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1. How often does the Town conduct a revaluation of real estate?

The last revaluation was done as of December 31, 2015. The next revaluation will be done for December 31, 2018. View for more details about the revaluation process.

2. I escrow my taxes. Is this real estate tax bill that I received a duplicate copy?

The real estate tax bill that is being mailed to the homeowner is the original copy. The Town does not send tax bills to the lending institutions. If you do not receive a bill please contact the Assessor’s Office. If you escrow your taxes, you should make a copy of your bill and forward it to your lender for payment.

3. I escrow my taxes or I have refinanced my mortgage or my mortgage has been sold and I am escrowing with a different company now. What should I do about my tax bill?

Your tax bill has been sent directly to you, the homeowner. If you do not receive a bill please contact the Tax Collection Office. No tax bills are sent directly to lending institutions. If you escrow your taxes, as soon as possible after receipt of your bill, you should mail your quarterly tax bills to your lending institution for them to make payment. The Town provides tax information to escrow agents electronically and only upon request.

4. Can you provide some information about the Town's Elderly Tax Relief programs?

There are two different elderly exemptions available to property owners over the age of 65 years. One is a flat exemption not based on income and the other is an exemption that varies in amount depending on the level of income.

• View the current ordinance (PDF)
• View who may qualify, specific provisions for the exemptions and application instructions
• Email Tax Assessor for application

5. What is the current tax rate?

Motor Vehicle Tax Rate is $22.04 per thousand of assessed value. Real Estate Tax Rate is $17.50 per thousand of assessed value for residential and commercial property. Tangible/Personal Property Tax Rate is $17.50 per thousand of assessed value. Retail and Wholesale Inventory is exempt from assessment.

6. What if a payment is late?

If only one installment has been missed, interest will be charged on the installment amount back to the date that the installment was due at a rate of 12% per year, equivalent to 1% per month. If more than one installment has been missed, interest will be charged back to the date of the original tax roll, i.e. July 31, 2017. The interest is calculated at a rate of 12% per year, which is 1% per month.

7. What periods do the tax bills cover?

Motor vehicle taxes are for the vehicles owned during the previous calendar year. Real Estate taxes are assessed as of December 31st of each year for the current calendar year. Prorated real estate taxes are assessed as of the date of the certificate of occupancy (CO) for the days from the CO date to the end of the calendar year. Tangible personal property taxes are assessed as of December 31st.A

8. When are payments due?

The tax bills are mailed on July 1st of each year and are due and payable by July 31st. For bills over $100, payments can be made quarterly by the following date: First Installment July 31st Second Installment October 31st Third Installment January 31st Fourth Installment April 30th.

9. When can I appeal motor vehicle taxes? Real estate / tangible taxes?

For motor vehicle taxes, an appeal of the presumptive value must be filed within forty-five (45) days of the mailing of the tax bill. Appeal forms are available in the Assessor’s Office. For real estate and tangible taxes, you must file an Application for Appeal of Property Tax application within 90 days from the date the first tax payment is due (must be received in the assessor’s office by October 30 at 4:30 p.m.). Forms for appealing assessments along with detailed taxpayer information about the appeal procedures will be available in the Assessor’s Office after the July tax bills are mailed. 

Applications can be picked up in the Assessor’s Office or the taxpayer can request that they be mailed to them. The assessor has forty-five (45) days to review the appeal. The taxpayer, if still aggrieved, may appeal to the local tax board of review within thirty (30) days from the date of the assessor’s decision or if no decision is made by the assessor with the forty-five (45) days of the filing of the appeal, the taxpayer has 90 days from the expiration of the forty-five (45) days to appeal to the tax board of review in writing. After the tax board of review renders a decision the person if still aggrieved may, within thirty (30) days of the tax board of review decision notice, file a petition in the superior court as provided by Rhode Island State Law.

10. Why did I get a motor vehicle tax bill for a car I don't own anymore?

Motor vehicle excise taxes are charged for the period that the vehicle was registered during the previous calendar year. All motor vehicle information comes from the Rhode Island Registry of Motor Vehicles.