 24 hours, and we can close in as few as 7 days.

We buy land with back taxes, liens, title issues or no road access, and land held by heirs or estates. Back taxes are paid at closing from the sale, so you do not need cash up front. Taxes on your own profit stay your responsibility, so talk to a tax professional about capital gains.

Ready to see a number? Get a cash offer for your Florida land.