Tax Administrator, Attorney General warn about email scam

Rhode Island Tax Administrator Neena Savage and Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha today warned taxpayers to be on alert for an e-mail scam in which someone claiming to be from the Rhode Island Department of Revenue’s Division of Taxation appears to be billing recipients for Rhode Island income tax. (See partial screenshot below.) For details, click here.

Employers, telecommuting, and nexus

A number of employers have asked employees to work remotely (i.e., telecommute, or telework) from their homes temporarily amid the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). 

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation today posted an Advisory in response to some related inquiries that the Division has received involving potential nexus and apportionment issues.

The Advisory provides guidance involving sales and use tax, corporate income tax, and related topics. To view, click here.

Tax-related help available amid pandemic

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation has announced penalty relief and other options available for individuals and entities facing hardship amid the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).

• To view the Advisory, click here.
• To view the Division's new COVID-19 penalty-waiver request form, click here.

Employers, withholding tax, and telecommuting

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

To view the Advisory, click here. To view the regulation itself, click here.

Updates for Advisory on unemployment insurance tax

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation has updated its recent Advisory involving unemployment insurance tax amid the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). The updates provide additional information for employers. To view the updated Advisory, click here.

File online at no charge with Rhode Island Free File

With the Rhode Island Free File program, qualifying taxpayers can prepare and e-file their federal and Rhode Island tax returns from home at no cost. Get your refund faster with direct deposit. To learn more, click here.

Further relief on deadlines

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation announced today that it has postponed certain key tax deadlines for individuals and businesses in order to provide additional relief to taxpayers amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

For example, estimated payments of Rhode Island personal income tax and estimated payments of Rhode Island business tax that would normally be due on June 15, 2020, are instead due July 15, 2020. For details, click here.

Reminder about refunds

If you're due a Rhode Island personal income tax refund for the 2019 tax year, don't wait until the July 15, 2020, deadline to file.

The sooner you file, the sooner you can receive your refund. See the Division's reminder.

Volunteer tax-preparation sites

Although many volunteer tax-preparation sites are closed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the following Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites remain open, by appointment, and are using the drop-off method to reduce face-to-face contact:

• Comprehensive Community Action – Cranston – (401) 467-7013
• Connecting for Children and Families – Woonsocket – (401) 766-3384
• Community Care Alliance – Woonsocket – (401) 235-7187
• Federal Hill House – Providence - (walk-in and appointment) - (401) 421-4722

Report on alcoholic beverages

On May 1, 2020, the Division of Taxation posted its annual report on the sales and taxation of alcoholic beverages. To view it, click here.

Administrative Decision involving personal income tax

The Division of Taxation has posted its latest Administrative Decision.

• Decision No. 2020-06 looks at whether a married couple owes the assessed income tax, interest, and penalty for the 2018 tax year.

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 on Sunday 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, May 3, 2020, through 9:00 a.m. Eastern time on Sunday, May 3, 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.