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Maria is purchasing her first home in Maryland for $320,000. She will use the property as her principal residence and qualifies as a first-time homebuyer under Maryland law. Which of the following correctly describes the Maryland state transfer tax obligation in this transaction?

Correct Answer

A) The state transfer tax rate is reduced to 0.25%, and the seller is statutorily required to pay the entire state transfer tax — Maria pays nothing toward the state transfer tax.

Under Md. Code Ann., Tax-Prop. § 13-203(b) and § 14-104, when all purchasers are first-time Maryland homebuyers acquiring a principal residence, the state transfer tax rate is reduced to 0.25% and the seller is required to pay the entire state transfer tax.

Answer Options
A
The state transfer tax rate is reduced to 0.25%, and the seller is statutorily required to pay the entire state transfer tax — Maria pays nothing toward the state transfer tax.
B
Maria pays a reduced state transfer tax at 0.25% and the seller pays the remaining 0.25%, splitting the tax equally.
C
Maria pays the full state transfer tax at the standard rate of 0.5% of the purchase price.
D
The state transfer tax is waived entirely for first-time homebuyers purchasing a principal residence.

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

first_time_homebuyertransfer_taxtax_responsibility_shiftmaryland_specific

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