Nationwide  Specialists in foreign-seller real estate withholding
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FIRPTA in Rhode Island

Foreign-seller closings in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island state withholding stacks at 6%. We handle the federal piece end-to-end for sellers, buyers, and Rhode Island closing agents, with same-day intake response on every deal.

Why Rhode Island is different

State withholding + federal FIRPTA.

Rhode Island stacks state withholding on top of federal FIRPTA. The default rate is 6% of the gross sales price, filed on Form RI-71.3 (Remittance) at or shortly after closing. Rhode Island's reduction path is RI-71.3 Election (gain-base) / Certificate of Withholding Due — the state-level analogue to a federal Form 8288-B, filed before closing to reduce withholding based on actual gain rather than the headline rate.

On a $1,000,000 Rhode Island foreign-seller closing, the default closing-table withholding is $150,000 federal + $60,000 state = $210,000. Both halves can be reduced or eliminated via the right certificates filed before the deed records.

Cities served

Rhode Island statewide. Same-day intake response.

FIRPTA is federal — every Form 8288, 8288-A, and 8288-B routes to the IRS Ogden Service Center regardless of property location. We coordinate with Rhode Island title companies, closing attorneys, and foreign sellers across:

  • Providence
  • Newport
  • Warwick
Common questions

Rhode Island FIRPTA FAQ.

Does Rhode Island have its own state-level withholding on top of FIRPTA?

Yes. Rhode Island requires 6% withholding on nonresident-seller real-property sales, filed on Form RI-71.3 (Remittance), on top of the federal FIRPTA 15%. The state-level reduction is RI-71.3 Election (gain-base) / Certificate of Withholding Due — analogous to a federal Form 8288-B.

Will the foreign seller owe any Rhode Island state tax on the gain?

Yes. The closing-table Form RI-71.3 (Remittance) withholding is a deposit against the seller's final Rhode Island liability on the gain — the seller files a nonresident return in Rhode Island to reconcile and recover any over-withholding (or owe additional tax if the closing-table amount was too low).

Can you serve a Rhode Island closing from Cleveland, Ohio?

Yes. FIRPTA is a federal tax regime; the IRS Ogden Service Center processes every Form 8288, 8288-A, and 8288-B regardless of the property's state. We coordinate with Rhode Island title companies and closing attorneys nationwide via email, secure file upload, and our intake at firptaincometaxwithholding.com/#intake. Same-day response on every intake.

Rhode Island deal? Send it through intake.

Same-day response. No fee to your title company. No surprises at closing.

Start a Rhode Island case →  Or call 216-505-0717