Quit Claim Deed in Pennsylvania: Recording and Transfer Tax
A quit claim deed in Pennsylvania transfers whatever ownership interest the grantor holds in a property—with no warranty that the title is clear or that the grantor owns anything at all. To be valid for public record in Pennsylvania, the deed must be notarized and recorded with the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the property sits, and in most cases the Pennsylvania realty transfer tax will apply.
What a Quit Claim Deed Does (and Doesn't) Do
Unlike a general warranty deed, a quit claim deed makes no promise about the condition of the title. The grantor conveys only their current interest—whatever that may be. If liens, encumbrances, or competing claims exist, they travel with the property. Because of this, quit claim deeds are most commonly used in lower-risk situations where the parties already know and trust each other: transfers between spouses or family members, removing one owner's name after a divorce, adding a partner to the title, or correcting a clerical error on an existing deed. For arm's-length sales to strangers, a warranty deed is generally more appropriate—an attorney can advise which instrument fits your situation.
Execution Requirements in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania law requires the grantor to sign the deed and have that signature acknowledged before a notary public or another officer authorized under Pennsylvania law. The acknowledgment certificate must include the county, state, date, the names of the parties appearing, and the notary's signature and commission expiration. A notary seal is optional under current Pennsylvania notary law, but the certificate must be legible and complete—a defective acknowledgment can cause the Recorder of Deeds to reject the document.
Pennsylvania operates under a decentralized system with 67 county recorders. Some counties have additional local formatting rules—for example, Centre County and Fayette County publish their own recordable-document checklists. Before submitting, confirm the specific requirements with the recorder in the county where the property is located. Common statewide formatting standards include standard or legal-sized paper (8½ × 11 or 8½ × 14 inches), a minimum 10-point font in dark ink, and a top margin of at least three inches on the first page.
The deed must also identify the grantor and grantee by legal name, include the grantee's mailing address, state the consideration (the value being exchanged), and contain a complete legal description of the property along with the tax parcel number if one has been assigned by the county.
Pennsylvania Realty Transfer Tax
Pennsylvania imposes a state realty transfer tax—currently 1 percent of the property's value or consideration as of 2026, per the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. Most localities also levy an additional local transfer tax, commonly another 1 percent, though some municipalities charge more. Philadelphia, for example, has a higher combined rate. Both the grantor and grantee are jointly and severally liable for the tax, though the parties can agree privately on how to split the obligation. The Recorder of Deeds collects the tax at recording and remits the state portion to the Department of Revenue.
The tax is generally calculated on the greater of the actual consideration or the assessed value adjusted by the county common level ratio (CLR) factor—a figure the Department of Revenue publishes by county each year. Confirm the current CLR factor for your county with the Department of Revenue or your county recorder before closing.
The REV-183 Statement of Value
Almost every deed submitted for recording in Pennsylvania must be accompanied by a completed Statement of Value form (REV-183), published by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. The form captures the parties' information, the property's tax parcel number, the county of recording, the consideration, and—when applicable—the basis for any claimed exemption. A Recorder of Deeds can refuse to record a deed if the REV-183 is missing or incomplete. You can find the current version of this form on the PA Department of Revenue's website at revenue.pa.gov.
Family and Other Exemptions
Pennsylvania does provide exemptions from realty transfer tax for certain transfers. Among those generally recognized: transfers between certain family members, transfers to governmental units, transfers between religious organizations, and property passing by testate or intestate succession. However, the specific relationships that qualify and the conditions that must be met are defined by Pennsylvania regulations (see Title 61 of the Pennsylvania Code, Chapter 91, for the relevant regulatory provisions), and not every intra-family transfer automatically qualifies. When claiming an exemption, the REV-183 must include the exemption basis, and the Recorder of Deeds may request supporting documentation. Consult a licensed Pennsylvania real estate attorney or contact the Department of Revenue directly to confirm whether a particular transfer qualifies before assuming no tax is due.
Recording the Deed
Once the deed is executed and the REV-183 is complete, the documents are submitted to the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the property is located. The recorder will verify that the transfer tax has been paid (or that a valid exemption has been claimed), affix a UPI (Uniform Parcel Identifier) stamp, and record the deed in the public land records. Recording fees vary by county; contact the recorder's office for the current fee schedule. After recording, the deed is returned to the grantee and becomes part of the permanent chain of title for the property.
Title does not pass to the grantee by signing alone in Pennsylvania—recording is what provides notice to the world and protects against subsequent claims. Keep a copy of the recorded deed in a safe place.
A Note on Mortgages
If the property being transferred carries an existing mortgage, a quit claim deed changes the name on the title but does not release the grantor from the loan obligation. Most mortgage agreements contain a due-on-sale clause that allows the lender to call the full balance due when ownership changes. Before recording a quit claim deed on a mortgaged property, the parties should communicate with the lender and consider consulting an attorney about any loan assumptions or refinancing requirements.