Costs of Selling Land in Kansas
Here is what a land seller usually pays in this state, from transfer tax to capital gains. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs and you pay no fees or commissions.
- Cash offer in 24 hours
- No fees or commissions
- We pay closing costs
- Close in as few as 7 days
Seller Costs in Kansas at a Glance
| Cost | Typical amount | Who usually pays |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer tax | None. Kansas has no real estate transfer tax. | Not applicable |
| Sales validation questionnaire | Required to record a deed; not part of the public record | Grantor, grantee or agent completes it |
| Deed recording fee | $21 first page, $17 each added page (statute plus technology fees, as charged by Johnson County) | Usually buyer |
| Title search and owner's title insurance | Not set by state law; varies by company and price. Get a written quote. | Set by contract; local custom varies |
| Closing, settlement or attorney fee | Not set by state law; varies by title company. Get a quote. | Often split or set by contract |
| Prorated property taxes | Taxes owed up to the closing date. Any unpaid or delinquent taxes are paid from the sale at closing. | Seller for the time they owned the land; split by date in the contract |
| Federal capital gains tax | 0%, 15% or 20% on long-term gains (land held more than one year). For 2025 the 0% rate applies to single filers with taxable income up to $48,350. Short-term gains are taxed as ordinary income. | Seller (on your income tax return) |
| State income tax on the gain | 2025: 5.2% up to $23,000 single ($46,000 joint), 5.58% above | Seller (on your income tax return) |
Example: Seller Costs on a $25,000 Land Sale
- State or local transfer tax
- $0
- Total transfer tax
- $0
Kansas has no transfer tax, so the transfer tax on a $25,000 sale is $0. Recording is usually the buyer's cost. Title, closing fees, prorated property taxes and income tax are not included because they vary.
Selling Costs in Kansas: What to Know
Kansas does not charge a transfer tax on real estate, so the fixed government costs of selling land are low. Title, closing and income tax are the larger items.
This page lists each cost, who usually pays it, and where it comes from, with a worked example on a $25,000 lot.
No transfer tax, but a sales validation questionnaire
Kansas has no state or local real estate transfer tax. A deed cannot be recorded unless it comes with a completed Real Estate Sales Validation Questionnaire under K.S.A. 79-1437c. The grantor, the grantee or an agent can fill it out.
The register of deeds does not put the questionnaire in the public record. That is why Kansas is a non-disclosure state: sale prices are not public, and assessors use the questionnaires for their studies.
Recording the deed
Recording fees are set by K.S.A. 28-115. With required technology fees, county offices such as Johnson County charge $21 for the first page of a deed and $17 for each added page. The buyer usually pays to record the deed.
Who pays what by custom in Kansas
With no transfer tax, the main seller costs are the owner's title policy (often the seller's cost), a share of the closing fee, prorated property taxes and any commission. The buyer usually records the deed. Your contract controls.
Attorney or title company closing
Most Kansas sales close at a title company. Kansas does not require an attorney at every closing. Hire one if the title is unclear, the owner has died, or the deal has unusual terms.
Capital gains tax when you sell land in Kansas
Your gain is the sale price minus your basis. Basis is usually what you paid plus improvements and some purchase and sale costs. If you inherited the land, your basis is usually the value on the date of death, so the gain is often small.
If you owned the land for more than one year, the federal government taxes the gain at 0%, 15% or 20%, depending on your taxable income. For 2025 the 0% rate applies to single filers with taxable income up to $48,350. Land held one year or less is taxed as ordinary income. Higher earners can also owe the net investment income tax. See IRS Topic 409.
Kansas taxes a capital gain as part of your Kansas income. For 2025 the rates are 5.2% on the first $23,000 of taxable income for single filers ($46,000 married filing jointly) and 5.58% above that. See the Kansas 2025 income tax booklet.
The closing agent usually reports the sale to the IRS on Form 1099-S. Vacant land is reportable real estate. See the Form 1099-S instructions. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change, so confirm with the office named or a tax professional.
How selling to a cash buyer changes your costs
On a listed sale, the seller often pays an agent commission, part of the closing fee, the title policy and any transfer tax custom puts on the seller. Those costs come out of your proceeds.
When you sell your Kansas land to EasyLotBuyer, there are no fees or commissions and we pay the closing costs. We make a cash offer within 24 hours and can close in as few as 7 days. If the land has back taxes, they are paid at closing from the sale. Capital gains tax is still yours, because it depends on your own tax situation.
- No agent commission
- We pay closing costs
- Back taxes paid at closing from the sale
- We buy land with liens, title issues or no road access, and from heirs and estates
Sources
Rules and fees change; check with the county before you act on them.
Selling Cost Questions in Kansas
Does Kansas have a real estate transfer tax?
No. Kansas does not tax the transfer of real estate.
Why are Kansas land sale prices not public?
Kansas is a non-disclosure state. The sales validation questionnaire that reports the price is kept by the county and not filed in the public record.
How much does it cost to record a deed in Kansas?
County offices such as Johnson County charge $21 for the first page and $17 for each added page. The buyer usually pays.
Does Kansas tax capital gains on land?
Yes, as part of your Kansas income. For 2025 the rates are 5.2% and 5.58%.
Do I need an attorney to sell land in Kansas?
Not for every sale. Most close at a title company. An attorney helps with title problems or estates.
Can I sell Kansas land without paying closing costs?
Yes, if you sell to EasyLotBuyer. We pay closing costs and charge no fees or commissions.