It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Sections 44-5-15 and 44-5-26 of the General Laws in Chapter 44-5 entitled "Levy and Assessment of Local Taxes" are hereby amended to read as follows:

44-5-15. Notice of assessors' meeting -- Notice by taxpayer of intent to bring in account -- Before assessing any valuations, the assessors shall cause printed notices of the time and place of their meeting to be posted in three (3) public places in the town, for three (3) weeks next preceding the time of their meeting, and shall advertise in some newspaper published in the town, if there are any, at least once a week for the same space of time. The notices require every person and body corporate liable to taxation to bring in to the assessors at the time they may prescribe a true and exact account of all the ratable estate owned or possessed by that person or body, describing and specifying the value of every parcel of the real estate as of December 31 in the year of the last update or revaluation and personal estate as of December 31 of the tax year, together with the additional information that may be prescribed by the assessors relative to the ratable estate as may be contained in any corporation or inheritance tax return filed with the state by the person within the year preceding the date of assessment next prior to the bringing in of the account; provided, that if any person or body corporate liable to taxation files with the assessors, on or before January 31 next following the date of assessment, a written notice of that person's or that body's intention to bring in an account, the person or body corporate may bring in to the assessors the account at any time between March 1 and March 15 next following the date of assessment. The notice of intention to bring in an account is deemed to have been filed with the assessors if the notice is sent to them by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, postmarked before 12:00 A.M. midnight of the last day on which the notice may be filed. The account is deemed to be brought in to the assessors if the account is sent to them by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, postmarked before 12:00 A.M. midnight of the last day on which accounts may be brought in pursuant to the provisions of this section; provided, that in case any person or body corporate fails to file any intention, that person or that body is deemed to have waived that person's or that body's right to file the account. All matters contained within the account filing are available for review only by assessment related personnel.

44-5-26. Petition in superior court for relief from assessment -- (a) Any person aggrieved on any ground whatsoever by any assessment of taxes against him or her in any city or town, or any tenant or group of tenants, of real estate paying rent therefrom, and under obligation to pay more than one-half of the taxes thereon, may within ninety (90) days from the date the first tax payment is due, file an appeal in the local office of tax assessment, provided however, if the person to whom a tax on real estate is assessed chooses to file an appeal, the appeal filed by a tenant or group of tenants will be void. For the purposes of this section, the tenant(s) has the burden of proving financial responsibility to pay more than one-half of the taxes. The assessor has forty-five (45) days to review the appeal, render a decision and notify the taxpayer of the decision. The taxpayer, if still aggrieved, may appeal the decision of the tax assessor to the local tax board of review, or in the event that the assessor does not render a decision, the taxpayer may appeal to the local tax board of review at the expiration of the forty-five (45) day period. Appeals to the local tax board of review are to be filed not more than thirty (30) days after the assessor renders a decision and notifies the taxpayer, or if the assessor does not render a decision within forty-five (45) days of the filing of the appeal, not more than ninety (90) days after the expiration of the forty-five (45) day period. The local tax board of review shall, within ninety (90) days of the filing of the appeal, hear the appeal, and render a decision within thirty (30) days of the date that the hearing was held. Provided, however, a city or town may request and receive an extension from the director of the Rhode Island department of administration.

Appeals to the local office of tax assessment and the local tax board of review are to be on an application. substantially in the following form: In the event of an appeal to the local tax board of review, the local office of tax assessment, upon request by the taxpayer, shall forward the application to the local tax board of review. The application shall be in the following form:

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

FISCAL YEAR ________

APPLICATION FOR ABATEMENT APPEAL OF PROPERTY TAX

For appeals to the tax assessor, this form must be filed with the local office of tax assessment within ninety (90) days from the date the first tax payment is due. For appeals to the local tax board of review, this form must be filed with the local tax board of review not more than thirty (30) days after the assessor renders a decision, or if the assessor does not render a decision within forty-five (45) days of the filing of the appeal, not more than ninety (90) days after the expiration of the forty-five (45) day period.

1. TAXPAYER INFORMATION:

A. Name(s) of Assessed owner:______________________________________________

B. Name(s) and Status of Applicant (if other than Assessed Owner):____________ ________ Subsequent

Owner (Acquired Title After December 31 on _____________ 19________ ) ________ Administrator/Executor ________ Lessee ________ Mortgagee ________

Other Specify ________

C. Mailing Address and Telephone No.:______________ ( ) _____________________ Address Tel. No.

D. Previous Assessed Value ____________________________ E. New Assessed Value_________________________________________________________________________2. PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION: Complete using information as it appears on tax bill. . A. Tax Bill Account No.: __________Assessed Valuation _______ Annual Tax Location:____________________________Description:________________________________

No. Street Zip

LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES

B. Real Estate Parcel Identification: Map ________Block_______Parcel__ Type_______________________________________

Tangible Personal

C. Date Property Acquired: Purchase Price: Total cost of any improvements______________________________________________________________ What is the amount of fire insurance on building:

3. REASON(S) ABATEMENT REDUCTION SOUGHT: Check reason(s) an abatement reduction is warranted and briefly explain why it applies. Continue explanation on attachment if necessary. Overvaluation. Incorrect Usage Classification.

Disproportionate Assessment. Other Specify:

Applicant's Opinion of Value $ Fair Market Value (as of December 31 in the year of the last update or revaluation for real estate and as of December 31 of the tax year for personal estate;) Class Assessed Value Explanation____________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Have you filed a true and exact account this year with the City Assessor as required by law? Comparable Properties that support your claim:

Address Sale Price Sales Date Property Type Assessed value ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

4. SIGNATURES;

SIGNATURE OF APPLICANT DATE

SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED AGENT DATE _____________________________________________________________ ( ) ______________________________________________________________________________ Name of Preparer Address Tel. No.

TAXPAYER INFORMATION ABOUT ABATEMENT APPEAL PROCEDURE

REASONS FOR AN ABATEMENT APPEAL. It is the intent of the general assembly to ensure that all taxpayers in Rhode Island are treated equitably. Ensuring that taxpayers are treated fairly begins where cities and towns meet defined standards related to performing property values. All properties should be assessed in a uniform manner, and properties of equal value should be assessed the same. An abatement is a reduction in the tax assessed on your property for the fiscal year.

TO DISPUTE YOUR VALUATION OR ASSESSMENT OR CORRECT ANY OTHER BILLING PROBLEM OR ERROR THAT CAUSED YOUR TAX BILL TO BE HIGHER THAN IT SHOULD BE, YOU MUST APPLY FOR AN ABATEMENT APPEAL WITHIN NINETY (90) DAYS FROM THE DATE THE FIRST TAX PAYMENT IS DUE.

You may apply for an abatement appeal your assessment if your property is: (1) OVERVALUED (assessed value is more than the fair market value as of December 31 in the year of the last update or revaluation for real estate and as of December 31 of the tax year for personal estate for any reason, including clerical and data processing errors. (2) disproportionately assessed in comparison with other properties. (3) classified incorrectly as residential, commercial, industrial or open space, farm or forest. (4) illegal tax partially or fully exempt. (5) modified from its condition from the time of the last update or revaluation.

WHO MAY FILE AN APPLICATION: You may file an application if you are (1) the assessed or subsequent (acquiring title after December 31) owner of the property. (2) the owner's administrator or executor. (3) a tenant or group of tenants of real estate paying rent therefrom, and under obligations to pay more than one-half of the taxes thereon. (4) a person owning or having an interest in or possession of the property; or (5) a mortgagee if the assessed owner has not applied. In some cases, you must pay all or a portion of the tax before you can file.

WHEN AND WHERE APPLICATION MUST BE FILED. Your application must be filed with the local office of tax assessment within NINETY (90) days from the date the first tax payment is due. THESE DEADLINES CANNOT BE EXTENDED OR WAIVED BY THE ASSESSOR FOR ANY REASON. IF YOUR APPLICATION IS NOT FILED ON TIME, YOU LOSE ALL RIGHTS TO AN ABATEMENT AND THE ASSESSOR CANNOT BY LAW GRANT YOU ONE. AN APPLICATION IS FILED WHEN RECEIVED BY THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE.

PAYMENT OF TAX. Filing an application does not stay the collection of your taxes. In some cases, you must pay the tax when due to appeal the assessors disposition of your application. Failure to pay the tax assessed when due may also subject you to interest charges and collection action. To avoid any loss of rights or additional charges, you should pay the tax as assessed. If an abatement is granted and you have already paid the entire year's tax as abated, you will receive a refund of any overpayment.

FILING AN ACCOUNT. RI General Law section 44-5-15 requires the annual filing of a true and exact account of all ratable estate owned or possessed by every person and corporate body. The time to file is between December 31, and January 31, of intention to submit declaration by March 15. Failure to file a true and full account, within the prescribed time, eliminates the right to appeal to the superior court, subject to the exceptions provided in Rhode Island general laws section 44-5-26(b). No amended returns will be accepted after March 15th. Such notice of your intention must be sent by certified mail, postage prepaid, postmark no later than 12 o'clock midnight of the last day, January 31. No extensions beyond March 15th can be granted. The form for filing such account may be obtained from the city or town assessor.

ASSESSOR'S DISPOSITION. Upon applying for an abatement, a reduction in assessment, you may be asked to provide the assessor with further written information about the property and to permit them to inspect it. Failure to provide the information or permit an inspection within thirty (30) days of the request may result in the loss of your appeal rights.

APPEAL. The assessor shall have forty-five (45) days to review the appeal, render a decision and notify the taxpayer of the decision. The taxpayer, if still aggrieved, may appeal the decision of the tax assessor to the local tax board of review, or in the event that the assessor does not render a decision, the taxpayer may appeal to the local tax board of review at the expiration of the forty-five (45) day period. Appeals to the local tax board of review shall be filed not more than thirty (30) days after the assessor renders a decision and notifies the taxpayer, or if the assessor does not render a decision within forty-five (45) days of the filing of the appeal, not more than ninety (90) days after the expiration of the forty-five (45) day period. ______________________________________________________________________________ DISPOSITION OF APPLICATION (ASSESSOR'S USE ONLY)

Any person still aggrieved on any ground whatsoever by an assessment of taxes against him or her in any city or town may, within thirty (30) days of the tax board of review decision notice, file a petition in the superior court for the county in which the city or town lies for relief from the assessment, to which petition the assessors of taxes of the city or town in office at the time the petition is filed shall be made parties respondent, and the clerk shall thereupon issue a citation substantially in the following form:

THE STATE OF

RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.

To the sheriffs of several counties, or to their deputies, Greetings: We command you to summon the assessors of taxes of the town of ______________ : to wit, ______________ of ______________ (if to be found in your precinct) to answer the complaint of ______________ of ______________ on the return day hereof (said return day being the ________ day of ______________ A.D. 19________) in the superior court to be holden at the county courthouse in ______________ as by petition filed in court is fully set forth; and to show cause why said petition should not be granted. Hereof fail not, and make true return of this writ with your doings thereon. Witness, the seal of our superior court, at ______________ this ________ day of ______________ in the year ______________ __________________, Clerk.

(b) Provided, however, that in case the person has not filed an account, or filed an appeal first within the local tax board of review, that person shall not have the benefit of the remedy provided in this section and in section 44-5-27 -- 44-5-31, unless (1) that person's real estate has been assessed at a value in excess of the value at which it was assessed on the last preceding assessment day, whether then owned by that person or not, and has been assessed, if assessment has been made at full and fair cash value, at a value in excess of its full and fair cash value, or, if assessment has purportedly been made at a uniform percentage of full and fair cash value, at a percentage in excess of the uniform percentage, or (2) the tax assessed is illegal in whole or in part; and that person's remedy is limited to a review of the assessment on the real estate or to relief with respect to the illegal tax, as the case may be.