Know Before You Close: Rhode Island

Throughout the state of Rhode Island, recording fees are scaled by the size (length in page count) of each security instrument (mortgage), conveyance instrument (deed), or other recordable sent to the county for recordation.

Those fees apply state-wide—there is no variation by county.

State transfer tax🔗

The state’s transfer tax is calculated in tiers, based upon the value of the property that is the subject of the transaction.

Limited city-specific transfer taxes🔗

There are a few locations which additionally assess a city-specific transfer tax in addition to the state’s transfer tax. These cities include Little Compton and Block Island.

In those cities, there is an exemption for a portion of the purchase price (e.g. first $300,000 of consideration), for which the city tax is waived, but the remainder of the purchase price is subject to that tax.