Land records · Parcel maps · October 7, 2026
What Are Documentary Stamps on a Deed?
What are documentary stamps? A tax on deeds and mortgages, best known in Florida, paid at recording. How doc stamps are calculated and what they reveal.
What are documentary stamps? Documentary stamps, often called doc stamps, are a tax paid on certain documents when they are recorded, most notably deeds that transfer real estate and notes or mortgages that secure loans. The name comes from the era when actual tax stamps were bought and affixed to documents. Today the tax is usually paid at recording, and the amount is stamped or printed on the document. Florida is the state most associated with documentary stamp tax, but other states use similar terms such as “revenue stamps,” “deed stamps,” or “excise stamps” for their transfer taxes. This page is general land-records background, not legal advice.
Florida doc stamps
| Document | General rate in Florida |
|---|---|
| Deeds | 70 cents per $100 of consideration |
| Deeds in Miami-Dade County | 60 cents per $100 for single-family homes, plus a surtax on other property |
| Notes and mortgages | 35 cents per $100 of the amount secured |
| Intangible tax on new mortgages | 2 mills (0.2 percent) of the loan amount |
Rates are set by state law and can change, so check the current schedule with the county clerk.
Other states
Many states charge a real estate transfer or excise tax and may still refer to it as stamps. North Carolina, for instance, uses “excise tax” or “revenue stamps” on deeds. See what is a real estate transfer tax.
What doc stamps reveal
Because stamps are based on the consideration paid, the stamp amount on a recorded deed can be used to estimate the sale price. Researchers divide the tax by the rate. This is one way to find a price even when the deed recites only nominal consideration. See what is consideration on a deed.
Exemptions
Common exemptions or minimum tax situations include gifts with no mortgage, transfers to a revocable trust, corrective deeds, and some transfers between spouses. However, in Florida a transfer of property with a mortgage can owe doc stamps on the mortgage balance even without cash changing hands. Rules are detailed and specific.
Who pays
Custom varies. In much of Florida, sellers pay doc stamps on the deed and buyers pay doc stamps and intangible tax on their new mortgage, but contracts can change that.
Doc stamps vs recording fees
Recording fees cover the cost of recording. Doc stamps are a tax. Both are paid at recording. See what is a recording fee.
Historic stamps
Old deeds may show affixed federal revenue stamps, used on U.S. deeds until 1968. These stamps also help estimate historic sale prices.
Estimating a price from stamps
If a Florida deed outside Miami-Dade shows $2,100 in documentary stamps, dividing by 0.007 suggests consideration of about $300,000. Results are approximate because of rounding and because some transfers include assumed debt.
Bottom line
Documentary stamps are a tax on recorded deeds and mortgages, best known in Florida, calculated from the consideration or loan amount. The stamp amount can reveal the sale price. Exemptions are narrow, so check current rules. Find county recorders and clerks via the Platbookmapper map.
What are documentary stamps FAQ
What are doc stamps?
A tax on deeds and mortgages paid at recording.
How much are doc stamps in Florida?
Generally 70 cents per $100 on deeds, with different rates in Miami-Dade.
Who pays documentary stamps?
It depends on local custom and the contract.
Can doc stamps show the sale price?
Yes, by dividing the tax by the rate.
Are gifts exempt from doc stamps?
Often, unless a mortgage is involved.