Tax Appeals

The City of Newport sent out the revaluation notices to property owners, on Friday February 20th. The new values are estimates of market values as of December 31st 2008. Vision Appraisal Technology performed the revaluation, and new assessments can be seen on their web site at www.visionappraisal.com.

Once Vision has reviewed their work, the files will be turned over to the City. The City will then use these numbers to determine the 2009 tax rate.

After the taxpayers has addressed their concerns with Vision Appraisal and dissatisfied with Visions ruling, they may file with the Tax Board of Appeal. Taxpayers must file the appropriate form within 90 days of the first payment due date.

We are unable to accept applications prior to August 5, 2009. The deadline for filing appeals is November 3, 2009. We will have updated applications available in the office and online at the end of June 2009 and ask that all filers read the rules/guidelines prior to filing an appeal.

Please remember that the Tax Board of Appeal meets with the property owners regarding their new ASSESSMENT, NOT regarding the actual Tax Dollar amount.

CLICK HERE to contact the Chairperson of the Tax Board of Appeals

Rules of the Board/Guidelines for Filing

Notice of Tax Appeal Deadline

For Real Estate and Tangible Personal Property:

In accordance with Rhode Island General Law 44-5-26, a taxpayer may file an appeal with the Assessor within 90 days of the first payment due date. Historically, tax bills are due August 5th, making the deadline November 3rd each year. The Assessor has 45 days to render his decision. If the taxpayer is still aggrieved, he/she may file an appeal with the Board of Tax Appeals within 30 days of the Assessor's decision. The Board has 90 days to hear the appeal, and 30 days from the hearing date to render an opinion.

The taxpayer, if still unsatisfied, has 30 days from the Board's decision to file in Superior Court. In the event a taxpayer files in Superior Court for a specific tax year, he/she must file the appropriate accounts and appeals for each subsequent year until the case is resolved. Appeal forms are available on the Forms page, please submit both pages when filing.

Motor Vehicle Appeals:

In accordance with Rhode Island General Law 44-34-2, motor vehicles are assessed at the average value of a similar year make and model vehicle, independant of mileage or condition, as determined by the Rhode Island Vehicle Value Commission. The Commission gathers its data from various sources and presents this information to each City and Town in book form each year.

These values are then reduced by the State Exemption of $6,000.00 (six thousand dollars) per vehicle. The resulting value is prorated on the number of days the vehicle has an active RI registration during the calendar year. An appeal of the RIVVC's value must be filed with the Assessor within 30 days of the initial mailing of the bill. Appeal Forms are available at the Assessor's office each July. The Assessor will review the appeal and, after confirming the information, will forward it to the State. The State's decision will be returned to the Assessor, who will then notify the taxpayer.