What is Rhode Island's real estate transfer tax rate?

Rhode Island charges a conveyance tax of $2.30 for every $500 (or fraction) of consideration, which works out to $4.60 per $1,000 or about 0.46% of the sale price. Each partial $500 increment is rounded up to a full increment when the tax is computed.

Who pays the transfer tax in Rhode Island?

By custom and statute the conveyance tax is paid by the seller (grantor), who buys the documentary stamps that go on the deed when it is recorded. As with any closing cost, the parties can negotiate who ultimately bears it, but the default is the seller.

Is there an extra tax on expensive homes?

Yes. Rhode Island imposes an additional conveyance tax on the portion of residential consideration above $800,000, effectively adding a second $2.30-per-$500 charge on the excess for qualifying high-value sales. Tick the surcharge box to include it in the estimate.

Are any transfers exempt from the tax?

Several transfers are exempt or reduced, including certain gifts, transfers between spouses or family members, transfers confirming existing ownership, and some foreclosure or government transfers. The first $100 of consideration is also exempt. Check the specific exemption with the RI Division of Taxation.

Does this calculator include recording fees?

No. This tool estimates only the state conveyance (transfer) tax. Separate municipal deed recording fees charged by the city or town clerk, plus any title, legal, and lender fees, are additional closing costs not included in the figure shown here.

Rhode Island Real Estate Transfer Tax Calculator

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When real estate changes hands in Rhode Island, the state collects a conveyance (transfer) tax of $2.30 for each $500 of the sale price — about 0.46% — customarily paid by the seller. High-value residential sales above $800,000 carry an additional surcharge on the excess. This tool estimates the transfer tax due at closing.

How it works

The consideration is rounded up to the next $500 increment, then taxed at $2.30 per increment, after a small de-minimis exemption:

taxable     = sale price − $100 (de minimis exemption)
increments  = round up (taxable ÷ $500)
base tax    = increments × $2.30
surcharge   = $2.30 per $500 on the portion above $800,000 (residential)
total       = base tax + surcharge

Rounding each partial $500 up means even a price that isn’t a clean multiple of $500 is taxed as if it were the next full increment, which slightly raises the effective rate above 0.46% on small amounts.

Example and notes

On a $400,000 sale, the taxable amount is 399,900, which rounds to 800 increments of $500, so the tax is 800 × 2.30 = 1,840 dollars — an effective rate near 0.46%. A $1,000,000 residential sale with the surcharge adds $2.30 per $500 on the $200,000 above $800,000 (about $920 extra). The seller normally pays this. Recording fees and exemptions for gifts or intra-family transfers are separate — confirm current rules at tax.ri.gov.