In Montana, backers of a proposed constitutional initiative to ban a sales tax on the transfer of real property, otherwise known as a real estate transfer tax, say they have enough signatures to get on the ballot.

Constitutional Initiative 105 would prevent the adoption of a tax on the sale or inheritance of real property. Although a real estate transfer tax does not currently exist in Montana, in the past it has been proposed by the Legislature as a funding mechanism.

Supporters claim that not only are real estate transfer taxes are double taxation as property owners already pay property tax in Montana, they also unfairly take a portion of an owner's equity when their property is sold.

At this time, there is no formal opposition to the initiative.