The City of Newport is no longer taxing motor vehicles garaged within the city limits. The last tax billing for motor vehicles was July 2021.
Businesses registered in Newport, RI are taxed for the PREVIOUS calendar year, (i.e. 2022 tax bills are for active businesses during the 2021 calendar year). The State of Rhode Island has recently passed legislation that provides a $50,000 exemption per Taxpayer, to be applied to their Tangible Personal Property accounts. If a taxpayer has more than 1 business, the exemption will be divided between the accounts.
You have an active business if you have not properly closed your business by either closing with the Assessor's office in person or by filling out the Close of Business form by mail.
Submitting a Close of Business form is the ONLY acceptable way of officially closing your business with the City as stated on your application with the Tax Assessor's office when you opened your business.
We cannot close your account retroactively. Example: If you say you closed your business in 2017 but did not file the close of business until 2018, you will be responsible for the tax bill you receive in 2019
Active duty Military members stationed in Newport (and not residents of Rhode Island) please see Service Member's Civil Relief Act Tax Exemption Application.
Follow the instructions listed and submit your application to this office as soon as possible. You are exempt for the time you are on orders in Newport. If you retain the plates after you have transferred from the area, you will be responsible for any taxes that have accrued or will accrue once you leave the area.