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.
Business Owners As a business owner, you are required to file and pay various taxes and fees related to operating that business. Corporate Tax Depending on the entity type of the corporation running the business, either a minimum fee of $400 or a tax of 7% on the income of the corporation is due annually. Please visit our Corporate Tax webpage for more information. Employer Tax As an employer you are required to pay certain employer taxes on behalf of your employees. Please visit our Employer Tax webpage for more information. Pass-through Income Tax If your business is a pass-through entity with one or more non-resident members, a pass-through entity return is required to be filed and the appropriate tax paid on the income of the non-residents. Please visit our Pass-through income webpage for more information. Sales & Excise Taxes if you make sales at retail, your entity is required to collect and remit one or more taxes 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 Please visit our Sales and Excise Taxes webpage for more information. Withholding Tax The wages earned by you and your employees are subject to Federal and state withholding. Please visit our Withholding Tax webpage for more information.