Rhode Island state and local tax resources change yearly. At tax time and during the year your business needs to stay informed. Fortunately, the Internet provides information to stay current with your business.

Whether you need to download a form or find specific tax rates applicable to state or local Rhode Island taxes, you’re only a click away. The tax law remains complicated through variations in tax rates and types. The Department of Revenue (DOR) makes the task easier online. When looking for information consider the following:

1. Register if you don’t have a business tax ID for your Rhode Island taxes.

2. Find Rhode Island tax forms specific for your business and type of goods sold or consumed.

3. Obtain tax charts and meals/beverage info for state and local Rhode Island taxes.

4. File your taxes online for most business situations.

5. See your options for the Streamlined Sales Tax.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Register your business online to obtain a Rhode Island state tax ID

Register if you need a permit to make sales at retail, an account for income tax withholding or a RI unemployment insurance account. A fee applies for the permit to make sales at retail. Credit card information required.

I recommend: Register your new business online at RI.gov Online Registration or print a PDF form by clicking “Click here” on the same page.

Choose from the list of applicable Rhode Island tax forms

Business categories include corporate, employment, sales and excise, withholding and pass through entities/composite return forms. Once you select and click on a category, you'll go to a page that contains a list of all the forms within that group.

I recommend: Find the tax form you need and click on it at the DOT Forms page.

Obtain tax charts and meals/beverage info for Rhode Island state and local taxes

The meals and beverage tax applies to all eating and/or drinking establishments. Available tax charts of 7% (state) and 1% (local) or 8% meals and beverage info with guidelines and notices explain the procedure.

I recommend: Click on a file for sales tax rates at RI.gov Meals & Beverage Tax page.

Choose your business specific RI state tax form to file online

This interactive service allows your business to file taxes online. These include business tax filings, cigarette license renewals, retail permit renewals and TX-17 form for quarterly wage/unemployment tax filing. You will need a RI business identification number.

I recommend: Scroll down the list of pertinent Rhode Island state tax categories for those applicable to your business at DOT Online Services.

See your options for the Streamlined Sales Tax if you do business outside RI

RI joined a national coalition of states for sales and use tax of goods sold outside RI to simplify compliance for multi-state vendors. This applies for businesses that don't have permits in other states where they do business. See if requirements exist for your business to file Rhode Island taxes. Requirements for tax collections include deliveries in other states with your trucks, sending employees to perform work, selling via website or soliciting sales in another state.

I recommend: To register your business go to Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board. For information and taxable categories see DOR Streamlined Sales Tax page.

Download RI state tax contacts to your address book

These Rhode Island state and local tax resources supply contact information for all tax departments. They include collections, corporate, bank and insurance tax, funds transfer program for business taxes, employment taxes, field audit, forms, questions on employer taxes, sales/excise tax and others.

I recommend: Download into your address book your business specific contact information via vCard File from the Division of Taxation.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you registered a business for local and state of Rhode Island taxes and need to change or correct your account with the RI division of taxation, phone (401) 574-8700, option 1.