Mayor Baldelli-Hunt Announces New Tax Amnesty Program for Tangible and Motor Vehicle Property Taxes
February 8, 2021
Contact: Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt
lbaldellihunt@woonsocketri.org; 401-767-9205
Mayor Baldelli-Hunt Announces New Tax Amnesty Program for Tangible and Motor Vehicle Property Taxes
WOONSOCKET, R.I.: Woonsocket Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt today announced that to stimulate the collection of past due tangible and motor vehicle taxes incurred prior to the 2020 tax year, the City will offer businesses and individuals an amnesty program where they can fully pay the principal amount of the tax owed without having to pay accumulated interest and penalties that have accrued on those taxes. The amnesty program will run from February 8, 2021 through April 8, 2021.
Mayor Baldelli-Hunt stated, “This tax amnesty program targets businesses and individuals who have had trouble paying their tangible and motor vehicle property taxes in the past and gives them the opportunity to wipe the slate clean with the City and go forward with a fresh start.” The Mayor added, “Times have been financially tough for many of our businesses and residents especially because of COVID-19 and this amnesty program not only provides relief to them, but also is beneficial to the City because we will be collecting taxes that have been delinquent.”
Finance Director, Christine Chamberland stated, “This will be a good way for the City to collect overdue tangible and motor vehicle taxes.” Chamberland added, “The new amnesty program still requires that taxpayers pay their principal balance on any past due tangible and motor vehicle taxes they have outstanding, but we will be making it easier for them to pay that balance by waiving accumulated interest and penalties.”
The Mayor explained that she proposed to the Rhode Island General Assembly to approve a law authorizing the City to adopt by ordinance tax amnesty periods for waiving interest and penalties on overdue tangible and motor vehicle taxes and through the efforts of Representative Stephen Casey–District 50 and others, including the City Council, such law became enacted on June 27, 2020.
To be eligible for the interest and penalty waiver on unpaid tangible and motor vehicle property taxes incurred prior to the 2020 tax year, taxpayers must submit to the City’s Treasury Office a written request to waive the interest and penalties for those taxes, and along with that request submit full payment of the entire overdue principal tax balance. Both must be received by
April 8, 2021.
Businesses and individuals seeking additional information about the tangible and motor vehicle tax amnesty program, including how to apply for the amnesty and how much tax they owe prior to the 2020 tax year, should contact the City’s Treasury Office at (401)767-9280, or by e-mail at Treasury@woonsocketri.org. Interest and Penalty Waiver Approval Forms for the new Tax Amnesty Program are available on the City’s Treasury Department webpage at https://www.woonsocketri.org/treasury-department-tax-collections/news/ta..., and on the Finance Department webpage at https://www.woonsocketri.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif5231/f/news/tax_amnesty....
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