§ 44-34.1-1. Excise tax phase-out. (a)(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 34 of this title or any other provisions to the contrary, the motor vehicle and trailer excise tax established by § 44-34-1 may be phased out. The phase-out shall apply to all motor vehicles and trailers, including leased vehicles.

(2) Lessors of vehicles that pay excise taxes directly to municipalities shall provide lessees, at the time of entering into the lease agreement, an estimate of annual excise taxes payable throughout the term of the lease. In the event the actual excise tax is less than the estimated excise tax, the lessor shall annually rebate to the lessee the difference between the actual excise tax and the estimated excise tax.

(b) Pursuant to the provisions of this section, all motor vehicles shall be assessed a value by the vehicle value commission. That value shall be assessed according to the provisions of § 44-34-11(c)(1) and in accordance with the terms as defined in subsection (d) of this section; provided, however, that the maximum taxable value percentage applicable to model year values as of December 31, 1997, shall continue to be applicable in future year valuations aged by one year in each succeeding year.

(c)(1) The motor vehicle excise tax phase-out shall commence with the excise tax bills mailed to taxpayers for the fiscal year 2000. The phase-out, beyond fiscal year 2003, shall be subject to annual review and appropriation by the general assembly. The tax assessors of the various cities and towns and fire districts shall reduce the average retail value of each vehicle assessed by using the prorated exemptions from the following table:

for fiscal years 2008, 2009 and 2010 the exemption and the state fiscal year reimbursement shall be increased, at a minimum, to the maximum amount to the nearest two hundred and fifty dollar ($250) increment within the allocation of one and twenty-two hundredths percent (l.22%) of net terminal income derived from video lottery games pursuant to the provisions of § 42-61-15, and in no event shall the exemption in any fiscal year be less than the prior fiscal year.

(i) For fiscal year 2011 through fiscal year 2017, the exemption shall be five hundred dollars ($500). Cities and towns may provide an additional exemption; provided, however, any such additional exemption shall not be subject to reimbursement.

(ii) For fiscal year 2018, cities, towns, and fire districts shall provide an exemption equal to the greater of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or the exemption in effect in fiscal year 2017.

(iii) For fiscal year 2019, cities, towns, and fire districts shall provide an exemption equal to the greater of two thousand dollars ($2,000) or the exemption in effect in fiscal year 2017.

(iv) For fiscal year 2020, cities, towns, and fire districts shall provide an exemption equal to the greater of three thousand dollars ($3,000) or the exemption in effect in fiscal year 2017.

(v) For fiscal year 2021, cities, towns, and fire districts shall provide an exemption equal to the greater of four thousand dollars ($4,000) or the exemption in effect in fiscal year 2017.

(vi) For fiscal year 2022, cities, towns, and fire districts shall provide an exemption equal to the greater of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or the exemption in effect in fiscal year 2017.

(vii) For fiscal year 2023, cities, towns, and fire districts shall provide an exemption equal to the greater of six thousand dollars ($6,000) or the exemption in effect in fiscal year 2017.

(viii) For fiscal year 2024 and thereafter, no tax shall be levied.

(2) The excise tax phase-out shall provide levels of assessed value reductions until the tax is eliminated or reduced as provided in this chapter.

(3) Current exemptions shall remain in effect as provided in this chapter.

(4) The excise tax rates and ratios of assessment shall be maintained at a level identical to the level in effect for fiscal year 1998 for each city, town, and fire district; provided, in the town of Johnston, the excise tax rate and ratios of assessment shall be maintained at a level identical to the level in effect for fiscal year 1999 levels and the levy of a city, town, or fire district shall be limited to the lesser of the maximum taxable value or net assessed value for purposes of collecting the tax in any given year. Provided, however, for fiscal year 2011 through fiscal year 2017, the rates and ratios of assessment may be less than but not more than the rates described in this subsection (4).

(5) For fiscal year 2018 and thereafter, the excise tax rate applied by a city, town, or fire district, shall not exceed the rate in effect in fiscal year 2017 and shall not exceed the rate set forth below:

(d) Definitions.

(1) "Maximum taxable value" means the value of vehicles as prescribed by § 44-34-11 reduced by the percentage of assessed value applicable to model year values as determined by the Rhode Island vehicle value commission as of December 31, 1997, for the vehicles valued by the commission as of December 31, 1997. For all vehicle value types not valued by the Rhode Island vehicle value commission as of December 31, 1997, the maximum taxable value shall be the latest value determined by a local assessor from an appropriate pricing guide, multiplied by the ratio of assessment used by that city, town, or fire district for a particular model year as of December 31, 1997. The maximum taxable value shall be determined in such a manner as to incorporate the application of the percentage corresponding with the appropriate fiscal year as specified in § 44-34-11(c)(1)(iii).

(2) "Net assessed value" means the motor vehicle values as determined in accordance with § 44-34-11 less all personal exemptions allowed by cities, towns, fire districts, and the state of Rhode Island exemption value as provided for in subsection (c)(1) of this section.

(e) If any provision of this chapter shall be held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this chapter and the applications of the provisions hereof shall not be effected thereby.

History of Section. (P.L. 1998, ch. 31, art. 28, § 3; P.L. 1999, ch. 112, § 2; P.L. 1999, ch. 303, § 2; P.L. 2000, ch. 55, art. 19, § 7; P.L. 2000, ch. 74, § 1; P.L. 2002, ch. 65, art. 3, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 117, art. 17, § 3; P.L. 2006, ch. 246, art. 29, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 301, § 2; P.L. 2006, ch. 571, § 1; P.L. 2010, ch. 23, art. 23, § 2; P.L. 2010, ch. 120, § 3; P.L. 2011, ch. 363, § 2; P.L. 2017, ch. 302, art. 11, § 3.)