NEW: The Division of Taxation and the Department of Labor and Training are updating the new business registration online application on January 23rd. To accommodate these changes, the existing online application will not be available starting on January 21st. Please note, if you have already started your application but have not submitted it, you will need to complete that application before January 21st to avoid losing any information in the application.
UPDATE: Licensing and enforcement of ENDS products The Division of Taxation has posted the list of Rhode Island-licensed distributors with a unified cigarette, tobacco, and electronic nicotine-delivery system (ENDS) products license. Rhode Island retailers/dealers are required to purchase these products, except for cigars, from only Rhode Island-licensed distributors. The list is available at Unified License List - January 2025 and under Miscellaneous Links on the Division’s ENDS tax webpage.Licensing and enforcement of Electronic Nicotine-Delivery System (ENDS) products, also known as ecigarettes or vapes, are being transitioned to the Rhode Island Division of Taxation. For more information, please see the Division’s Notice and/or visit the ENDS tax webpage.
Sales & Excise In accordance with changes signed into law in June of 2022, a larger business registrant will be required to use electronic means to file returns and remit taxes to the State of Rhode Island for tax periods beginning on or after January 1, 2023. Visit our Electronic Filing Mandate page for more information on this requirement. Depending on your business's activity, one or more of the following taxes may be required to collected and/or remitted to the state of Rhode Island. Cigarette Tax » Electronic Nicotine-Delivery Systems (ENDS) Tax » Tobacco Products » Hard-to-Dispose Tax » Hotel Tax » International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) » Real Estate Conveyance Tax » 1% Local Meals and Beverage Tax » Sales/Use Tax » a 7% sales tax is due on all taxable sales made by your business a 1% local meals and beverage tax is due on food sales a 6% hotel tax is due on hotel room rentals 2023 Due Date Calendar for Sales and Excise Taxes » 2024 Due Date Calendar for Sales and Excise Taxes » Please visit our main Sales and Excise Taxes page for more information.