Tax Billing and Collections
Start here with a Newport property-tax bill, delinquent city account, or question about the city’s annual tax-lien sale.
Newport, RI · Newport County Back taxes and liens
Can I sell my Newport house with back taxes or liens?
When you sell to us, we can set it up so you don't have to prepay anything — it comes out at closing.
Yes. We buy Newport houses with back taxes or liens. Call with the property address and any notice or payoff information you have; you can start before you have every record.
Call 888-274-5006 to talk through the property.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Share the Newport address and any tax notice, payoff statement, or lien information you have.
How payoffs work
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Your liens are paid off from the sale at closing.
A payoff is the amount and instructions from a lender, tax office, or other creditor to clear its claim. The creditor or tax office confirms its current figure; the title company reviews the records and payoff information as the sale moves forward.
Records and the next step
Start with the Newport property address and any tax notice, lender letter, payoff statement, or recorded lien paper you already have. You can call before you have everything. Newport’s Office of Land Evidence keeps the city’s deed and land-document records; Newport Tax Billing and Collections can help with a city property-tax bill or delinquent account.
If the payoff is the problem
Think the payoff is more than the house is worth? Ask us — we've gotten lenders to come down before.
What happens next
- We talk through the house and the tax, lien, or payoff information you have.
- You get a written offer and written terms before you commit, and we close through a title company.
- If you choose to move forward, the title company reviews the property records and works through current payoff information for closing.
- Close as fast as 7 days when title and closing details allow.
No agent commissions when you sell to us. No fees.
Newport tax-lien sales and mortgage foreclosure
Newport’s annual tax-lien sale concerns unpaid city property taxes and is generally held in August. The City’s Tax Billing and Collections office can help with a Newport tax bill, delinquent account, or tax-sale question.
A mortgage foreclosure is different: it concerns the home loan. Rhode Island foreclosures can proceed through court or under a power-of-sale clause in the mortgage. Each notice has its own process and date. If your notice is from a lender, see our Newport foreclosure information.
Newport Tax Billing and CollectionsR.I. Gen. Laws § 34-11-22: power-of-sale foreclosuresRhode Island court foreclosure statutes
Rhode Island real estate conveyance tax
Rhode Island charges this tax when the deed is recorded. Since October 1, 2025, the rate is $3.75 for each $500 of the price, or any part of $500. For 2026, homes selling above $824,000 pay a second tax at the same rate on the part above that threshold; the threshold is adjusted for inflation each year. State law assigns the tax to the seller unless the parties agree otherwise.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Rhode Island's real estate conveyance tax.
Your mortgage payoff, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate from closing costs.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 44-25-1: conveyance taxR.I. Gen. Laws § 44-25-2: exemptionsRhode Island Division of Taxation: rate effective October 1, 2025Rhode Island Division of Taxation: 2026 threshold
Newport offices for tax and land records
Office of Land Evidence
Newport’s Office of Land Evidence handles the city’s recorded deeds and other property documents. A creditor or lender provides its current payoff statement.
Compare possible sale proceeds
Use the Newport home-sale net proceeds calculator to compare possible sale costs and payoffs.
Open the Newport home-sale net proceeds calculator →Questions about Newport property liens and back taxes
Can I sell my Newport house with back taxes or liens before paying them?
Yes. When you sell to us, we can set it up so you don't have to prepay anything — it comes out at closing. We buy houses with back taxes and liens; payoffs are handled through closing, not by you upfront. Call with the property address and any notice or payoff information you have.
Who can confirm my current tax or lien payoff?
Newport Tax Billing and Collections can help with a city property-tax account. A mortgage lender or other creditor provides its current payoff amount and instructions. As the sale moves forward, the title company reviews the property records and payoff information for closing.
Is a Newport tax-lien sale the same as a mortgage foreclosure?
No. Newport’s tax-lien sale concerns unpaid city property taxes. A mortgage foreclosure concerns the home loan and follows a separate court or power-of-sale process. Newport Tax Billing and Collections handles city tax-account questions; a mortgage notice has its own lender and sale information.
What is Rhode Island’s real estate conveyance tax?
Since October 1, 2025, Rhode Island charges $3.75 for each $500 of the price, or any part of $500. For 2026, homes selling above $824,000 pay a second tax at the same rate on the part above that threshold. The seller pays unless the parties agree otherwise. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Rhode Island's real estate conveyance tax.
What if my lender payoff is more than my Newport house is worth?
Think the payoff is more than the house is worth? Ask us — we've gotten lenders to come down before.
What happens after I call?
We talk through the Newport property and whatever records or notices you have. You get a written offer and written terms before you commit, and we close through a title company. Close as fast as 7 days when title and closing details allow.
What our sellers say
“LISTEN, PROPERTY TAXES GOT TOO HIGH FOR MY FIXED INCOME. SOLD IT TO THEM. WALKED AWAY WITH CASH. GLAD IT'S OVER.”
“Just wanted to say, taxes were 3 years behind on my house... county was going to auction it... they bought it, paid the taxes at closing, gave me the rest... Thanks...”
Talk through your Newport property
Call 888-274-5006 or share the address and whatever notice or payoff information you have. You do not need to have every record before you call.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Tell us the Newport address and what you know about the tax or lien payoff.