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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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	Tax.Assist@tax.ri.gov
Forms and instructions	Tax.Forms@tax.ri.gov
Sales/use tax, cigarette tax	Tax.Excise@tax.ri.gov
Collections	Tax.Collections@tax.ri.gov
Corporate and business taxes	Tax.Corporate@tax.ri.gov
Estate tax	Tax.Estate@tax.ri.gov
Sale of real estate by nonresident	Tax.Assist@tax.ri.gov
Additional resources
Main website	http://www.tax.ri.gov/
Coronavirus webpage	http://www.tax.ri.gov/COVID/
Forms and instructions	http://www.tax.ri.gov/taxforms/
Rhode Island Free File program	http://www.tax.ri.gov/misc/efile.php
Personal income tax refund status	https://www.ri.gov/taxation/refund/
Portal	https://taxportal.ri.gov/
Business tax EFT filing accounts	https://www.ri.gov/taxation/business/index.php
Payments via credit card, debit card	http://www.tax.ri.gov/misc/creditcard.php
Employer tax	http://www.uitax.ri.gov/
Detailed list of contact information	http://www.tax.ri.gov/contact/
Division of Taxation blog, for latest news	http://rhodeislandtax.blogspot.com/
Division of Taxation on Twitter	https://twitter.com/RhodeIslandTax
* 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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COVID-19 Relief Town Hall Discussion

The Internal Revenue Service, the Rhode Island Division of Taxation, and others will take part in the IRS’s “COVID-19 Relief Town Hall Discussion” tomorrow, Thursday, June 4, 2020. 

The free 60-minute teleconference call, which is open to the public, will cover a variety of relief provisions related to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Topics will include the federal economic impact payments (sometimes called “stimulus payments”, “COVID-19 payments”, or “recovery rebates”); tax-filing and tax-payment updates; awareness about scams; the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program; and other individual assistance and relief programs and initiatives. 

Registration is not required. However, the number of teleconference phone lines available is limited, so those interested in listening to the conference are urged to call in early. The teleconference will begin at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time and will run for approximately one hour. For details, click here.

Division remains closed through Friday, but many services still available

Due to some damage incurred to the William E. Powers building from Monday’s riots in downtown Providence, the Rhode Island Division of Taxation’s office will remain closed to the public through Friday, June 5, 2020, but the Division continues to offer a number of services to taxpayers, tax professionals, and other stakeholders. Click here for details.

Rhode Island Division of Taxation office closed today

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation office is closed today because the Powers Building, where the Division is located, is closed. The Division will update this blog with further information when it becomes available.

Meanwhile, please note that many forms, instructions, and other services are available on the Division's website.