Texas exam calculator

Commission split math that keeps every percentage attached to the right base.

Calculate total commission, brokerage side, referral fee, agent split, team share, flat fees, or the complete chain backward.

The short version

Sale price x rate x brokerage side, then follow every stated referral, agent, team, and fee step. For a reverse problem, add back flat dollars first and divide through the percentage chain in reverse.

1. Total commission
Price x rate

Convert the commission rate to a decimal and apply it to the sale price.

2. Brokerage side
Commission x side

Use 100% when the question says this brokerage receives the full stated commission.

3. Referral and agent
Deduct, then split

This calculator deducts referral fee from the brokerage side before applying the agent split.

4. Team and fee
Team share, then flat fee

Enter 100% for team share when no team split applies. Subtract a stated flat fee last.

5. Reverse problem
Add, then divide

Add back dollar fees first, then divide through every percentage in reverse order.

Calculator

Build the commission chain in the order it is paid.

Try an example:
What are you solving for?

Forward questions multiply. Reverse questions divide through the same chain in reverse order.

Use the negotiated or question-supplied rate. No rate is fixed by TREC.

Use 100% when this brokerage receives all stated commission.

Applied to the brokerage side before the agent split. Enter 0 if none.

Enter 100% when no team split applies.

Subtracted last. Enter 0 if the question gives no flat fee.

Calculation order: sale price x commission rate x brokerage side, minus referral fee, x agent split, x agent's team share, minus flat fee. Real agreements may define another order, so follow the question or written agreement.
Agent payout before taxes
$7,525.00
$375,000.00 sale at 6%, followed through every displayed split and fee.
Total commission$22,500.00
Brokerage side gross$11,250.00
Base check

The commission rate applies to sale price. The brokerage-side split applies to total commission. The agent split applies to the adjusted brokerage side.

Order check

This calculator applies referral fee, agent split, team split, then flat fee. If a question states another order, follow the question.

Final ask

Total commission, brokerage side, agent gross, and agent payout are different answers. Stop only at the number requested.

Texas law

A sponsored Texas sales agent generally receives transaction compensation through the sponsoring broker or the broker who sponsored the agent when it was earned.

Sale priceStarting amount supplied
$375,000.00
Total commission$375,000.00 x 6%
$22,500.00
Brokerage side gross$22,500.00 x 50%
$11,250.00
Agent share before team split$11,250.00 x 70%
$7,875.00
Brokerage retained from adjusted sideAfter referral, before other brokerage expenses
$3,375.00
Flat feeSubtracted after all percentage splits
- $350.00
Agent payout before taxesAfter every displayed split and fee
$7,525.00

The calculator keeps full precision and rounds displayed dollar amounts to the nearest cent. The final payout is before income taxes and any expenses not entered here.

Save it

Email this commission chain for later review.

Keep every input, percentage base, deduction, and result together.

Email verification is temporarily unavailable.

Open the commission cheat sheet
Mini quiz

Try five commission traps without the calculator.

1/5

A property sells for $400,000 with a 5% commission. What is the total commission?

Calculation map

Know what each percentage acts on.

The arithmetic is easy after the correct base and order are identified.

StageBaseFormulaAccuracy note
Total commissionSale priceSale price x commission rateStop here only when total commission is the final ask.
Brokerage side grossTotal commissionTotal commission x brokerage-side percentageThe agent split does not automatically apply to total commission.
Referral feeBrokerage side grossBrokerage side x referral percentageUse this order only when the question or agreement supports it.
Agent shareBrokerage side after referralAdjusted brokerage side x agent splitKeep the percentage attached to its stated base.
Agent team shareAgent shareAgent share x agent's team percentageUse 100% when the question gives no team split.
Agent payoutAgent gross after teamAgent gross - flat feeThis remains before taxes and unentered business expenses.
Worked examples

Four commission patterns worth knowing.

Basic commission
Core exam pattern

$375,000 sale price at 6%

$375,000 x 0.06
$22,500 total

This is total transaction commission. Do not continue unless the question asks for another share.

Classic split
Multiple bases

$22,500 total, 50% brokerage side, 70% agent split, $350 fee

$22,500 x 0.50 x 0.70 - $350
$7,525 payout

The agent split applies to the $11,250 brokerage side, not the full $22,500.

Referral and team
Extended chain

$15,000 side, 20% referral, 70% agent split, 80% team share, $350 fee

($15,000 x 0.80) x 0.70 x 0.80 - $350
$6,370 payout

The order is explicit. A real agreement may use another base or order, so do not assume.

Reverse agent payout
Backward setup

$7,525 payout, $350 fee, 70% agent, 50% side, 6% rate

($7,525 + $350) / 0.70 / 0.50 / 0.06
$375,000 price

Add back the dollar fee before dividing through percentage steps.

Accuracy checks

Six checks that prevent easy misses.

Final ask

Name the requested number first

Total commission, brokerage side, agent gross, and agent payout can all appear as answer choices.

Percentage base

Every percentage needs a base

The commission rate uses sale price. The brokerage side uses total commission. The agent split uses the adjusted brokerage side.

Referral order

Do not invent an agreement term

Referral and team arrangements can define their own calculation order. Follow the exam stem or written agreement.

Fee timing

Add or subtract flat dollars once

Subtract a stated flat fee at the displayed point. In reverse mode, add it back before dividing.

Payout label

Net here does not mean after tax

The calculator shows payout after entered splits and fees, but before income taxes and other business expenses.

Texas law

Compensation runs through the broker

A sponsored sales agent generally receives transaction compensation through the sponsoring broker or the broker who sponsored the agent when earned.

Official context

Current exam coverage and Texas compensation rules.

Pearson VUE lists commission and compensation as an explicit sales-agent math topic and also tests services, fees, and compensation. TREC states that it does not regulate license holder fees. TREC and TRELA also require sponsored sales-agent compensation to run through the appropriate broker, subject to the applicable rules.

How do you calculate a real estate commission split?+

Multiply sale price by the commission rate to find total commission. Apply the brokerage-side percentage next. Then apply any stated referral fee, agent split, team split, and flat fee in the order given by the question or agreement.

How does this calculator apply a referral fee?+

It applies the referral percentage to the brokerage side before the agent split. The remaining brokerage side becomes the base for the agent split. Because real agreements can use different terms, follow the stated order rather than assuming this sequence.

How do I calculate sale price from an agent payout?+

Add back any flat fee included in the setup. Divide by the agent's team percentage, agent split, the percentage remaining after referral, brokerage side, and commission rate. The calculator performs that reverse chain automatically.

Are real estate commission rates fixed in Texas?+

No. TREC states that it does not regulate fees paid to real estate license holders. Rates, services, and splits depend on agreements. Example percentages on this page exist only for arithmetic practice.

Can a Texas sales agent receive commission directly from a client?+

Generally no. TREC explains that a sales agent may not accept transaction compensation from anyone other than the broker who sponsored the agent when the compensation was earned, subject to the applicable law and rules.

Can a commission or referral fee be shared with an unlicensed person?+

Texas rules generally prohibit sharing commission or fees with an unlicensed person for acts that require a license. Rebates and other permitted payments have separate requirements. Use TREC guidance and the sponsoring broker for a live situation.

Is the displayed agent payout take-home income?+

No. It is the amount after only the splits and fees entered in the calculator. It is before income taxes, self-employment taxes, insurance, marketing, dues, and other business expenses.

Does this calculator handle a net listing?+

No. A net listing is a listing-agreement and license-law topic, not the same as a standard percentage commission split. Use this calculator only when the question supplies the percentage chain.

Practice after calculating

Learn the chain here.
Then solve it without help.

Pass Texas includes 1,377 Texas-specific questions, Math Coach, Trap Library drills, and offline access.

iPhone, iPad, and Android. Lifetime access for one $59.99 purchase. No subscription.

Primary sources: Pearson VUE Texas Real Estate Content Outlines, TREC commission-payment guidance, TREC Rules 535.3 and 535.147, and TRELA Section 1101.651. This page is for exam preparation and arithmetic checks, not legal, tax, brokerage, compensation, or business advice.