NYC releases database of properties potentially subject to new pied-à-terre tax
The city's Department of Finance posted a searchable list of more than 960,000 residences and owners that could be affected by the state’s upcoming tax on high-value non-primary homes, prompting criticism over its scope and privacy implications.
New York City’s Department of Finance has made public a searchable database that lists over 960,000 residences and their owners that may fall under the state’s newly enacted pied-à-terre tax, which targets non-primary homes valued above $1 million. The list, posted on the department’s website, includes full names and addresses for each property across the five boroughs.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the move as part of the city’s effort to ensure that wealthy property owners contribute to the municipal budget, noting that the tax could generate between $340 million and $500 million annually. The mayor’s office previously warned owners that notification letters would be sent.
Council Minority Leader David Carr, whose own condo appears on the list, called the release “a reckless and foolish move,” arguing that many properties may not qualify as second homes and could be successfully contested. Councilwoman Gale Brewer, a longtime resident of her Upper West Side brownstone, said she has lived in the unit year-round since 1994 and suggested the list contains errors.
A spokesperson for the Department of Finance said the publication complies with state law, which requires a property roll for public inspection, and that officials will use the data to identify properties subject to the surcharge. The department did not detail the methodology used to compile the list.
Critics, including business-advocacy group Partnership for NYC, described the disclosure as a “mistake” that could set a concerning precedent by publicly naming individuals who have not been charged with any violation. They warned it might affect confidence in the city’s real-estate market.
The pied-à-terre tax was introduced by Governor Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers and is expected to apply to roughly 31 000 homes, according to initial estimates. City officials say the broader database is a preliminary step to determine which properties meet the criteria.