In short
Des Plaines charges 2 local taxes on a home sale: City of Des Plaines real estate transfer tax, Cook County Real Property Transfer Tax. On the median owner-occupied home ($335,600), local taxes come to $839; with the Illinois state tax of $336, the total is $1,175, or 0.35% of the price.
Median value: $335,600 median value of owner-occupied homes, Des Plaines city, Illinois (Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B25077). It is an owner estimate, not a sale price.
What you pay at different prices
| Price | City of Des Plaines real estate transfer tax | Cook County Real Property Transfer Tax | Illinois state tax | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $300,000 | $600 | $150 | $300 | $1,050 |
| $335,600 median home | $671 | $168 | $336 | $1,175 |
| $500,000 | $1,000 | $250 | $500 | $1,750 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,000 | $500 | $1,000 | $3,500 |
| $2,000,000 | $4,000 | $1,000 | $2,000 | $7,000 |
Before exemptions and credits (first-time buyers, transfers between relatives…), which are listed below when the source gives them. The tax due on your deed is the one the recorder computes.
The rates, tax by tax
City of Des Plaines real estate transfer tax
$2.00 per $1,000 of price (0.20%).
Who pays: SELLER (Cook County Clerk list)
In force: . Source: Cook County Clerk, Transfer Tax by Municipality - City or Village (updated October 2025).
Cook County Real Property Transfer Tax
$0.25 per $500 of transfer price (0.05%).
Who pays: SELLER (Cook County Clerk list)
In force: Enacted 1/1/1968 per Clerk list. Source: Cook County Clerk, Transfer Tax by Municipality - City or Village (updated October 2025).
Questions
How much local transfer tax do you pay on a median home in Des Plaines?
$839 on $335,600, the median value of owner-occupied homes (Census ACS). Payotte computes it from the rates published by the official sources cited on the page.
Who pays the City of Des Plaines real estate transfer tax in Des Plaines?
SELLER (Cook County Clerk list)
Is the local tax on top of the Illinois tax?
Yes. The local taxes listed here are added to the Illinois state transfer tax.
General information drawn from the official sources cited and dated on this page. It is not legal, tax or financial advice: for your own situation, ask a licensed professional.