Tax Collection

The Tax Collector is responsible for the billing, collecting, and processing of real estate, personal property and motor vehicle taxes. The Tax Collector also facilitates motor vehicle registration renewals and the processing of municipal lien certificates.

Due Dates

Tax bills are mailed annually in mid-July. In accordance with state statute, it is the responsibility of the property owner to make sure the taxes are paid, regardless of whether or not a tax bill was received. If you owned property in the prior year and do not receive a tax bill, please contact this office. For further information on how taxes are assessed, please refer to the Tax Assessment page.

About Payments

Tax bills may be paid in full or, if the total tax due is $100 or greater, quarterly. Quarterly due dates are August 15th, November 15th, February 15th and May 15th. Due date for total tax less than $100 is August 15th. A grace period for each due date ends on the last business day of the month due. 

Quarterly amounts outstanding at the end of each grace period are subject to interest of 18% per year calculated back to the due date of the quarter. Tax payments are posted to accounts as of the day they are received.

Making a Payment

You may check your balance and pay online using the account number and PIN from your tax bill. Fees may apply. Please contact the Tax Collector to request your PIN.

Via Mail

Payments sent by USPS should be addressed to:

Tax Collector
Town of New Shoreham
P.O. Box 445
Block Island, RI 02807

Payments sent by other carriers (e.g. FedEx) should be addressed to:

Tax Collector
Town of New Shoreham
16 Old Town Road
Block Island, RI 02807

Checks

Checks should be made payable to Town of New Shoreham. To facilitate prompt posting, please write your account number on the memo line of your check. If you are paying only on a specific item of property, identify the item(s) you are paying (e.g. plat and lot) on the memo line. Do not tape or staple the payment coupon to your check.

Posting

Tax payments are posted to accounts as of the day they are received. If there is a problem with a check that prevents it from being deposited, the check will be returned without posting.

Motor Vehicle Taxes

Vehicles registered in New Shoreham are taxed for the previous calendar year, (i.e. 2019 tax bills are for vehicles registered during the 2018 calendar year).

You are taxed on the amount of days you have an active registration. Moving, selling, gifting, junking your vehicle, throwing away your plates, registering your vehicle in a new State etc. do not constitute the proper way of cancelling your registration.

By law you are required to change your address with the Rhode Island DMV within 10 days of moving. By law you are required to physically return your plates to the Rhode Island DMV.

Municipal Lien Certificates

To request a Municipal Lien Certificate, please complete the Municipal Lien Certificate Request form (PDF) and submit to the Tax Collector.

Tax Sales

The Town of New Shoreham schedules a property tax sale every two years. You must be present at the sale to participate. Official notices are published in the Block Island Times. The next sale is planned for Spring 2020.