A transfer device includes: a transfer member to which a voltage is applied by a power supply device to generate a transfer electric field for transferring a developer image to a recording medium; a transfer cylinder having a recess in which a retaining member that retains a leading end portion of the recording medium is disposed, the transfer electric field being generated between the transfer cylinder and the transfer member at a transfer position; a shunt circuit by which the voltage applied to the transfer member is shunted to a reference potential point; and an operation stopping mechanism that starts and stops an operation of the shunt circuit in response to rotation of the transfer cylinder, the operation being started when the recess reaches the transfer position and stopped when the recess leaves the transfer position.