Taylor Swift has a super-enviable property portfolio, and her $17.5M 11,000-square-foot oceanfront mansion in Westerly’s Watch Hill neighborhood in Rhode Island is one of the dreamiest! However, the “Cruel Summer” hitmaker barely uses it – she reportedly only uses it for parties a few times a year! – and now it’s at the center of a brand new tax nicknamed after her!
According to reports, the “Anti-Hero” singer, 35, and new fiancé Travis Kelce, also 35, are planning a major renovation to make the property their full-time residence once they tie the knot. Upgrades are said to include a new wing with extra bedrooms and bathrooms, plus a full kitchen remodel!
For now though, the mansion is just one of many in her rotation of luxury homes – and that’s exactly why the tax not only applies to her, but has been nicknamed after her…
Struggling With Sleep? This Rechargeable Sound Machine Is A Total Game-Changer
What Is 'The Taylor Swift Tax?'
Earlier this summer, Rhode Island passed its 2026 budget, which includes a new levy officially called the 'Non-Owner Occupied Property Tax Act.' This means that anyone who owns a high-value property in Rhode Island, as Swift does, but doesn't actually live in it for most of the year, will have to pay extra taxes on it.
Because the billionaire musician's sprawling mansion reportedly only sees her "a handful of times" each year, to quote one Reddit user, the tax has been nicknamed the 'Taylor Swift Tax.'
The tax reportedly kicks in next summer, which is coincidentally around the same time the "Lavender Haze" singer is rumored to be tying the knot with the Kansas City Chiefs tight-end at the Rhode Island mansion. (It is known to be a party mansion, and there's no bigger party than a wedding, are we right?!)
If Travis and Taylor do end up moving in permanently, however, the tax likely won't apply to them.
Internet Reactions
Some people support the tax, saying it's a fair way to get wealthy part-time residents to pay more into the state. Others argue it'll hurt regular families with second homes more than billionaires like Swift, who won't even notice it.
"I LOVE the Left eating the LEFT... Sadly, this tax increase won't affect Swift much because she has the money. But for regularly well-to-do people it will hurt them," thought one person on a Page Six post. "Swift makes more than that in T-shirt sales at ONE of her concerts," quipped a second, as a third agreed: "People with wealth like Swift don't care."
Swift has long been dragged for barely using her stunning Rhode Island mansion. "What a waste of a gorgeous home," slammed one fan on Reddit earlier this year. "She's only there a handful of times during the year, but has armed security employed there the entire time," observed a second, as a third said: "There are 600,000 homeless people in America. No one should have a vacation home."
