How to Complete the Philadelphia Deed Transfer Form (REV-183): Statement of Value

To record a deed in Philadelphia, you must submit Pennsylvania Form REV-183, the Realty Transfer Tax Statement of Value, alongside the deed and the Philadelphia Real Estate Transfer Tax Certificate. The Philadelphia REV-183 Statement of Value tells the Department of Revenue what the property is worth and how much combined city and state transfer tax (4.578%) is owed.¹ Without it, the Department of Records will not record the deed.²

When You Need a REV-183

Philadelphia Code § 19-1409 requires a Statement of Value with any document submitted for recording that sets forth the value of the real estate, signed by the grantor, the grantee, or both.² Three situations specifically call for one:

Transactions excluded under § 19-1405, such as transfers between family members or from an estate to an heir.
Transfers claimed as exempt under § 19-1404, including those involving government entities or qualifying nonprofits.
Any deed where the stated consideration is less than the property’s actual value, like a $1 transfer between relatives.

In practice, nearly every Philadelphia deed recording needs a REV-183, even a standard arm’s-length sale at full market price. An exempt transfer still requires the form; the exemption just goes on it.

What to Gather Before You Start

Have the following in front of you:

Full legal names and mailing addresses of every grantor (seller) and grantee (buyer).
The nine-digit OPA account number, which appears on the property’s real estate tax bill or on the city’s property search tool at phila.gov.³
The current county assessed value from the Office of Property Assessment. Do not substitute a private appraisal.
The Common Level Ratio (CLR) factor for Philadelphia County in effect on the date of acceptance. The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue publishes the factor annually and posts the current one on its website.⁴
The sale price plus any non-cash consideration. If the buyer assumed a mortgage, exchanged other property, or agreed to construct improvements, those count toward total consideration.
If claiming an exemption, the specific statutory basis (for example, parent-to-child under § 19-1405(6)).

Filling Out Form REV-183

REV-183 is a statewide Pennsylvania Department of Revenue form, and Philadelphia requires it for every deed recording. The form has five sections.

Section I: Transfer Data

Enter the date of acceptance (when the grantee accepted delivery of the deed), followed by the full names and mailing addresses of all grantors and grantees. If the transaction involves an assignment of an agreement of sale or a relocation arrangement, mark “Yes” in the assignment field.⁵

Section II: Real Estate Location

Enter the municipality (Philadelphia), the county (Philadelphia), and the tax parcel number. In Philadelphia, the parcel number is the nine-digit OPA account number. An incorrect number can cause the tax payment to be credited to the wrong property, so verify it against the current tax bill.

Section III: Valuation Data

Six lines carry the calculation:

Line 1, actual cash consideration: the cash or cash-equivalent amount the grantor received.
Line 2, other consideration: the total value of non-cash consideration, including existing mortgages not removed by the transfer, property exchanged, securities, or agreed construction of improvements.
Line 3, total consideration: lines 1 and 2 added together.
Line 4, county assessed value: the full OPA assessed value. Do not reduce for a fractional ownership interest.
Line 5, Common Level Ratio factor: the current CLR factor for Philadelphia County.
Line 6, computed value: line 4 multiplied by line 5.

The tax is assessed on whichever is higher, the total consideration on line 3 or the computed value on line 6. When the sale price does not reflect market value, as with a $1 family transfer, the computed value controls.⁴

Section IV: Exemption Data

If you are claiming a full or partial exemption, enter the dollar amount of the exemption, the percentage of the grantor’s ownership interest, and the percentage being conveyed. Fill in the oval for the matching exemption category.

Section V: Correspondent Information

Enter the name, address, and phone number of the person who prepared the form. This is typically the settlement agent or closing attorney. The Department of Revenue uses this contact if questions come up during review.

How the Tax Gets Calculated From Your Entries

Philadelphia’s city realty transfer tax rate is 3.578%, effective July 1, 2025,⁶ and Pennsylvania adds a flat 1% state tax,⁷ for a combined 4.578%.¹ That rate applies to the greater of the Section III total consideration or the computed value. Grantor and grantee are both legally liable for the full amount; the city can collect from either side.²

Claiming an Exemption on the Form

Philadelphia Code § 19-1405 lists more than a dozen excluded transactions. The ones most often claimed on a REV-183:

Family transfers between spouses, parent and child (or child’s spouse), stepparent and stepchild, siblings, grandparent and grandchild, and life partners defined under Section 9-1123. If the grantee resells within one year, the tax applies as if the original grantor made the sale.⁸
Estate distributions from a personal representative to a decedent’s heir or devisee for no or nominal consideration. When the property was the decedent’s primary residence, existing liens are not treated as consideration.⁸
Corrective deeds that confirm a previously recorded transfer without extending or limiting the existing title.
Transfers to the Commonwealth, its political subdivisions, or the Philadelphia Land Bank by gift, dedication, or deed in lieu of condemnation.
Transfers made under a confirmed Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan, which are exempt from stamp-type taxes under federal law.⁹

Family-transfer exclusions require both parties to also sign the Philadelphia Real Estate Transfer Tax Certification Affidavit issued by the Revenue Department.⁸

Filing, Payment, and the 30-Day Deadline

Submit the completed deed, REV-183 Statement of Value, Philadelphia Real Estate Transfer Tax Certificate, and payment to the Philadelphia Department of Records. Individuals can file in person or by mail. Businesses can also record electronically through a third-party recording service.¹⁰ The in-person office is at City Hall, Room 154, 1400 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19107; mailed filings should go by certified or registered mail.¹¹

The Department accepts cash, money orders, business or certified checks, and Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express cards. Personal checks are not accepted. Card payments carry a 3.5% convenience fee. Make checks and money orders payable to “City of Philadelphia.”¹² A standard deed recording fee of $278.75 applies on top of the transfer tax. A deed transferring property from a deceased spouse or partner costs $43.75.¹³

The transfer tax is due when the deed is presented for recording, or within 30 days of the date the grantee accepts the deed, whichever comes first.¹⁴ The 30-day clock runs from the date of acceptance, which is presumed to be the date written in the body of the deed.⁴ Miss the deadline and penalties and interest accrue on the unpaid tax. The Department of Revenue, not Records, enforces collection and investigates whether a stated value or claimed exemption is legitimate.¹⁵ State investigators also review filings. If a filing is found deficient, expect a notice and an additional assessment for the underpaid tax plus penalties.

1
City of Philadelphia. Philly’s Realty Transfer Tax Rate Is Now 4.578%
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Philadelphia Code. Philadelphia Code Chapter 19-1400 – Realty Transfer Tax
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City of Philadelphia. Find Property Information
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Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. Realty Transfer Tax Common Level Ratio Real Estate Valuation Factors
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Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Realty Transfer Tax Statement of Value (REV-183)
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Philadelphia Code. Philadelphia Code 19-1403 – Imposition of Tax and Demolition Fund Fee
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Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. Realty Transfer Tax
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Philadelphia Code. Philadelphia Code 19-1405 – Excluded Transactions
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Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 11 U.S. Code 1146 – Special Tax Provisions
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City of Philadelphia. Record a Deed or Other Document
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Philadelphia Department of Records. Philadelphia Real Estate Transfer Tax Form
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City of Philadelphia. Get a Copy of a Deed or Other Recorded Document
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City of Philadelphia. Department of Records – Document Recording and Service Fees
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City of Philadelphia. Realty Transfer Tax
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City of Philadelphia. City of Philadelphia Real Estate Transfer Tax Regulations