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    [OC] What Rhode Island’s “Taylor Swift tax” costs by assessed value (2026): $2.50 per $500 over $1M
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    [OC] What Rhode Island’s “Taylor Swift tax” costs by assessed value (2026): $2.50 per $500 over $1M

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    1. JamminOnTheOne on

      This is somewhat deceptive, as the X axis isn’t on a linear scale. It makes it look like the tax is exponential (or some other curved growth) when it’s linear.

    3. MiraTheSmart on

      * **Data:** table of assessed values & surcharge ($1.2M=$1,000 … $20M=$95,000).
      * **Source:** RI FY2026 budget; levy on non-primary homes; 183-day rule (owner **or tenants**).
      * **Method:** surcharge = (Assessed − $1,000,000)/$500 × $2.50; values rounded to nearest $5 where applicable.
      * **Tools:** matplotlib.
      * **CSV/code:** paste the small CSV and code, or link a gist.
      * **Further reading:** one link to your article.

      **Data (values used in the chart)**
      Assessed value → Annual surcharge (USD)
      • **$1,200,000** → **$1,000**
      • **$1,500,000** → **$2,500**
      • **$2,000,000** → **$5,000**
      • **$3,000,000** → **$10,000**
      • **$5,000,000** → **$20,000**
      • **$10,000,000** → **$45,000**
      • **$17,000,000** → **$80,000**
      • **$20,000,000** → **$95,000**

      **Source / context**

      * Rhode Island FY2026 budget created a statewide surcharge on **non-primary** residences **assessed > $1,000,000**.
      * Annual charge = **$2.50 per $500** of assessed value **above $1,000,000**; effective for taxable years beginning **July 1, 2026**.
      * **183-day rule**: occupancy by owner **or tenants** ≥183 days counts as primary → **no surcharge**.
      * Shown here is the **state** surcharge only (local city property taxes are separate).

      **Method (statutory formula)**
      `annual_surcharge = max(0, assessed_value – 1_000_000) / 500 * 2.50`
      Numbers are rounded to whole dollars for readability. This chart uses the 2026 base; the $1,000,000 threshold is indexed from 2027.

      Full explainer with table, examples, and planning checklist: [https://www.thepricer.org/how-much-does-the-taylor-swift-tax-cost-homeowners/](https://www.thepricer.org/how-much-does-the-taylor-swift-tax-cost-homeowners/)

    5. johnniewelker on

      This is much less than I’d expect, but maybe a good comparator is a normal property taxes.

      What would a property tax be on a $10M home and how does that compare to the surcharge?

    6. BanjoTCat on

      Is this a surcharge on top of normal property taxes and does it go to the state or the local municipality?

    7. Vikkio92 on

      What exactly is the point of this chart? Isn’t the tax simply 0.5%* of property value? This isn’t information that requires a chart to visualize.

    8. _CMDR_ on

      It’s an ongoing battle in the state against rich newcomers. Rhode Island has a constitutional right to shore access and the rich people try to pretend that they can have private beaches which they cannot. One of the coolest things about Rhode Island is that if there is a beach landowners are required to make a right of way to it and everything from ten feet above the last high tide line to the ocean is public property.