To record a deed in NYC you file the signed, notarized deed with the City Register through ACRIS, along with the required transfer-tax forms, and pay the recording and transfer-tax fees. It sounds simple, but a missed form or a wrong tax calculation gets the whole package rejected, and an unrecorded deed can leave your ownership legally exposed. Here is the full step-by-step for 2026, plus how to avoid the mistakes that send deeds back.
1 Where deeds are recorded
NYC deeds are recorded with the City Register through the Automated City Register Information System, known as ACRIS. That covers four boroughs: Manhattan (New York County), the Bronx, Brooklyn (Kings County), and Queens. Staten Island is the exception; its deeds are recorded through the Richmond County Clerk, not ACRIS. Recording is what makes your ownership part of the public record and protects your priority against later claims.
2 What you need to file
A deed does not record on its own. You need the full package:
- The executed deed. Signed by the grantor and notarized.
- RP-5217NYC. The Real Property Transfer Report.
- TP-584. The Combined Real Estate Transfer Tax Return.
- Transfer-tax payment. New York State transfer tax plus the NYC Real Property Transfer Tax (RPTT), where they apply.
- Recording fees. Paid to the City Register at filing.
3 The recording steps
Start to finish, the process looks like this:
- Prepare and sign the deed in front of a notary.
- Complete the RP-5217NYC and TP-584 accurately, including the tax calculation.
- Create the cover pages in ACRIS and submit the package.
- Pay the recording fees and any transfer taxes due.
- Receive the recorded deed back with its recording stamp and reference.
4 Mistakes that get deeds rejected
The City Register returns packages for small errors, and each rejection costs you weeks. The common ones: a defective notarization, a missing or miscalculated transfer-tax form, the wrong legal description or block and lot, and unsigned or incomplete RP-5217NYC fields. Getting the tax math wrong is the single most frequent reason a deed bounces.
5 Getting it done for you
If you would rather not navigate ACRIS, the transfer-tax forms, and the fee schedule yourself, we handle the whole thing. We notarize the deed, prepare and file the package, and get it recorded correctly the first time, with built-in checks against the kind of errors that fuel deed fraud. See our NYC document recording service, or call 347-762-0262 to talk it through.
Need a deed recorded in NYC?
We notarize, prepare the transfer-tax forms, and file it through ACRIS, done right the first time.
File the notarized deed with the City Register through ACRIS, along with the RP-5217NYC and TP-584 transfer-tax forms, and pay the recording and transfer-tax fees. Staten Island files through the Richmond County Clerk.
What documents do I need to record a deed?
The executed and notarized deed, the RP-5217NYC Real Property Transfer Report, the TP-584 transfer-tax return, and payment of the recording fees and any transfer taxes.
What happens if I do not record my deed?
Title still passes between the parties, but you are unprotected against later liens, competing claims, or fraud. Recording puts your ownership on the public record.
How long does recording take?
It varies with the City Register’s processing and whether the package is error-free. Rejections for missing forms or tax errors add weeks, which is why accuracy up front matters.
Related: how to transfer a deed in NYC and property title search in NYC.
See also: how to get a copy of your deed in NYC, step by step.
This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. NYC recording requirements, forms, and transfer-tax rules can change. Confirm current requirements or work with a professional before filing.