Closing costs in the canton of Vaud
Overview
Vaud calculates in two layers: on top of the cantonal transfer duty, municipalities may add centimes up to half of the cantonal amount — and most of them do. Relief for the primary residence is nowhere to be found: the latest revision of the act touched only inheritances and gifts, leaving home purchases untouched. A Vaud peculiarity hides in the mortgage note: creating the cédule attracts its own stamp duty (droit de timbre), which the land registry collects together with its fee. Deeds are notarized by independent notaries under a cantonal tariff in degressive brackets, plus VAT.
All rates with who pays, source and check date are in the table; how much the municipal share matters becomes visible in the calculator. The canton overview opens the view onto the other cantons, and the basic mechanics are explained in the guide to the transfer tax.
The four cost blocks
| Cost block | Tariff | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer tax | flat rate Source: www.vd.ch · Last checked: | Buyer |
| Notary fees | tiered rate (plus VAT) Source: prestations.vd.ch · Last checked: | Buyer |
| Land register fees | flat rate Source: www.lexfind.ch · Last checked: | Buyer |
| Mortgage note | several fees (plus VAT) Source: www.lexfind.ch · Last checked: | Buyer |
Frequently asked questions
Is there primary-residence relief in Vaud?
No. The latest revision of the act brought relief only for inheritances and gifts — buying your own home attracts the full rate including the municipal share.
What is added on top of the cantonal transfer duty?
Municipalities may levy additional centimes up to half of the cantonal duty — and most use that headroom in full. The decisive text is the decree of the individual municipality.
Why does the mortgage note cost extra in Vaud?
Because creating the cédule additionally attracts a cantonal stamp duty, collected by the land registry together with its own fee — on top of the notary's fee.