Frequently Asked Questions

You have to enclose a self addressed stamped envelope with your payment and a receipt will be returned to you. Another option is to follow the credit card/debit card instructions and save email address to accounts applicable.

Download the Address Change Form (PDF), fill it out and mail or fax to the Collector's office

All exemptions are listed on the back of the tax bills. They are also listed in the Tax Assessor’s section of this website.

You will receive a copy of your bill even if you escrow. It most likely won't be necessary to send your mortgage company a copy. Most mortgage companies will be downloading the information automatically.

Tax bills on newly acquired properties will be sent out only if they are requested. Our normal schedule for mailing all bills is mid-July. Any persons requesting copies of bills for purchases after this date are required to call the Tax Office at 392-3800, ext. 105, and a copy will be mailed.

All information for billing motor vehicles is obtained from the RI DMV. In order to remove a vehicle, you must cancel the registration (return the plates) at the DMV. Be advised that the billing is for the previous calendar year, so the removal of a vehicle will not be immediately reflected on the current bill, but rather on the subsequent year's bill (or possibly the year after, depending on the cancellation date).

Tax bills are mailed each year in mid July. The information for billing motor vehicles is obtained from the RI DMV, reflecting the previous calendar year. If you had a vehicle registered for any portion of the prior calendar year, the vehicle will appear on your bill, showing the following in the description portion of your bill:

Description:
Yr/Make______ Plate Number ______ VIN ____ Full Value ____ Number of days registered ____ Prorated Value _____ Value____ Annual Tax ____

The bottom portion of your bill has the 4 quarterly coupons attached. This is the payment collection cycle, which extends throughout our fiscal year (ending the following June 30th). Even though you may have disposed of a vehicle during this period, you are liable to make the quarterly payments because the vehicles were registered to you during the noted assessment period.

Individuals who purchase parcels at our auction will pay all Town's outstanding taxes; as well as subsequent years. In addition, the buyer is responsibility the interest on said taxes and other legal costs and charges incident to the sale.

Deeds are executed by the Tax Collector within 60 days of the sale, and recorded with the register of deeds. They are then mailed to you.

You will receive a collector's deed subject to the right of redemption. Once you foreclose on the collector's deed, all previous title rights are extinguished, and you own the property free and clear. The only liens that survive foreclosures are those filed by governmental agencies in relation to the environmental protection act.

In the event that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has not been properly noticed regarding property on which the IRS has placed a lien, such IRS liens will survive the foreclosure process.

Caveat

The Tax Collector has the right to cancel the sale up to the time of the sale.

Plat maps and field cards can be located online at  and in the Land Evidence vault in the Town Hall.

When a property first becomes eligible for public auction, the minimum bid cannot be less than the total amount to redeem the property, plus cost associated with offering the parcel for sale. All payment must be either cash or cashier's check.

No. All parcels sold a public auction are sold "as is". No warranty is expressed or implied in any manner regarding property sold at a public auction, including, but not limited to, the following example: no claims are made to guarantee access to, or building permits for, any of the parcels involved in the sale. Prior to bidding it is the bidder's responsibility to adequately research properties to know what is being purchased.

Each bidder is given a form as required by RIGL. The lots are auctioned off in the order they appear on the tax sale list. Once the auction is over, each winning bidder must pay the full amount within one hour of the auction's completion. The tax sale bidders registration states if you are a resident or a non-resident. This form must be signed and notarized. Proper identification is required for this. In addition you must complete a form clearly stating how you want the title to the property to be held. Once you are done bidding and your bid has been accepted there is no need to wait until the end of the auction. You may pay and leave as soon as you are ready.

All bidders must be at least 18 years of age.