Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Spending deadline extended for grant program recipients

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation has extended, until January 31, 2021, a spending deadline for recipients of two grant programs that provide relief for certain businesses suffering losses due to coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic restrictions.

For more information, click here.



What's new for 2021

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation has posted an Advisory about what’s new from a tax standpoint for the year that begins on Friday, January 1, 2021.

For more information, click here.

Latest Administrative Decision

 The Rhode Island Division of Taxation has posted its latest Administrative Decision.

  • Decision No. 2020-09 focuses on whether the taxpayers' refund claim for 2015 should have been denied by the Division.

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Information for employers about withholding

The Division of Taxation has posted the new booklet of income tax withholding tables (used by employers and others to calculate how much to withhold from an employee’s pay in 2021 for Rhode Island personal income tax purposes). Click here to view. (See screenshot below.)

The Division has also posted the new version of Form RI W-4, “Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate” (which an employee may use to adjust the amount of Rhode Island personal income tax withheld from the employee's paycheck). Click here to view.



Thursday, December 17, 2020

Governor extends Executive Orders

Rhode Island Governor Gina M. Raimondo recently extended a number of Executive Orders until December 31, 2020, including the following:

  • Executive Order 20-02, declaring a state of emergency due to the dangers to health and life posed by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and
  • Executive Order 20-19, involving unemployment insurance matters (including relief for employers related to unemployment insurance tax charges).

These Executive Orders will remain in full force and effect until December 31, 2020, unless renewed, modified, or terminated by subsequent Executive Orders. For more information, click here.

Monday, December 14, 2020

Latest Administrative Decision

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation has posted its latest Administrative Decision.

  • Decision No. 2020-08 focuses on whether the taxpayer, a limited liability company (LLC), owes the annual charge (equivalent to the annual corporate minimum tax).

"Seminar for Tax Preparers" - slides now available

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation held its “Seminar for Tax Preparers” online on Wednesday, December 9, 2020. The seminar provided an update for tax preparers on what’s new for the coming tax-filing season, which begins next month. 

The Division has posted the seminar’s slides on its website. To view, please click here and scroll down the page to the “Practitioners Corner” area.




Sunday, December 13, 2020

Grant application deadlines are near

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation today issued a reminder about two State grant programs that provide relief for certain businesses that are suffering losses due to coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic restrictions.

“Affected businesses that have not already applied should take time this weekend to review each program’s requirements and other details, because the application deadline for both programs is right around the corner,” said Rhode Island Tax Administrator Neena Savage. 

For more information, click here.



Thursday, December 10, 2020

Grant program extended

The “RI on Pause” grant program has been extended through the third week of the Pause. 

In addition, the application deadline has been extended to 11:59 p.m. on Monday, December 14, 2020.

For more information, click here.

Division finalizes regulation on health insurance mandate

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation has posted, as final, a regulation involving Rhode Island’s health insurance mandate. For more information, click here.

Inflation-adjusted amounts for 2021

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation has announced the standard deduction amounts, tax bracket ranges, and other key items for the Rhode Island personal income tax for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2021.

For more information, click here.

Friday, December 4, 2020

Security Summit urges tax professionals to review data safeguards

The Security Summit today urged tax professionals to review their data safeguards to combat cybercriminals amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. 

For more information, click here.

Thursday, December 3, 2020

Security Summit offers tips for businesses, individuals

Tip for businesses

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation, the Internal Revenue Service, and other partners in the Security Summit urge businesses to be on guard as thieves try to use names and data stolen from businesses to file fraudulent tax returns. For more information, click here.

Tip for individuals

Also as part of the Security Summit effort, the IRS has announced that, starting in January 2021, the Identity Protection PIN Opt-In Program will be expanded to all taxpayers who can properly verify their identities. For more information, click here.



Wednesday, December 2, 2020

'RI on Pause' grant program's formula modified for certain businesses

In response to concerns raised by the impacted business community, the Rhode Island Division of Taxation has modified the Rhode Island on Pause grant program to provide certain industries the option to report the tax filer’s Rhode Island gross receipts. 

Businesses eligible to use gross receipts include: indoor recreation and entertainment establishments, gyms and fitness centers, indoor sports facilities, and event support professionals. For more information, click here.

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Security Summit announces tax-prep security feature

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation, the Internal Revenue Service, and other partners in the Security Summit announced today that multi-factor authentication, a security feature, will be available on all 2021 online tax preparation products. To learn more, click here.



Estate tax credit amount and threshold

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation today announced the Rhode Island estate tax credit amount and threshold for the estates of decedents dying on or after January 1, 2021. For more information, click here.

Monday, November 30, 2020

Security Summit: Beware of scams and schemes

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation, the Internal Revenue Service, and other partners in the Security Summit today warned taxpayers and tax professionals to beware of scams and identity theft schemes by criminals who seek to take advantage of holiday shopping, the approaching tax season, and coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns. To learn more, click here


Friday, November 27, 2020

Online application for new grant program

The application for the ‘Rhode Island on Pause’ Grant Program is now live on the Division of Taxation’s website in both English and Spanish. 

Earlier this week, Governor Gina M. Raimondo announced the program, which will provide direct financial support to gyms, restaurants, fitness centers, event planners, bars, and a number of other businesses that are subject to new restrictions amid the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. 

In coordination with the Governor’s announcement, the Division of Taxation launched a new webpage earlier this week, including frequently asked questions, to explain how the program works and provide businesses and their advisors with helpful information regarding applying for the grants. 

The webpage, including the online application and FAQs, is available now, via the following link: http://www.tax.ri.gov/RIonPause/. For today's announcement, click here.


Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Grants available for businesses affected by COVID restrictions

Rhode Island Governor Gina M. Raimondo today announced a new grant program for gyms, restaurants, caterers, food trucks, fitness centers, event planners, bars, and a number of other businesses that are subject to new restrictions amid the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. For more information, click here.



Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Reminder about grants for restaurants and bars

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation today issued a reminder about the grant program announced by Governor Gina M. Raimondo for restaurants and bars that have been ordered to close earlier than usual because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Governor Raimondo developed the grant program to coincide with her Executive Order mandating early shutdown for bars and restaurants – part of a range of measures aimed at limiting the spread of the coronavirus and reducing the rising number of coronavirus cases.

Using federal Coronavirus Relief Funds, the Governor authorized the payment of grants to the impacted businesses. To learn more, please click here.

Monday, November 23, 2020

Withholding-tax guidance - emergency regulation extended

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation has extended an emergency regulation that provides withholding-tax guidance for employers that have employees who are temporarily working remotely due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

To view the emergency regulation, which has been extended to January 18, 2021, click here. To view a related Advisory, click here.


Thursday, November 19, 2020

Reminder: Annual e-file shutdown and switchover

Reminder for taxpayers and tax preparers:

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation’s annual electronic filing shutdown and switchover will occur this Saturday -- November 21, 2020.

Individuals and businesses seeking to e-file their Rhode Island returns for tax year 2019 must do so on or before Saturday, November 21, 2020. After that date, Rhode Island returns for tax year 2019 must be filed on paper.

  • Each year, the Division temporarily closes its system to e-filing in order to prepare the system for the upcoming filing season. The Internal Revenue Service, and many other states, follow the same practice. This year, the Rhode Island modernized e-file (MeF) shutdown and cutover will occur on Saturday, November 21, 2020. All transmissions must be submitted before 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time on that date.

Monday, November 9, 2020

New online application, webpage, FAQs for relief program

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation today unveiled a new webpage, online application form, and FAQs as part of a relief program announced by Governor Gina M. Raimondo for restaurants and bars that have been ordered to close earlier than usual because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. To learn more, click here.




Friday, November 6, 2020

Relief for restaurants and bars that are subject to early-closing order

Rhode Island Governor Gina M. Raimondo has announced a relief program for restaurants, bars, and other such businesses that have been ordered to close earlier than usual because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Using federal Coronavirus Relief Funds, the Governor authorized the payment of grants to these impacted businesses. 

Under the program, the Rhode Island Department of Revenue’s Division of Taxation will provide grants to bars and restaurants adversely impacted by COVID-19. For more information, click here.

Thursday, November 5, 2020

Reporting guidance on health insurance mandate

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation today posted reporting guidance involving Rhode Island's health insurance mandate (also known as the individual mandate). The guidance, in the form of answers to frequently asked questions, is geared mainly to employers, health insurers, payroll-service providers, and others. For more information, click here.

Wednesday, November 4, 2020

Security Summit alert about new scam

The Internal Revenue Service, the Rhode Island Division of Taxation, and other partners in the Security Summit today warned of a new text scam in which thieves try to trick people into disclosing bank account information under the guise of receiving the $1,200 federal economic impact payment.

For more information, click here.



Governor extends Executive Orders

Rhode Island Governor Gina M. Raimondo recently extended a number of Executive Orders until December 3, 2020, including the following:

  • Executive Order 20-02, declaring a state of emergency due to the dangers to health and life posed by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and
  • Executive Order 20-19, involving unemployment insurance matters (including relief for employers related to unemployment insurance tax charges).

These Executive Orders will remain in full force and effect until December 3, 2020, unless renewed, modified or terminated by subsequent Executive Orders.  For more information, click here.

Monday, November 2, 2020

Division closed on Election Day and two other November holidays

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation reminds taxpayers, tax professionals, and others that the Division’s office will be closed for three State holidays this month -- including Election Day on Tuesday, November 3. 

Forms, instructions, and other publications, as well as many services, will continue to be available through the Division’s website. For more information, click here.

Friday, October 30, 2020

Annual e-file shutdown and switchover

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation’s annual electronic filing shutdown and switchover will occur on November 21, 2020.

Individuals and businesses seeking to e-file their Rhode Island returns for tax year 2019 must do so on or before Saturday, November 21, 2020. After that date, Rhode Island returns for tax year 2019 must be filed on paper.

  • Each year, the Division temporarily closes its system to e-filing in order to prepare the system for the upcoming filing season. The Internal Revenue Service, and many other states, follow the same practice. This year, the Rhode Island modernized e-file (MeF) shutdown and cutover will occur on Saturday, November 21, 2020. All transmissions must be submitted before 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time on that date.

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Reminder about office visit protocol

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation reminds taxpayers, tax professionals, vendors, and others to use Rhode Island’s self-screening tool prior to visiting the Division’s office in order to limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). For details, click here.



Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Gas tax

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation has applied a statutory formula to determine the Rhode Island gasoline tax rate that will be in effect as of July 1, 2021. For more information, click here.

Friday, October 16, 2020

E-file schedule this weekend

 The Internal Revenue Service has announced that the modernized e-file (MeF) system will be temporarily unavailable for a time this weekend due to scheduled maintenance. As a result, federal and Rhode Island e-filing will be unavailable during the period.

The MeF system shutdown begins at 7:00 a.m. Eastern time tomorrow, Saturday, October 17, 2020, and is scheduled to end at 7:00 a.m. Eastern time on Sunday, October 18, 2020.

The IRS will not be accepting electronically filed federal tax returns during the period. Also, the joint fed-state e-file program will be unavailable during the period. Therefore, Rhode Island returns transmitted via e-file during the period will not be transmitted to the state. Tax preparers and taxpayers should plan accordingly.

  • The joint fed-state e-file program is a cooperative tax-filing effort between the IRS and most states, including Rhode Island. In general, it allows for federal and state returns to be e-filed simultaneously to the IRS. Once the returns are filed, the IRS keeps the federal portion; the state portion is passed along electronically to the applicable state.

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Tomorrow's deadline

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation reminds tax professionals and taxpayers that tomorrow -- Thursday, October 15, 2020 -- is the deadline for returns that are filed on extension. For more information, click here.

Friday, October 9, 2020

Reminder about October 15 deadline

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation's latest Advisory, posted this afternoon, reminds tax professionals and taxpayers that Thursday, October 15, is the deadline for returns that are filed on extension.

The Advisory includes:

  • A table of due dates for individuals and entities
  • Tips for last-minute filers
  • Information about the Free File program
  • Details on how to contact the Division
  • Convenient options for making tax payments
  • Information about penalty relief

To view the Advisory, click here.

Newsletter now available

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation has posted the latest issue of its quarterly newsletter. Topics include the following:

  • The October 15 extended due date
  • Convenient options for making tax payments
  • The Division’s “Seminar for Tax Preparers”
  • Tax treatment of impact payments
  • New appointments
  • The Rhode Island Free File program
  • The “Legal Corner” feature
  • The “Practitioners’ Corner” feature
  • A reminder about Rhode Island’s health insurance mandate

To view a copy, click here.




Thursday, October 8, 2020

Interest rates

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation has set the interest rates that will apply in 2021 to overpayments and underpayments. For more information, click here.


Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Governor extends executive orders

Rhode Island Governor Gina M. Raimondo recently extended a number of Executive Orders until November 2, 2020, including the following:

  • Executive Order 20-02, declaring a state of emergency due to the dangers to health and life posed by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and
  • Executive Order 20-19, involving unemployment insurance matters (including relief for employers related to unemployment insurance tax charges).

These Executive Orders will remain in full force and effect until November 2, 2020, unless renewed, modified or terminated by subsequent Executive Orders.  For more information, click here.

Friday, September 18, 2020

E-file schedule on Sunday

The Internal Revenue Service has announced that the modernized e-file (MeF) system will be temporarily unavailable for a time this Sunday due to scheduled maintenance. As a result, federal and Rhode Island e-filing will be unavailable during the period.

The MeF system shutdown begins at 12:01 a.m. Eastern time on Sunday, September 20, 2020, and ends at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time the same day.

The IRS will not be accepting electronically filed federal tax returns during the period. Also, the joint fed-state e-file program will be unavailable during the period. Therefore, Rhode Island returns transmitted via e-file during the period will not be transmitted to the state. Tax preparers and taxpayers should plan accordingly.

  • The joint fed-state e-file program is a cooperative tax-filing effort between the IRS and most states, including Rhode Island. In general, it allows for federal and state returns to be e-filed simultaneously to the IRS. Once the returns are filed, the IRS keeps the federal portion; the state portion is passed along electronically to the applicable state.

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Letters involving federal economic impact payments

Later this month, the Internal Revenue Service will start mailing letters to roughly nine million Americans who typically don't file federal income tax returns, but who may be eligible for -- and have not registered to claim -- a federal economic impact payment.

The letters are being sent to people who haven't filed a return for either 2018 or 2019. Based on an internal IRS analysis, these are people who don't typically have a tax return filing requirement because they appear to have very low incomes, based on Forms W-2, 1099s and other third-party statements available to the IRS. But many in this group are still eligible to receive an economic impact payment (also known as an "economic stimulus payment", "COVID-19 payment", or "recovery rebate").

The letters will urge recipients to register at IRS.gov by October 15, 2020, in order to receive their payment by the end of this calendar year. Individuals can receive up to $1,200, and married couples can receive up to $2,400. People with qualifying children under age 17 at the end of 2019 can get up to an additional $500 for each qualifying child.

For more information, click here. To get an idea of what the letter will look like (so you can avoid scams), click here.

(Note: The Rhode Island Division of Taxation is providing the information above on behalf of its partner in the Security Summit, the Internal Revenue Service. The Division of Taxation does not have a role in issuing the new federal economic impact payments.)




Monday, September 14, 2020

Reminder: Deadline tomorrow

Tomorrow -- September 15 -- is the deadline for certain payments of estimated tax. There are several convenient options available to make payments, including online. To learn more, click here.


Friday, September 11, 2020

Withholding-tax guidance - emergency regulation extended

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation has extended, by 60 days, an emergency regulation that provides withholding-tax guidance for employers that have employees who are temporarily working remotely due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

To view the emergency regulation, which has been extended to November 18, 2020, click here. To view a related Advisory, click here.

Thursday, September 10, 2020

E-signatures

 As a convenience for taxpayers and their representatives amid the pandemic, the Rhode Island Division of Taxation announced today that it will allow electronic signatures in place of handwritten signatures for certain types of forms.

“We realize the challenges that many taxpayers and their representatives face amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and we want to be as accommodating as possible given the circumstances,” said Rhode Island Tax Administrator Neena Savage.

The Division will accept electronic signatures for two forms, both of which involve the sale of Rhode Island real estate by nonresident individuals or entities. For more information, click here.

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Summary of entity tax obligations, including LLCs

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation has updated two of its Notices, mainly to reflect the 2019 law under which pass-through entities can elect to pay an entity-level tax.

  • Notice 2020-03 summarizes the State tax obligations of limited liability companies (LLCs), including single-member LLCs.
  • Notice 2020-04 summarizes the State tax obligations of entities overall, including C corporations, S corporations, LLCs, and partnerships.

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Due date is September 15 for estimated taxes

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation reminds tax professionals and taxpayers that September 15, 2020, is the deadline for certain payments of estimated tax. There are several convenient options available to make payments, including online. To learn more, click here.

E-filing schedule this weekend

The Internal Revenue Service has announced that the modernized e-file (MeF) system will be temporarily unavailable for a length of time this coming Labor Day weekend due to scheduled maintenance. As a result, federal and Rhode Island e-filing will be unavailable during the period.

The MeF system shutdown begins at 7:00 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday, September 5, 2020, and ends at 7:00 a.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, September 8, 2020.

The IRS will not be accepting electronically filed federal tax returns during the period. Also, the joint fed-state e-file program will be unavailable during the period. Therefore, Rhode Island returns transmitted via e-file during the period will not be transmitted to the state. Tax preparers and taxpayers should plan accordingly.

  • The joint fed-state e-file program is a cooperative tax-filing effort between the IRS and most states, including Rhode Island. In general, it allows for federal and state returns to be e-filed simultaneously to the IRS. Once the returns are filed, the IRS keeps the federal portion; the state portion is passed along electronically to the applicable state.

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Annual report on tax credits, incentives

The Division of Taxation has posted on its website its latest annual tax credit and incentive report, as required by Rhode Island statute.

The latest report identifies 12 businesses that received a combined total of approximately $32.2 million in certain state tax credits and incentives for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2020.

Two of those recipients also received a combined total of approximately $5.1 million in other Rhode Island tax credits and incentives, the report shows.

Historic tax credits

A separate part of the report shows, in the aggregate, certain information related to projects that have requested certification under Rhode Island’s historic preservation tax credit program of 2013.

The report shows, in the aggregate, the number of jobs created, the number of Rhode Island businesses retained for work, the total amount of qualified rehabilitation expenditures, and the cost of materials or products purchased from Rhode Island businesses. To view the full report, click here.


Thursday, August 20, 2020

Latest Security Summit tips for tax professionals

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation recently posted two Advisories that contain the latest Security Summit tips for tax professionals. 

  • ADV 2020-37 urges tax professionals to be alert to new phishing scams that try to take advantage of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the federal economic stimulus payments, and increased teleworking.
  • ADV 2020-38 reminds tax professionals that federal law requires them to have a written information security plan.

Friday, August 7, 2020

Use self-screening tool before visiting Division's office

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation reminds taxpayers, tax professionals, vendors, and others to use Rhode Island’s self-screening tool prior to visiting the Division’s office in order to limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). To learn more, click here.

Proposed regulation on individual mandate

 The Rhode Island Division of Taxation has proposed a regulation involving Rhode Island’s health insurance mandate (also known as the individual mandate). To learn more, click here.

Tax professionals: Use VPN to secure client data

 As more tax professionals consider teleworking during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Security Summit urges tax practitioners to secure remote locations by using a virtual private network (VPN) to protect against cyber intruders. To learn more, click here.


Thursday, August 6, 2020

Latest Administrative Decision

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation has posted its latest Administrative Decision.
  • Decision No. 2020-07 looks at whether hemp cigarettes seized by the Division meet the statutory definition of "cigarettes" and thus require a Rhode Island cigarette tax stamp.

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Security Summit reminder for tax professionals


The Rhode Island Division of Taxation, the Internal Revenue Service, and other partners in the Security Summit remind tax professionals to review critical security steps to ensure that they are fully protecting client data, whether they are working in the office or at a remote location. Remember: Cybercriminals are active amid the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). For more information, click here.


Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Reminder about tomorrow's deadline

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation reminds taxpayers and tax professionals that the deadline is tomorrow – Wednesday, July 15 -- for filings and payments involving Rhode Island resident and nonresident personal income tax returns, covering the 2019 tax year. For more information, click here.

Monday, July 13, 2020

Meet Wednesday's deadline with Free File

Reminder: The new deadline for filing your taxes is this Wednesday, July 15. Many taxpayers can prepare and file their federal and Rhode Island personal income tax returns online at no charge via Rhode Island Free File. To see if you're eligible, click here.


Governor extends Executive Orders

Rhode Island Governor Gina M. Raimondo recently extended a number of Executive Orders until August 2, 2020, including the following:

  • Executive Order 20-02, declaring a state of emergency due to the dangers to health and life posed by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and
  • Executive Order 20-19, involving unemployment insurance matters (including relief for employers related to unemployment insurance tax charges).

These Executive Orders will remain in full force and effect until August 2, 2020, unless renewed, modified or terminated by subsequent Executive Orders.  For more information, click here.

Friday, July 10, 2020

Newsletter now available


The Rhode Island Division of Taxation has posted the latest issue of its quarterly newsletter. Topics include the following:

  • The July 15 deadline for filings and payments
  • Unemployment benefits and taxes
  • Convenient options for making tax payments
  • Recently enacted Rhode Island tax legislation
  • The “Legal Corner” feature
  • The Rhode Island Free File program
  • The “Practitioners’ Corner” feature
  • A reminder about Rhode Island’s health insurance mandate
To view a copy, click here.

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Deadline is two weeks away

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation reminds taxpapers and tax professionals that the deadline for filings and payments involving Rhode Island resident and nonresident personal income tax returns, covering the 2019 tax year, is two weeks away.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the deadline for filings and payments was postponed from April 15 to July 15. (July 15, 2020, is also the deadline for a number of other filings and payments.) No late charges will apply to filings and payments that are made on or before July 15, 2020. For more information, click here.

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

E-filing schedule this weekend

The Internal Revenue Service has announced that the modernized e-file (MeF) system will be temporarily unavailable for a time this coming Sunday morning due to maintenance. As a result, federal and Rhode Island e-filing will be unavailable during the period.

The MeF system will be shut down from 12:01 a.m. Eastern time on Sunday, June 21, 2020, through 10:30 a.m. Eastern time on Sunday, June 21, 2020.

The IRS will not be accepting electronically filed federal tax returns during the period. Also, the joint fed-state e-file program will be unavailable during the period. Therefore, Rhode Island returns transmitted via e-file during the period will not be transmitted to the state. Tax preparers and taxpayers should plan accordingly.

Monday, June 15, 2020

Deadline is one month away; consider Rhode Island Free File

Reminder: The new deadline for filing your taxes is one month away. Many taxpayers can file their federal and Rhode Island personal income tax returns online at no charge via Rhode Island Free File. To see if you're eligible, click here.



Friday, June 12, 2020

Reminder about postponed due date


This is the weekend that some taxpayers and tax professionals might normally use to prepare and file returns and make payments ahead of the June 15 due date.

However, because of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), the Rhode Island Division of Taxation has postponed certain key tax deadlines for individuals and businesses. 

The relief applies to estimated payments of Rhode Island personal income tax and estimated payments of Rhode Island business tax, and to certain other filings and payments, that would normally be due on June 15, 2020. The deadline for those filings and payments is postponed to July 15, 2020.

No penalties and no interest will apply, regardless of the amount owed, if filings and payments are made on or before July 15, 2020. 

Tax preparers and taxpayers do not need to file any additional forms or contact the Division of Taxation in any way in order to qualify for this Rhode Island filing and payment relief; the relief is automatic, and the Division has adjusted its systems accordingly. 

For more information, including a full listing of taxes and forms covered under the relief provision, click here.

Thursday, June 11, 2020

Office reopens tomorrow, Friday

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation’s office reopens to the public tomorrow, Friday, June 12, 2020, but the Division continues to urge taxpayers and others to use its phone system, email system, website, and portal, instead of in-person visits, to limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). 

For more information, click here.


Relief involving sales permits

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation today announced temporary relief for those retailers who have fallen behind in their obligations amid the coronavirus pandemic.

For retailers whose sales permits would normally not be renewed on July 1, 2020, because they are not in compliance with Rhode Island state tax and filing requirements, the Division will automatically issue temporary 90-day sales permits.  That way, the retailers may continue to legally operate their businesses while they make arrangements to come back into compliance during the 90-day period.

To view the Advisory, which provides details (see screenshot below), click here.


Monday, June 8, 2020

Governor extends Executive Orders

Rhode Island Governor Gina M. Raimondo has extended a number of Executive Orders until July 4, 2020, including Executive Order 20-02, declaring a state of emergency due to the dangers to health and life posed by COVID-19, and Executive Order 20-19, involving unemployment insurance matters (including relief for employers related to unemployment insurance tax charges). For more information, click here.

Some volunteer tax-preparation sites are open

When the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) struck, a number of volunteer tax-preparation sites closed down.

However, the Internal Revenue Service has recently updated its website to provide details on some of the volunteer tax-preparation sites in Rhode Island that remain open.

For information, click here. Keep in mind that this season's filing deadline is July 15, 2020.

Friday, June 5, 2020

Reminder: Division remains closed to public, but many services are still available

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation provides the following reminder:

Due to some damage incurred at the William E. Powers building early on June 2 from the riots in downtown Providence, the Rhode Division of Taxation’s office remains closed to the public -- but many services are still available for taxpayers, tax professionals, and other stakeholders.

“Although our office remains closed temporarily, we continue to operate, with certain limitations, and we continue to provide needed services for the State of Rhode Island, its taxpayers, and other stakeholders,” said Rhode Island Tax Administrator Neena Savage.

“Virtually all services the Division provides are available via the agency’s website, email system, and portal,” she said. “We will provide further updates on this blog as they become available.”

For example, while there is no walk-in service available, and telephone service is limited, the Division can still be contacted via email, payments may be made electronically, and returns may be filed electronically. 

The Division continues to issue tax refunds. The Division continues to accept paper filings and payments by check via the United States Postal Service and via private delivery service (although there may be a brief delay in processing). 

Furthermore, forms, instructions, notices, rulings, and other publications are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from the Division’s website: www.tax.ri.gov



A brief list of the services that continue to be available, and the few that are temporarily unavailable, is in the table below. 



Division of Taxation services this week: What’s available, what’s not*
Services available:
Services not available:
Electronic payments
Walk-in service
Electronic filings
Phone service
Payments and filings by mail

Payments, filings by private delivery service

* Electronic filings and payments may be made via tax-preparation software, the Division’s portal, online by credit card or debit card, or the Business Tax Filings webpage (depending on the filing and/or payment – not all methods accept all filings/payments. A third-party charge applies to payments by credit card/debit card).

Although the Division will continue to accept payments and filings by mail or private delivery service, such as United Parcel Service (UPS), Federal Express (FedEx), or DHL Express, there may be a brief delay in processing.

Some phone service will be available, but the Division urges use of email.














A list of frequently used email addresses and Division website links is in the table below.


Division of Taxation: Some key contact information*
Email addresses
Personal income tax
Forms and instructions
Sales/use tax, cigarette tax
Collections
Corporate and business taxes
Estate tax
Sale of real estate by nonresident
Additional resources
Main website
Coronavirus webpage
Forms and instructions
Rhode Island Free File program
Personal income tax refund status
Portal
Business tax EFT filing accounts
Payments via credit card, debit card
Employer tax
Detailed list of contact information
Division of Taxation blog, for latest news
Division of Taxation on Twitter
* Electronic filings and payments may be made via tax-preparation software, the Division’s portal, online by credit card or debit card, or the Business Tax Filings webpage (depending on the filing and/or payment – not all methods accept all filings/payments. A third-party charge applies to payments by credit card/debit card). Limited phone service is available, but the Division urges use of email.

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