🇩🇲 Title by Registration Act Cap. 56:50 • Torrens Title System
Dominica Property Transfer & Stamp Duty Calculator
Estimate full closing costs and land title registration expenses across the Commonwealth of Dominica. Models 4% purchaser stamp duty, 2.5% judicial fees, 1% assurance fund, 10% Alien Landholding License (ALHL), and legal conveyancing in XCD and USD.
Statutory Conveyance Snapshot Registry Cap. 56:50
Purchaser Government Levies
7.5% Total
4% Stamp + 2.5% Jud. + 1% Assur.
Vendor Stamp Duty
2.5% Value
Seller statutory transfer tax
Alien License (ALHL)
10.0% Foreign
Exempt for citizens & CBI units
Conveyancing Legal Scale
3.0% + VAT
Bar Association standard scale
Transaction Parameters
Conveyance contract price or certified valuation amount.
Total Buyer Closing Outlay
EC$ 49,275.00
USD $18,250.00 (Fixed peg 2.70)
Statutory Registry Levies
EC$ 33,750.00
7.5% Government transfer fees
Itemized Closing Cost Schedule Purchaser Outlays
Buyer Stamp Duty (4.0%) EC$ 18,000.00
Judicial Fee (2.5%) EC$ 11,250.00
Assurance Fund Contribution (1.0%) EC$ 4,500.00
Legal Conveyancing (3.0% + 15% VAT) EC$ 15,525.00
Vendor Statutory Stamp Duty (2.5% - Seller Obligation) EC$ 11,250.00
Total Estimated Purchaser Expenses EC$ 49,275.00
Title by Registration Act Cap. 56:50 Guarantees
Indefeasibility of Title
Torrens Title Guarantee
Government legally guarantees registered ownership once issued.
Assurance Fund Protection
Statutory Indemnity
Compensates bona fide claimants in the event of title registry errors.
Comparison: Dominica Property Transfer Costs vs. OECS Islands
Comparative analysis of purchaser stamp duties, assurance funds, judicial fees, and foreign alien land holding licensing across the Eastern Caribbean.
| Island Nation | Buyer Transfer Levies | Seller Stamp Duty | Assurance Fund | Alien License (ALHL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇩🇲 Dominica | 7.5% (4% Stamp + 2.5% Jud. + 1% Assur.) | 2.5% | 1.0% | 10.0% (Non-citizens) |
| 🇱🇨 Saint Lucia | 2.0% Stamp Duty | 2.5% – 5.0% | None | 7.5% ALHL |
| 🇬🇩 Grenada | 1.0% – 2.0% | 5.0% (Citizens) | None | 10.0% ALHL |
| 🇰🇳 Saint Kitts & Nevis | 2.0% Assurance Fund | 6.0% – 10.0% | 0.2% | 10.0% ALHL |
MS
Verified Author & Regulatory Systems Architect
Engr. Muhammad Shahzad
Principal Systems Engineer & Caribbean Real Estate Statutory Specialist
Specialized in Torrens land registry mechanics, conveyance taxation systems, and cross-border property acquisition compliance across the Eastern Caribbean. Author of deterministic closing fee models for the Title by Registration Act.
🏛️ Title by Registration Act (Cap. 56:50) • 📜 Aliens Land Holding Regulation Act • View Author Credentials →
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the statutory government transfer fees for buying real estate in Dominica?
Under the Title by Registration Act (Cap. 56:50), a purchaser in Dominica must pay three statutory government fees totaling 7.5% of the property value: 4.0% Stamp Duty, 2.5% Judicial Fee, and 1.0% Assurance Fund contribution.
What is the purpose of the 1.0% Assurance Fund fee in Dominica?
Dominica operates a Torrens-based registered land title system. The 1.0% Assurance Fund fee is deposited into a government statutory compensation fund that guarantees the indefeasibility of certificates of title against fraud or administrative registration errors.
What transfer tax does the seller (vendor) pay in Dominica?
The vendor is responsible for paying 2.5% stamp duty on the gross assessed market value or purchase price of the property, in addition to settling any outstanding municipal land rates and real estate agent brokerage commissions.
How does the Alien Landholding License (ALHL) apply to foreign buyers in Dominica?
Non-citizens purchasing land in Dominica generally require an Alien Landholding License approved by the Cabinet, subject to a statutory license fee of 10.0% of the property value. Properties acquired through government-approved CBI real estate projects are exempt from the ALHL requirement.
What are typical legal conveyancing fees in Dominica?
Dominica Bar Association standard conveyancing fee scales range between 2.5% and 3.0% of the purchase price, plus 15.0% VAT on legal services and incidental land registry search disbursements.
📊 Dominica Inland Revenue Division (IRD) & DSS Matrix
| Statutory Component / Legal Deduction Item | Calculated Amount (XCD) |
|---|---|
| Primary Net / Statutory Payable Amount | EC$ 0.00 |