The Tax Collection Division processes, collects, and records all tax, water and sewer payments for the City. Tax Collection is located on the first floor of City Hall in Room 104. Our mission in the Tax Collection Division is to provide residents with fast, accurate payment processing, and with a courteous resolution of any payment issues that they may have. We aim to exceed the expectations of our resident customers.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
- There is a seven-day (calendar day) grace period for the quarterly payments only. There is no grace period for the discount amount.
- Failure to receive a bill does not void your responsibility to pay it.
- Residents should have bills and other forms with them when visiting the Tax Collection office.
- When the first quarter payment is missed, the entire bill becomes due in full.
- All returned EFT payments made online will be charged a $15 fee.
- The real estate bills are for the current calendar year.
- The motor vehicle bills and tangible tax bills are for the prior calendar year. For more information on tangible tax bills, please visit the Assessors Division.
- Motor vehicle bills must be current in order to receive clearance to Register with the RI Department of Motor Vehicles. If you require a clearance to register your car, payment MUST be made in full and be paid in cash or by banker's check.
- License plates must be turned into the RIDMV or canceled virtually in order to avoid further charges.
- Tax bills are issued by June 1.
- All exemption and valuation questions are handled by the Assessors Division.
- Please refer to the back of your bill for more information.
TAX OFFSET PROGRAM
Under RIGL 42-142-7 (e) the City is allowed to attach your State income tax refund if you are not current on any bill due to the City.
You were notified of this in October with a past due letter. There is not a 100 percent guarantee that the City will receive money, or how much, from your income tax refund.
If you believe your account is now overpaid, you MUST provide us with a copy of the letter you received from the State stating that they sent us the funds. You can fax a copy to (401) 414-7741. Refunds take 2-3 weeks to process.
TAX SALE INFORMATION
The City holds a tax sale annually for properties with past-due water and tax bills. The 2025 tax sale will be held on April 2, 2025.
Please call us for 2024 redemption information.
The City of East Providence conducts its tax sale for delinquent property taxes and water/sewer bills in the spring each year. The tax sale is conducted pursuant to Chapter 9, Title 44 of the General Laws of the State of Rhode Island and serves as a way for the City to enforce the lien that attaches automatically each year per R.I. Gen. Laws § 44-9-1. Notice of tax sale is given to taxpayers by first class mail at least 90 days before the tax sale, by certified mail at least 40 days prior to the sale, and by posting notifications in public places. Public notifications identifying all parcels that are subject to sale are published in the newspaper, The Call & Times, and are posted in the City Hall and The Weaver Library.
If a parcel of real estate is sold at the tax sale, then during the first year from the date of the tax sale (unless a shorter period is provided in the Rhode Island laws) the taxpayer (or any other party) can redeem the property from the city or from tax sale purchaser by tendering the full amount of taxes owed, plus costs, penalties, and interest. After one year has passed from the date of the sale, the property may be redeemed from the tax sale purchaser at any time until a final decree is entered in Rhode Island Superior Court forever foreclosing the right of redemption.
Taxpayers that are delinquent in taxes or water/sewer are reminded to contact the Tax Collector’s office to obtain the balance due and instructions on payment to avoid their property from being sold at tax sale.
