As residents who want to make sure everyone can live and thrive in our town, we know that property taxes are a growing concern. This is especially true for our residents who live on a fixed income. It can be hard to keep up with the rising costs of living we are seeing in food, gas and medical costs when it feels like just staying in one’s home becomes more expensive by the minute. However, several opportunities already exist to help reduce the burden of town property taxes for our residents.
Many town residents can qualify for Tax Exemptions through the relatively simple process of submitting paperwork to the Town Tax Assessor's office. If the property owner falls into any of the following categories, they may qualify for an exemption:
100% Social Security Disabled
100% Disabled Veteran
Veteran/ Unmarried Surviving Spouse of Veteran
Gold Star
Blind
Senior Citizen (must have turner 65 by December 31st of the previous year)
Live in specially adapted housing for Veteran/ Unmarried Surviving Spouse of Veteran
While more in-depth directions and details can be obtained by contacting the Tax Assessor's Office directly, the processes for the most commonly sought exemption are explained below.
To submit for an exemption as a Senior Citizen or 100% Social Security Disabled, you would need to complete the APPLICATION FOR SENIOR CITIZEN TAX EXEMPTION or the APPLICATION FOR TOTALLY DISABLED TAX EXEMPTION These forms can also be found on the Richmond Rhode Island Town Tax Assessor’s page or by going to Richmond Town Hall and requesting a form in person. The direction are on the form, but it is important to note that to qualify you must:
Fall under the income limit listed in Section 3.50.010 of the Richmond Code of Ordinances.
Have lived and owned a home in Richmond for three consecutive years.
Fill in the Statement of Gross Annual Household Income on the form and attach a copy of your federal income tax return for last year and the year-end income statements used to process your return. (Also include non-taxable income statements)
Sign the completed form in the presence of a Notary Public. This service is available at the front desk of Richmond Town Hall.
Submit the form and supporting documents by April 15 of the year in which you wish to start receiving the exemption
To submit for Exemption as a Veteran you need to complete the Application for Veteran’s Exemption . These forms can also be found on the Richmond Rhode Island Town Tax Assessor’s page or by going to Richmond Town Hall and requesting a form in person. This form is very straightforward and the only note is that it must be signed in the presence of a Notary Public (a service available at the front desk of Richmond Town Hall). You should also bring a copy of your DD214 to the town hall when you submit your application.
While the town does reserve the right to request additional documentation as needed to verify your exemption, this guide should get residents started on the process. The most important aspect to note is the deadline for applications. They are stated on the Richmond Rhode Island Town Tax Assessor’s page. These are non-negotiable and failing to meet the deadline is the most common reason residents miss out on exemptions for which they qualify.
For any additional exemption requests, or questions regarding the taxation/exemption process, the Tax Assessor or the Tax Assessor Clerk can be reached Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (with lunch closure from Noon to 1:00 pm) at 401-539-9000 Ext. 7.
-- Alexis Turner