Tax changes reviewed on Channel 10

Rhode Island Tax Administrator David M. Sullivan discussed recent changes to state tax law during an interview on August 7 on Channel 10.

Sullivan talked about the changes with Channel 10 Anchor Frank Coletta during the noon broadcast's "Money Watchers: Business Lunch" segment. (A summary of the changes is available in the latest issue of the Division of Taxation's newsletter. Video of the interview was posted on Channel 10's website.)

Rhode Island Tax Administrator David M. Sullivan

Tax Administrator at tax fraud seminar in Seattle

Rhode Island Tax Administrator David M. Sullivan was invited by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) to take part in a seminar about tax refund fraud during the NCSL's 2015 Legislative Summit in Seattle on August 3. 

In conjunction with the Internal Revenue Service, the Federation of Tax Administrators, and software providers, Sullivan has been leading a national effort this year to combat tax refund fraud. New tools are being readied to fight fraud during the coming tax filing season.

Tax Administrator David Sullivan (second from right) at NCSL summit.

Latest issue of newsletter

The Division of Taxation today posted the latest edition of its newsletter, Rhode Island Tax News. It includes information on the following topics: 

• Changes in tax law
• Tax incentives to grow jobs
• The fight against refund fraud
• Average refund amounts
• A new chief of Estate Tax
• Legal Corner
• Practitioners' Corner

Administrative Decision -- use tax on truck purchase

A business was not exempt from Rhode Island use tax on its purchase of a truck. See the latest Administrative Decision for details.

Tax on short-term residential rentals - new postings

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation has posted the following items to its website:

• A revised Business Application and Registration form (BAR).
• A new form for remitting hotel tax involving short-term residential rentals
• Revised FAQs dealing with sales and hotel tax on short-term residential rentals.

The postings are to help implement recent changes in Rhode Island statute that expanded the sales tax and hotel tax to short-term rentals of residential property, including the rental of vacation homes, beach cottages, and rooms. 

Summary of Legislative Changes

The Rhode Island Department of Revenue's Division of Taxation has posted the 2015 edition of its "Summary of Legislative Changes." Click here to view.

FAQs for tax on short-term residential rentals

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation this afternoon posted FAQs regarding the recent extension of the sales and hotel tax to short-term residential rentals, including vacation homes. The document is intended as an aid to homeowners, tax practitioners, real estate professionals, and others.