Randy R. Rossi
Tax Collector

Email

PHONE:  401-233-1005 (Tax Collections)  401-233-1007 (Sewer Collections)

FAX: 401-233-1060

LOCATION:  The Tax Collector's office is located in Town Hall, 64 Farnum Pike, on the 1st floor. 

FUNCTION:  The primary function of the Tax Collector’s office is to collect and record taxes owed by the residents of Smithfield.  We offer many ways to pay taxes in order to make an unpleasant task as painless as possible. Taxpayers who do not escrow may elect to pay taxes in person at the Town Hall, through the mail or by using the drop box located in front of the Town Hall.  The Tax Collector’s office collects payments for real estate, motor vehicle, tangible, sewer and the Smithfield Highway Water Supply.  The Tax Collector’s office is also responsible for providing Municipal Lien Certificates (fee $25.00) which is a document mainly used by attorneys to determine closing costs, refinancing on the sale of real property.

Payments for real property and motor vehicle can be combined on the same check, but sewer and water payments must be separate checks.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.   You are taxed 100% of the value per thousand 

2.    Tax Payment Due Dates:

If any installment is not paid on or before the delinquent dates, the entire tax or any balance thereof shall become due and payable with interest. Interest will be charged at the rate of 12% per annum, dating back to the original date of September 30^th. If at any time your account becomes delinquent, the interest policy goes into effect.  

It is your responsibility as a property owner to make sure that all the taxes are paid, regardless of whether or not you have received you tax bill. If you did not receive your tax bill, and it is not being paid by an escrow account, please contact the Tax Collector’s office at (401) 233-1005 during business hours of 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday. 

Any taxpayer or business owner must notify the town of a forwarding address.

Tax bills are mailed once a year in August. 

To receive a receipt for a tax bill, please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope.

3.        Motor vehicle & trailer excise taxes, which are issued in the current year, 1^st Qtr due payable by 09/30/2010, are based on the number of days each vehicle or trailer was registered during the previous year.  You must notify the Registry of any change in registration, name and/or address, as they in turn provide the Town with the information needed in order to issue the tax on motor vehicles. Should you retain your plate or simply allow the plate to expire, the vehicle must be taxed until the expiration date of the registration. 

4.        Delinquent Motor Vehicle Accounts or a block at the Registry can only be cleared once the taxes have been paid in full to date and are now current.  Payment can be made by cash, money order or certified check. 

5.        Building permits will be cleared at the Tax Collector’s office if all taxes are paid current as of the first (1^st) day of the installment period which runs from the 1^st thru 30^th, 31^st day. If they are not, at the time the routing slip is presented from the Building Inspection Office, the taxpayer must pay all outstanding taxes at that time. 

6.        All tangible taxes must be current as of the first (1^st) day of the installment period before any business licenses can be approved. 

7.        Any taxpayer can appeal their bill. You must keep your taxes current while going thru the appeals process. Any overpayments will be refunded. Upon receipt of your bill you have 90 days in which to appeal. Forms can be obtained in the Assessor’s office or be downloaded from the Forms page then click on assessors or town forms.  Please contact the Assessor’s office at (401) 233-1014 for additional questions.