The Howard County Council will consider legislation to implement a more progressive recordation tax structure.

Howard County Councilmembers Christiana Rigby and Opel Jones will introduce legislation next month to change Howard County’s recordation tax structure. Under the proposal, recordation tax rates would increase gradually depending on the value of the property transaction being recorded.

County recordation taxes, just like state and county transfer taxes, are collected when real property is sold or transferred. Most county recordation taxes are collected by either the clerk of the court or the county finance office when deeds are recorded.

In Maryland, county recordation tax rates range between $2.50 per $500 transaction and $6.75 per $500 transaction. The Howard County recordation tax rate is $2.50 per $500 transaction.

The proposed legislation is expected to pre-filed on April 23, 2020, and will be introduced at the Council’s legislative session on Monday, May 4, 2020, along with the fiscal 21 capital and operating budgets.

Testimony will be accepted at the legislative public hearing on Monday, May 18, 2020.

Visit the Howard County Council website for more information.