Reminder about employer withholding tax deadlines

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation’s latest Advisory reminds businesses and other entities that, despite the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), the deadlines remain the same for employers to remit Rhode Island personal income tax withheld from employee paychecks.

To view the latest Advisory, click here.

Update on refunds

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation continues to issue state tax refunds on schedule, despite the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting decline in revenues that is affecting many states across the country. To learn more, click here.

Latest Administrative Decision

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

• Decision No. 2020-05 focuses on whether the taxpayer owes sales and use tax, meals and beverage tax, prepaid wireless tax, and withholding tax, as assessed by the Division.

File your tax returns from home with Rhode Island Free File

If you're at home amid the coronavirus pandemic, remember that qualifying taxpayers can prepare and e-file their federal and Rhode Island personal income tax returns from home, at no charge, via the Rhode Island Free File program. To see if you qualify, click here.

Alert for some federal benefit recipients about economic impact payments

The Internal Revenue Service today issued a special alert for several groups of federal benefit recipients to act by this Wednesday, April 22, if they didn't file a tax return in 2018 or 2019 and have dependents so they can quickly receive the full amount of their economic impact payment.

To view the alert, click here.

To view the Division's latest Advisory about the federal economic impact payments (also known as "economic stimulus payments", "COVID-19 payments", or "recovery rebates"), 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.)

Use of face masks

In order to control the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), and in accordance with Governor Gina M. Raimondo’s Executive Order 20-24, the Rhode Island Division of Taxation encourages any member of the public entering the Powers Building (where the Division of Taxation is located) to have a face mask/covering while in the building.

The Division continues to encourage taxpayers, tax preparers, and others to use the Division's website, phone system, email system, and portal, instead of visiting the Division's office, in order to help control transmission of the coronavirus. Virtually all services the Division provides are available online or by phone. To learn more, click here. posted 04/17/2020

Latest edition of newsletter now available

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

• Due date of July 15
• Use of Division’s website, phones, and email system
• First tax bills of General Assembly session
• ‘Where’s my tax refund?’ online tool
• Filing for TDI tax refunds
• Rhode Island’s Free File program

This edition also includes the “Practitioners’ Corner” and “Legal Corner” features, information about Rhode Island’s tax regulations, and a reminder about the health insurance mandate.

To view a copy, click here.

Reminder about sales and use tax deadlines

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation reminds businesses and other holders of sales permits that the deadlines for filing and remitting Rhode Island sales and use tax have not changed.

The next such deadline is Monday, April 20, 2020, for remitting sales tax, meals and beverage tax, and certain other levies. To learn more, click here.

Information for employers about unemployment insurance tax

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation today posted an Advisory with information for employers about the unemployment insurance tax amid the coronavirus pandemic. To view, click here.

Security Summit message for tax professionals

The Internal Revenue Service, the Rhode Island Division of Taxation, and other partners in the Security Summit urge tax professionals to take additional security steps immediately to protect taxpayer data as more practitioners telework and security risks increase. Use VPNs, multi-factor authentication, and broad-based security software. To learn more, click here.

Reminder: April 15 deadline has been postponed

Tomorrow is April 15. That's normally the deadline for certain Rhode Island tax filings and payments.

However, the filing deadline and the payment deadline for individuals and certain entities has been moved to July 15 this year in light of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). To find out more, click here.

Division of Taxation reviewing today's IRS guidance

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation is reviewing guidance that was issued today by the United States Treasury and Internal Revenue Service and will be posting updates soon.

• For today's United States Treasury and IRS announcement, click here.
• For IRS Notice 2020-23, click here.

Get your refund promptly via Rhode Island Free File

Hardworking taxpayers need their tax refunds now to help during these challenging times.

By preparing and filing your federal and Rhode Island personal income tax returns online at no charge through the Rhode Island Free File program, you can receive your refund promptly via direct deposit. See if you're eligible for Rhode Island Free File by clicking here.

Message for tax preparers about data security

As you change business practices in response to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), it is critical that you take the time to review your data security practices. Whether you are working from home or in the office, take steps to ensure that your clients’ data is secure. For more information, please click here.

Advisory about due dates now updated

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation has updated its Advisory involving the new due dates for certain filings and payments.

Specifically, the tables in Advisory No. 2020-11 have been updated to include language about fiscal-year filers; to show that the new deadline also applies for composite income tax – estimated (Form RI-1040C-ES); and to provide information about pass-through withholding.

To view the updated Advisory, click here.

Division warns about stimulus scams, also offers FAQs

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation urges taxpayers and tax preparers to beware of scams involving the new federal “economic impact payments” (sometimes called “stimulus payments”, “COVID-19 payments”, or “recovery rebates”).  

Also on behalf of the Internal Revenue Service, which is one of the Division’s partners in the Security Summit, the Division is providing answers to some common questions about the payments.

To view the latest Advisory, click here.

Latest Administrative Decision

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

• Decision No. 2020-04 focuses on whether the taxpayer's television services are taxable under the sales and use tax statutes. An issue of nexus is also involved.

Rhode Island Free File still available

Many of the sites that are staffed by volunteers offering free, in-person tax service have closed, or have curtailed their operations, due to the coronavirus pandemic. These include many of the sites run by the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide programs.

But eligible taxpayers don't have to wait to file their taxes: They can use the Rhode Island Free File program to prepare and e-file their federal and Rhode Island personal income tax returns at any time -- and at no charge. To see if you are eligible, click here.