Costs of Selling Land in South Dakota
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 South Dakota at a Glance
| Cost | Typical amount | Who usually pays |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate transfer fee | $0.50 per $500 ($1 per $1,000) | Seller (grantor) by statute |
| Recording fees | Set by the county recorder; charged per document or page | Buyer usually records the deed; seller pays to record lien releases |
| Title search and owner's title insurance | Priced by the title company or attorney; varies with sale price | Set by the contract and local custom |
| Prorated property taxes | Your share of the current year's tax, up to the closing date | Seller for the days owned; unpaid back taxes are paid from the sale |
| Federal capital gains tax | 0%, 15% or 20% of a long-term gain (land held over 1 year); short-term gains taxed as ordinary income; 3.8% NIIT may apply at higher incomes | Seller, on the gain only |
| South Dakota income tax on the gain | None; South Dakota has no state income tax | n/a |
Example: Seller Costs on a $25,000 Land Sale
- Transfer fee (50 units of $500 x $0.50)
- $25
- Total seller transfer cost
- $25
$25,000 / $500 = 50 units. 50 x $0.50 = $25. Recording, title and prorated taxes are not included.
Selling Costs in South Dakota: What to Know
South Dakota keeps seller costs low. There is a small transfer fee and no state income tax. This page lists each cost of selling land in South Dakota, who pays it, and an example on a $25,000 lot.
Most of these costs come out of your proceeds at closing, so you see them on the settlement statement, not as bills. The one cost that comes later is income tax on any gain, which you report on your return. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rates change, so confirm them with the office named here or a tax professional before you rely on them.
South Dakota real estate transfer fee
South Dakota charges 50 cents for each $500 of value or part of $500, which is $1 per $1,000. The law says the grantor, which is the seller, pays it (SDCL 43-4-21).
The register of deeds collects the fee when the deed is recorded. Some transfers are exempt under the next section of law, such as certain transfers to government bodies.
Who pays what in South Dakota
The seller pays the transfer fee in South Dakota because the statute says so, though the contract can shift the cost. The buyer usually pays to record the deed. Title and closing fees are split as the contract says.
- Seller: the state transfer tax where the law puts it on the seller, any agent commission, payoff of liens and back taxes, and the seller's share of the year's property tax.
- Buyer: recording the new deed, any lender fees, and the costs the contract assigns to the buyer.
- Either side: title insurance, settlement or escrow fees, and survey costs, as the contract says.
Attorney or title company: who closes a land sale in South Dakota
In South Dakota, most land sales close through a title company or an escrow or settlement agent. The closing agent orders the title search, prepares the settlement statement, collects the transfer tax and recording fees, pays off liens and back taxes, and sends you your money.
You can hire a real estate lawyer at any time to review the contract or the deed, and a lawyer is worth it when the title has problems, when heirs own the land together, or when an estate is still open. The contract says who pays the closing agent's fee.
Capital gains tax when you sell land in South Dakota
Federal tax applies to the gain, not to the sale price. The gain is roughly the sale price minus what you paid for the land, minus selling costs and the cost of lasting improvements. If you held the land for more than one year, the gain is long term. If you held it one year or less, it is short term and is taxed like wages (IRS Topic 409).
Long-term gains get federal rates of 0, 15 or 20 percent, depending on your taxable income. For 2025, a single filer paid 0 percent on long-term gains if taxable income was $48,350 or less. Higher earners may also owe the 3.8 percent net investment income tax when modified adjusted gross income passes $200,000 for single filers or $250,000 for joint filers (IRS Topic 559).
South Dakota has no state income tax, so there is no state tax on your gain (SD Department of Revenue). Federal tax still applies.
Recording, title and property tax at closing
Recording fees are set by law and charged by the county office that records deeds. The buyer usually pays to record the new deed. If a mortgage or lien is paid off at closing, the release is recorded too, and the seller usually pays for that.
A title search shows who owns the land and what liens or back taxes sit on it. Owner's title insurance protects the buyer against title problems found later. The price comes from the title company or attorney, and the contract says who pays.
Property tax is split by date. You pay for the part of the year you owned the land, and the buyer pays for the rest. Any back taxes are paid from your proceeds before you get the balance.
How selling to a cash buyer changes the costs
A cash sale has no lender, so there are no loan fees, no appraisal and no financing delays. When you sell to EasyLotBuyer, we pay the closing costs, and you pay no fees or commissions. We can close in as few as 7 days, and we send a cash offer within 24 hours.
We also buy land with back taxes, liens, title problems or no road access, and land held by heirs or an estate. Back taxes are paid at closing from the sale. Tax on your gain is still yours to report, so keep your closing statement for your return. Get a cash offer for your South Dakota land.
Sources
Rules and fees change; check with the county before you act on them.
Selling Cost Questions in South Dakota
What is the South Dakota transfer fee?
50 cents for each $500 of value, or $1 per $1,000. The seller pays it. On a $25,000 lot it is $25.
What closing costs does a seller pay in South Dakota?
Usually the transfer fee of 50 cents per $500, plus payoff of any liens or back taxes and the seller's share of the year's property tax. Title and closing fees are split as the contract says.
Do I owe capital gains tax when I sell land in South Dakota?
Only federal tax. South Dakota has no state income tax, so the state does not tax your gain.
Who pays closing costs when I sell land for cash?
It depends on the contract. When you sell to EasyLotBuyer, we pay the closing costs and you pay no fees or commissions. Back taxes, if any, are paid from the sale at closing.
Are back taxes paid at closing?
Yes. The closing agent pays delinquent property taxes and recorded liens from the sale proceeds, and you receive the balance. You can sell land that has back taxes.