Are you eligible for free tax filing?

If you don't have the money to pay a professional to do your tax return, or if you're simply a do-it-yourself taxpayer, one option available to you is Rhode Island's Free File program. Rhode Island Free File lets eligible taxpayers prepare and e-file their federal and Rhode Island returns at no charge.

Rhode Island Free File is the result of a partnership between the Internal Revenue Service, the
Rhode Island Division of Taxation, a number of other states, and the Free File Alliance. The Free File Alliance is a group of industry-leading private-sector tax preparation companies that have agreed to provide free commercial online tax preparation and electronic filing.

The "Free File" section of the Rhode Island Division of Taxation's website contains information about seven participating tax software companies. To see whether any of their free offers may suit you, click here.

Filing season is now open

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation has officially begun accepting and processing personal and business returns for the 2018 tax year.

For more information about the new filing season -- including some of the changes involving the personal income tax, click here.

Latest Administrative Decision

In the first Administrative Decision of 2019, the issue is whether the Rhode Island Division of Taxation properly assessed a taxpayer for tax owed, interest, and penalties. Details are contained in Administrative Decision 2019-01.

Software cleared for e-file

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation has cleared for use a number of tax-preparation software programs for electronic filing for tax year 2018. These programs have completed and passed acceptance testing for tax year 2018 for e-filing purposes. The list, which is now on the Division’s website, will be updated as needed.

(Note: Although the Rhode Island filing season officially begins January 28, some software providers may allow e-filing in advance of that date and hold the completed returns until the season officially starts.)

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation this filing season will accept the following returns under its electronic filing program:

• Form RI-1040 
• Form RI-1040NR 
• Form RI-1120C 
• Form RI-1120S 
• Form RI-1065

Sales tax filing calendar

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation has posted the 2019 version of its sales tax filing calendar. Geared mainly to businesses, the calendar shows due dates in 2019 for remitting not just sales tax, but also meals and beverage tax; hotel tax; tax on short-term residential rentals (such as beach cottages); tax on prepaid wireless; real estate conveyance tax, and other levies. To view or download, click here.

Division employees donate food for needy

A number of employees at the Rhode Island Division of Taxation recently donated more than 280 food items to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank to aid the needy.

Leading the drive were employees of the Division of Taxation's Audit & Investigation section. (See photo below)

Among the Division of Taxation staff members who took part in the food drive to aid the needy were (from left) Kathryn Demers, Sharon Moreno, and Patrick Gengarella.

Deadline for fourth-quarter payments

Today is the deadline for making fourth-quarter estimated payments of Rhode Island personal income tax. Payment must be made or postmarked by 11:59 p.m. on January 15, 2019. If you don’t have your own estimated tax coupons, blank copies are available on the Division of Taxation website.

January 15 is also the deadline for fourth-quarter estimated payments of income tax for calendar-year fiduciary filers (involving estates and trusts), pass-through withholding filers, and composite return filers. January 15 is also the reporting deadline for those subject to the bank deposits tax.

Recent developments

Sales tax

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation issued a reminder today that the annual sales tax reconciliation is due on or before January 31, 2019. Many such returns can be filed online; some must be filed on paper. For details, click here.

Withholding

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation has posted the withholding tax filing due date calendar for 2019. To view or download, click here.

Rhode Island filing season starts January 28

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation announced today that the start of the Rhode Island tax-filing season will be January 28. For the benefit and convenience of taxpayers and tax preparers, the Rhode Island launch date will be the same as the federal launch date.

The Division's announcement about the Rhode Island filing season also includes information about business returns, the filing deadline, and withholding.