What You Pay at Closing: The One-Time Fee Checklist
Beyond the purchase price and loan, a new-home closing in China typically includes several one-time payments. The largest is deed tax (qi shui), a percentage of the transaction price, usually paid around the time the property ownership is registered. Next is the housing maintenance fund, calculated by floor area and paid once, to cover future repairs of shared areas and facilities. Property management fees come next — developers usually require a full year prepaid at closing. Then there is the area-difference settlement: if the surveyed area differs from the contracted area, the difference is settled at the contract unit price. Smaller items include the registration fee (tens to a few hundred yuan), stamp duty (0.05% of the contract amount), and a gas connection fee, with heating connection fees in northern cities. Let us calculate every item for a concrete example: a first home with a total price of 3 million yuan and a floor area of 100 square meters.How Deed Tax Works: First vs Second Home and Size Brackets
Deed tax is the biggest line item, calculated on the VAT-exclusive transaction price with rates set by the number of homes you own and the floor area. Under the common current standards: for a first home, 1% if the area is under 140 square meters, 1.5% if 140 square meters or more; for a second home, 1% under 140 square meters and 2% at 140 square meters or more. Third or additional homes and commercial properties face higher rates, typically around 3% in most cities, subject to local policy. A few worked examples: a 3 million yuan first home of 100 square meters pays deed tax of 3 million × 1% = 30,000 yuan; a 3 million yuan first home of 160 square meters pays 3 million × 1.5% = 45,000 yuan; and a 3 million yuan second home of 160 square meters pays 3 million × 2% = 60,000 yuan. Twenty square meters of extra area can mean 15,000 to 30,000 yuan more in deed tax, so think carefully about the size bracket and home-count classification before choosing. To see what percentage of the price deed tax represents, or how much the brackets differ, a [percentage calculator](https://calc20.top/en/percentage) settles it instantly.Maintenance Fund, Property Fees and Area-Difference Settlement
The rest of the bill adds up quickly. The housing maintenance fund varies by city, commonly 50 to 100 yuan per square meter of floor area, sometimes a percentage of the purchase price. At 80 yuan per square meter for 100 square meters, that is 8,000 yuan, paid once at closing. Property fees are based on area and the monthly rate; at 3 yuan per square meter per month, a 100-square-meter home costs 100 × 3 × 12 = 3,600 yuan for the prepaid year. On area differences: if the surveyed area deviates from the contract by 3% or less, settle at the contract unit price; if it exceeds 3%, the buyer can generally refuse to pay for the excess beyond the agreed terms. Totaling our example: 30,000 yuan deed tax plus 8,000 maintenance fund plus 3,600 property fees, plus registration, stamp duty and other small items — you should prepare roughly 42,000 to 45,000 yuan in cash at closing, about 1.5% of the home price. To see this as a percentage of the purchase price and stress-test your cash flow once mortgage payments start, combine a [percentage calculator](https://calc20.top/en/percentage) with a [mortgage calculator](https://calc20.top/en/mortgage). For the exact deed tax rates in your city, cross-check local rules against an [income tax calculator](https://calc20.top/en/tax).FAQ
Q1: When is deed tax due? Can I pay it late?
Deed tax is generally due before the ownership certificate is issued, and the buyer bears it. Most cities collect it around closing or at the registration appointment. Late payment accrues late fees, so pay promptly when the developer or tax office notifies you rather than waiting until registration day.
Q2: Can the maintenance fund be refunded?
If the transaction is cancelled before delivery or registration, a refund can usually be applied for. Once ownership transfers and the fund enters its dedicated account, it generally follows the property and is not refunded separately. Check your city's housing maintenance fund rules.
Q3: What if the surveyed area differs from the contract area?
Within a 3% deviation, the difference is settled at the contract unit price. Beyond 3%, the buyer typically has the option to accept and pay for the actual area or refuse to pay for the excess, subject to the contract. Review the survey report carefully during the handover inspection.
Q4: How is "first home" versus "second home" determined for deed tax?
Usually by household, based on property registrations in the city where you are buying: no registered home means first home; one existing home makes the new purchase a second home. Properties in other cities generally do not count, but always confirm with the local housing and tax authorities.