[Added 6-18-1991 by Bill No. 91-8]
(a) 
Tax imposed. A transfer tax, as authorized by and subject to Title 13 of the Tax-Property Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, is imposed upon instruments of writing recorded with the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Worcester County or filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation. The transfer tax does not apply to the first fifty thousand dollars of the consideration payable for an instrument of writing for residentially improved owner-occupied real property, provided that the property is the principal residence of the grantee and will actually be occupied by the grantee as the grantee's principal residence for at least seven months of any twelve-month period, provided that the instrument of writing is accompanied by a statement under oath signed by the grantee that such is the case.
[Amended 8-11-1992 by Bill No. 92-14]
(b) 
Rate. The transfer tax rate shall be five-tenths percent of the consideration payable for the instrument of writing. The consideration includes the amount of any mortgage or deed of trust assumed by the grantee.
(c) 
Collection. The County transfer tax shall be collected upon presentation of the instrument of writing to the County Finance Officer prior to recordation thereof in accordance with procedures as from time to time adopted by the County Commissioners.