Friday, December 22, 2017

Tax rate on insurance premiums

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation today posted, as final, a regulation that has to do with a recently enacted law involving Rhode Island’s insurance premium tax rate.

The law, enacted in June 2016, is intended to encourage insurance companies to create jobs in Rhode Island by linking Rhode Island’s insurance premium tax rate to the number of jobs created by the
industry in Rhode Island. Adding new jobs in the state could trigger a reduction in the tax rate insurance companies will pay.

The tax rate reduction is designed to be revenue-neutral by requiring that any reduction in insurance company tax rates is fully offset by the income tax generated from the newly created jobs.

The new regulation sets the standards by which the number of jobs at qualifying insurers is calculated. 

The new regulation also identifies whether the statutory criteria was met during calendar year 2016 to reduce the insurance premium tax rate.

  • According to the regulation, there has not been a sufficient net increase in "qualifying jobs" in the preceding calendar year to offset a material reduction in the premium tax. Thus, there will be no change in the current premium tax rate during calendar year 2018.

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Tax amnesty on Capitol TV

Rhode Island Tax Administrator Neena S. Savage explains Rhode Island's tax amnesty program in an interview with Capitol Television. To see the video, click here. The interview can also be viewed from the Rhode Island Department of Revenue website here.


Tax changes for 2018

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation today issued a reminder about state tax changes that take effect January 1, 2018. For details, click here.





Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Division takes part in tax forum

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation today took part in the "Annual Tax Forum" sponsored by the Rhode Island Society of Certified Public Accountants. Rhode Island Tax Administrator Neena S. Savage and other speakers from the Division discussed what's new for the coming filing season and the coming tax year. The day-long event, held at the Providence Marriott Downtown hotel on Orms Street in Providence, drew dozens of CPAs.

Some of the CPAs at today's tax event in Providence.

Friday, December 15, 2017

2018 estimated tax payment in 2017


2018 estimated tax payment in 2017

Some tax professionals have contacted the Rhode Island Division of Taxation recently about making a 2018 estimated tax payment during 2017. (Their inquiries are the result of tax planning related to proposed federal tax changes now being weighed by Congress.) In response to these requests, the Division provides the following information.

Personal income tax

As a convenience for taxpayers who want to make a 2018 estimated tax payment in 2017, the Division of Taxation has posted next year’s Form RI-1040ES earlier than it normally would. The 2018 version of Form RI-1040ES, “Rhode Island Resident and Nonresident Estimated Payment Coupons,” is available by clicking here.

If you want to make an estimated payment for 2018 – and make it before the end of this month (in other words, before the end of 2017), fill out the April coupon in the 2018 version of Form RI-1040ES. Send the completed April 2018 coupon, along with a check or money order, to:

Rhode Island Division of Taxation
One Capitol Hill
Providence, R.I. 02908

If you prefer to make an estimated payment of Rhode Island personal income tax for 2018 online, and make it by the end of 2017, you may pay by credit card or debit card. First, see the helpful explanation on the Division of Taxation website here. at the following:  After that, use the Division’s credit card/debit card site here. Under “Personal Income Taxes,” click on “Estimate – 1040ES.” On the next page, be sure to click on “2018” as the filing year.

Trust and estate income tax

As a convenience for trusts and estates that seek to make a 2018 estimated tax payment during 2017, the Division of Taxation has posted the 2018 Form RI-1041ES, “Rhode Island Fiduciary Estimated Payment Coupons,” earlier than it normally would. The 2018 version of Form RI-1041ES is available here.

If a trust or estate wants to make an estimated payment for 2018 – and make it before the end of 2017, the entity should mail the completed April 2018 coupon of Form RI-1041ES, along with a check or money order, to:

Rhode Island Division of Taxation
One Capitol Hill
Providence, R.I. 02908

Composite filers

Some pass-through entities, such as partnerships, file composite income tax returns each year on Form RI-1040C, “Composite Income Tax Return.” The form is typically filed to report a nonresident owner’s share of Rhode Island source income. The entity computes the Rhode Island personal income tax and pays it on behalf of the nonresident partner/owner/shareholder/.

If such an entity wants to make an estimated payment for 2018 – and make it before the end of 2017, the entity should file the 2018 version of Form RI-1040C-ES, “Composite Income Tax Estimated Payment.” The 2018 version is available hereSend the completed 2018 coupon, along with a check or money order, to:

Rhode Island Division of Taxation
One Capitol Hill
Providence, R.I. 02908


Thursday, December 14, 2017

Film tax credit: public hearing on regulation

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation plans to hold a public hearing on January 3, 2018, on proposed changes to its regulation involving the motion picture production tax credit (also known as the film tax credit).

Among other things, the Division would:

  • add a requirement that costs be arms-length transactions to qualify as costs for purposes of the credit;
  • delete video games from the definition of a motion picture;
  • adjust the language involving the sunset provision; and
  • change the regulation's format so that it complies with the Rhode Island Code of Regulations, a uniform state code.

The proposed regulation is being jointly promulgated by the Rhode Island Division of Taxation and the Rhode Island Film and Television Office. For more information on the regulation and the public hearing, click here.

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

New email scam targets Hotmail

The Internal Revenue Service today warned taxpayers and tax professionals about a new email scam that targets Hotmail users. The scam is being used to steal personal and financial information. For more information, click here


New reservation system for amnesty

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation has launched an online reservation system for taxpayers who want to make appointments involving Rhode Island’s new state tax amnesty program. For more information, click here.


Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Latest round of regulations

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation has posted, as final, 19 regulations with the Rhode Island Department of State (Secretary of State).

The posting is part of the Division's months-long effort to streamline and re-codify its regulations. In the latest actions:

  • Seventeen regulations involving motor vehicles were repealed.
  • Substantially all of the contents of the repealed regulations mentioned above were consolidated into a single, new regulation.
  • An existing regulation -- involving optional service, maintenance, and extended warranty contracts -- was reformatted to be presented in the new Rhode Island Code of Regulations format. 

The latest Division regulations, including repeals, are all effective December 21, 2017, and are available on the Department of State website (see screenshot below).



Monday, December 4, 2017

Tax administrator on radio to promote amnesty

Rhode Island Tax Administrator Neena Savage visited radio station WPRO (AM 630) this morning to highlight the state tax amnesty program, which began its first full week today. She was interviewed on "The News with Gene Valicenti" show and discussed the details of tax amnesty, as well as other topics.
WPRO host Gene Valicenti interviews Tax Administrator Neena Savage



Tax seminar held at CCRI

Nearly 100 tax preparers attended the Rhode Island Division of Taxation's "Seminar for Tax Preparers" held on Friday, December 1, at the Community College of Rhode Island's Knight Campus in Warwick. Topics included what's new for the coming filing season and what's new for the coming tax year.

Friday, December 1, 2017

Small businesses warned about ID theft

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation, the Internal Revenue Service, and other Security Summit partners warned small businesses today to be on guard against a growing wave of identity theft against employers. To learn more, click here.