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ARTICLE 6 AS AMENDED |
RELATING TO TAXES AND REVENUES
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SECTION 1. Section 23-17-38.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-17 entitled “Licensing |
of Health Care Facilities” is hereby amended to read as follows: |
23-17-38.1. Hospitals -- Licensing fee. |
(a) There is imposed a hospital licensing fee at the rate of six percent (6%) upon the net |
patient-services revenue of every hospital for the hospital's first fiscal year ending on or after |
January 1, 2018, except that the license fee for all hospitals located in Washington County, Rhode |
Island shall be discounted by thirty-seven percent (37%). The discount for Washington County |
hospitals is subject to approval by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human |
Services of a state plan amendment submitted by the executive office of health and human services |
for the purpose of pursuing a waiver of the uniformity requirement for the hospital license fee. This |
licensing fee shall be administered and collected by the tax administrator, division of taxation |
within the department of revenue, and all the administration, collection, and other provisions of |
Chapter 51 of title 44 shall apply. Every hospital shall pay the licensing fee to the tax administrator |
on or before July 13, 2020, and payments shall be made by electronic transfer of monies to the |
general treasurer and deposited to the general fund. Every hospital shall, on or before June 15, |
2020, make a return to the tax administrator containing the correct computation of net patient- |
services revenue for the hospital fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and the licensing fee due |
upon that amount. All returns shall be signed by the hospital's authorized representative, subject to |
the pains and penalties of perjury. |
(b) (a) There is also imposed a hospital licensing fee for state fiscal year 2021 against each |
hospital in the state. The hospital licensing fee is equal to five percent (5.0%) of the net patient- |
services revenue of every hospital for the hospital's first fiscal year ending on or after January 1, |
2019, except that the license fee for all hospitals located in Washington County, Rhode Island shall |
be discounted by thirty-seven percent (37%). The discount for Washington County hospitals is |
subject to approval by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services of a |
state plan amendment submitted by the executive office of health and human services for the |
purpose of pursuing a waiver of the uniformity requirement for the hospital license fee. This |
licensing fee shall be administered and collected by the tax administrator, division of taxation |
within the department of revenue, and all the administration, collection, and other provisions of |
Chapter chapter 51 of title 44 shall apply. Every hospital shall pay the licensing fee to the tax |
administrator on or before July 13, 2021, and payments shall be made by electronic transfer of |
monies to the general treasurer and deposited to the general fund. Every hospital shall, on or before |
June 15, 2020, make a return to the tax administrator containing the correct computation of net |
patient-services revenue for the hospital fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and the licensing |
fee due upon that amount. All returns shall be signed by the hospital's authorized representative, |
subject to the pains and penalties of perjury. |
(c) (b) There is also imposed a hospital licensing fee for state fiscal year 2022 against each |
hospital in the state. The hospital licensing fee is equal to five and seven hundred twenty-five |
thousandths percent (5.725%) five and six hundred fifty-six thousandths percent (5.656%) of the |
net patient-services revenue of every hospital for the hospital's first fiscal year ending on or after |
January 1, 2020, except that the license fee for all hospitals located in Washington County, Rhode |
Island shall be discounted by thirty-seven percent (37%). The discount for Washington County |
hospitals is subject to approval by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human |
Services of a state plan amendment submitted by the executive office of health and human services |
for the purpose of pursuing a waiver of the uniformity requirement for the hospital license fee. This |
licensing fee shall be administered and collected by the tax administrator, division of taxation |
within the department of revenue, and all the administration, collection, and other provisions of |
Chapter chapter 51 of title 44 shall apply. Every hospital shall pay the licensing fee to the tax |
administrator on or before July 13, 2022, and payments shall be made by electronic transfer of |
monies to the general treasurer and deposited to the general fund. Every hospital shall, on or before |
June 15, 2022, make a return to the tax administrator containing the correct computation of net |
patient-services revenue for the hospital fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, and the licensing |
fee due upon that amount. All returns shall be signed by the hospital's authorized representative, |
subject to the pains and penalties of perjury. |
(c) There is also imposed a hospital licensing fee for state fiscal year 2023 against each |
hospital in the state. The hospital licensing fee is equal to five and forty-two hundredths percent |
(5.42%) of the net patient-services revenue of every hospital for the hospital's first fiscal year |
ending on or after January 1, 2021, except that the license fee for all hospitals located in Washington |
County, Rhode Island shall be discounted by thirty-seven percent (37%). The discount for |
Washington County hospitals is subject to approval by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of |
Health and Human Services of a state plan amendment submitted by the executive office of health |
and human services for the purpose of pursuing a waiver of the uniformity requirement for the |
hospital license fee. This licensing fee shall be administered and collected by the tax administrator, |
division of taxation within the department of revenue, and all the administration, collection, and |
other provisions of Chapter chapter 51 of title 44 shall apply. Every hospital shall pay the licensing |
fee to the tax administrator on or before June 30, 2023, and payments shall be made by electronic |
transfer of monies to the general treasurer and deposited to the general fund. Every hospital shall, |
on or before May 25, 2023, make a return to the tax administrator containing the correct |
computation of net patient-services revenue for the hospital fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, |
and the licensing fee due upon that amount. All returns shall be signed by the hospital's authorized |
representative, subject to the pains and penalties of perjury. |
(d) For purposes of this section the following words and phrases have the following |
meanings: |
(1) "Hospital" means the actual facilities and buildings in existence in Rhode Island, |
licensed pursuant to § 23-17-1 et seq. on June 30, 2010, and thereafter any premises included on |
that license, regardless of changes in licensure status pursuant to chapter 17.14 of title 23 (hospital |
conversions) and § 23-17-6(b) (change in effective control), that provides short-term acute inpatient |
and/or outpatient care to persons who require definitive diagnosis and treatment for injury, illness, |
disabilities, or pregnancy. Notwithstanding the preceding language, the negotiated Medicaid |
managed care payment rates for a court-approved purchaser that acquires a hospital through |
receivership, special mastership, or other similar state insolvency proceedings (which court- |
approved purchaser is issued a hospital license after January 1, 2013) shall be based upon the newly |
negotiated rates between the court-approved purchaser and the health plan, and such rates shall be |
effective as of the date that the court-approved purchaser and the health plan execute the initial |
agreement containing the newly negotiated rate. The rate-setting methodology for inpatient hospital |
payments and outpatient hospital payments set forth in §§ 40-8-13.4(b) and 40-8-13.4(b)(2), |
respectively, shall thereafter apply to negotiated increases for each annual twelve-month (12) |
period as of July 1 following the completion of the first full year of the court-approved purchaser's |
initial Medicaid managed care contract. |
(2) "Gross patient-services revenue" means the gross revenue related to patient care |
services. |
(3) "Net patient-services revenue" means the charges related to patient care services less |
(i) Charges attributable to charity care; (ii) Bad debt expenses; and (iii) Contractual allowances. |
(e) The tax administrator shall make and promulgate any rules, regulations, and procedures |
not inconsistent with state law and fiscal procedures that he or she deems necessary for the proper |
administration of this section and to carry out the provisions, policy, and purposes of this section. |
(f) The licensing fee imposed by subsection (b) (a) shall apply to hospitals as defined herein |
that are duly licensed on July 1, 2020, and shall be in addition to the inspection fee imposed by § |
23-17-38 and to any licensing fees previously imposed in accordance with this section. |
(g) The licensing fee imposed by subsection (c) (b) shall apply to hospitals as defined |
herein that are duly licensed on July 1, 2021, and shall be in addition to the inspection fee imposed |
by § 23-17-38 and to any licensing fees previously imposed in accordance with this section. |
(e)(h) The licensing fee imposed by subsection (c) shall apply to hospitals as defined herein |
that are duly licensed on July 1, 2022, and shall be in addition to the inspection fee imposed by § |
23-17-38 and to any licensing fees previously imposed in accordance with this section. |
SECTION 2. Section 31-6-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-6 entitled "Registration |
Fees" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
31-6-1. Amount of registration and miscellaneous fees. |
The following registration fees shall be paid to the division of motor vehicles for the |
registration of motor vehicles, trailers, semi-trailers, and school buses subject to registration for |
each year of registration: |
(1) For the registration of every automobile, when equipped with pneumatic tires, the gross |
weight of which is not more than four thousand pounds (4,000 lbs.): thirty dollars ($30.00). |
(2) For the registration of every motor truck or tractor when equipped with pneumatic tires, |
the gross weight of which is not more than four thousand pounds (4,000 lbs.): thirty-four dollars |
($34.00). |
(3) For the registration of every automobile, motor truck or tractor, when equipped with |
pneumatic tires, the gross weight of which is: |
(i) More than four thousand pounds (4,000 lbs.), but not more than five thousand pounds |
(5,000 lbs.): forty dollars ($40.00); |
(ii) More than five thousand pounds (5,000 lbs.), but not more than six thousand pounds |
(6,000 lbs.): forty-eight dollars ($48.00); |
(iii) More than six thousand pounds (6,000 lbs.), but not more than seven thousand pounds |
(7,000 lbs.): fifty-six dollars ($56.00); |
(iv) More than seven thousand pounds (7,000 lbs.), but not more than eight thousand |
pounds (8,000 lbs.): sixty-four dollars ($64.00); |
(v) More than eight thousand pounds (8,000 lbs.), but not more than nine thousand pounds |
(9,000 lbs.): seventy dollars ($70.00); |
(vi) More than nine thousand pounds (9,000 lbs.), but not more than ten thousand pounds |
(10,000 lbs.): seventy-eight dollars ($78.00); |
(vii) More than ten thousand pounds (10,000 lbs.), but not more than twelve thousand |
pounds (12,000 lbs.): one hundred six dollars ($106); |
(viii) More than twelve thousand pounds (12,000 lbs.), but not more than fourteen thousand |
pounds (14,000 lbs.): one hundred twenty-four dollars ($124); |
(ix) More than fourteen thousand pounds (14,000 lbs.), but not more than sixteen thousand |
pounds (16,000 lbs.): one hundred forty dollars ($140); |
(x) More than sixteen thousand pounds (16,000 lbs.), but not more than eighteen thousand |
pounds (18,000 lbs.): one hundred fifty-eight dollars ($158); |
(xi) More than eighteen thousand pounds (18,000 lbs.), but not more than twenty thousand |
pounds (20,000 lbs.): one hundred seventy-six dollars ($176); |
(xii) More than twenty thousand pounds (20,000 lbs.), but not more than twenty-two |
thousand pounds (22,000 lbs.): one hundred ninety-four dollars ($194); |
(xiii) More than twenty-two thousand pounds (22,000 lbs.), but not more than twenty-four |
thousand pounds (24,000 lbs.): two hundred ten dollars ($210); |
(xiv) More than twenty-four thousand pounds (24,000 lbs.), but not more than twenty-six |
thousand pounds (26,000 lbs.): two hundred thirty dollars ($230); |
(xv) More than twenty-six thousand pounds (26,000 lbs.), but not more than twenty-eight |
thousand pounds (28,000 lbs.): two hundred ninety-six dollars ($296); |
(xvi) More than twenty-eight thousand pounds (28,000 lbs.), but not more than thirty |
thousand pounds (30,000 lbs.): three hundred sixteen dollars ($316); |
(xvii) More than thirty thousand pounds (30,000 lbs.), but not more than thirty-two |
thousand pounds (32,000 lbs.): four hundred and twenty-two dollars ($422); |
(xviii) More than thirty-two thousand pounds (32,000 lbs.), but not more than thirty-four |
thousand pounds (34,000 lbs.): four hundred and forty-eight dollars ($448); |
(xix) More than thirty-four thousand pounds (34,000 lbs.), but not more than thirty-six |
thousand pounds (36,000 lbs.): four hundred and seventy-six dollars ($476); |
(xx) More than thirty-six thousand pounds (36,000 lbs.), but not more than thirty-eight |
thousand pounds (38,000 lbs.): five hundred and two dollars ($502); |
(xxi) More than thirty-eight thousand pounds (38,000 lbs.), but not more than forty |
thousand pounds (40,000 lbs.): five hundred and twenty-eight dollars ($528); |
(xxii) More than forty thousand pounds (40,000 lbs.), but not more than forty-two thousand |
pounds (42,000 lbs.): five hundred and fifty-four dollars ($554); |
(xxiii) More than forty-two thousand pounds (42,000 lbs.), but not more than forty-six |
thousand pounds (46,000 lbs.): six hundred and eight dollars ($608); |
(xxiv) More than forty-six thousand pounds (46,000 lbs.), but not more than fifty thousand |
pounds (50,000 lbs.): six hundred and sixty dollars ($660); |
(xxv) More than fifty thousand pounds (50,000 lbs.), but not more than fifty-four thousand |
pounds (54,000 lbs.): seven hundred and twelve dollars ($712); |
(xxvi) More than fifty-four thousand pounds (54,000 lbs.), but not more than fifty-eight |
thousand pounds (58,000 lbs.): seven hundred and sixty-eight dollars ($768); |
(xxvii) More than fifty-eight thousand pounds (58,000 lbs.), but not more than sixty-two |
thousand pounds (62,000 lbs.): eight hundred and sixteen dollars ($816); |
(xxviii) More than sixty-two thousand pounds (62,000 lbs.), but not more than sixty-six |
thousand pounds (66,000 lbs.): eight hundred and seventy-six dollars ($876); |
(xxix) More than sixty-six thousand pounds (66,000 lbs.), but not more than seventy |
thousand pounds (70,000 lbs.): nine hundred and twenty-four dollars ($924); |
(xxx) More than seventy thousand pounds (70,000 lbs.), but not more than seventy-four |
thousand pounds (74,000 lbs.): nine hundred and seventy-two dollars ($972); |
(xxxi) Over seventy-four thousand pounds (74,000 lbs.): nine hundred and seventy-two |
dollars ($972), plus twenty-four dollars ($24.00) per two thousand pounds (2,000 lbs.) gross |
weight. |
(4) For the registration of every semi-trailer to be used with a truck-tractor, as defined in § |
31-1-4(f), shall be as follows: an annual fee of twelve dollars ($12.00) for a one-year registration; |
for multi-year registrations the fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) for a five-year (5) registration; and |
eighty dollars ($80.00) for an eight-year (8) registration. However, when in use, the weight of the |
resulting semi-trailer unit and its maximum carrying capacity shall not exceed the gross weight of |
the original semi-trailer unit from which the gross weight of the tractor was determined. A |
registration certificate and registration plate shall be issued for each semi-trailer so registered. |
There shall be no refund of payment of such fee, except that when a plate is returned prior to ninety |
(90) days before the effective date of that year's registration, the pro rate amount, based on the |
unused portion of the multi-year registration plate period at time of surrender, shall be refunded. A |
multi-year semi-trailer registration may be transferred to another semi-trailer subject to the |
provisions and fee set forth in § 31-6-11. Thirty percent (30%) of the semi-trailer registration fee |
shall be retained by the division of motor vehicles to defray the costs of implementation of the |
international registration plan (IRP) and fleet registration section. |
(5) For the registration of every automobile, motor truck, or tractor, when equipped with |
other than pneumatic tires, there shall be added to the above gross weight fees a charge of ten cents |
(10¢) for each one hundred pounds (100 lbs.) of gross weight. |
(6) For the registration of every public bus, the rates provided for motor vehicles for hire |
plus two dollars ($2.00) for each passenger that bus is rated to carry, the rating to be determined by |
the administrator of the division of motor vehicles. |
(7) For the registration of every motorcycle, or motor-driven cycle, thirteen dollars |
($13.00). Three dollars ($3.00) from that sum shall be turned over to the department of education |
to assist in the payment of the cost of the motorcycle driver's education program as enumerated in |
§ 31-10.1-1.1. |
(8) For the registration of every trailer, not including semi-trailers used with a truck-tractor |
as defined in § 31-1-4(d), with a gross weight of three thousand pounds (3,000 lbs.) or less, five |
dollars ($5.00). Trailers with a gross weight of more than three thousand pounds (3,000 lbs.) shall |
be assessed a registration fee of one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) per thousand pounds (1,000 lbs.). |
(9) The annual registration fee for a motor vehicle, commonly described as a boxcar and/or |
locomotive, and used only by La Societe Des 40 Hommes et 8 Chevaux for civic demonstration, |
parades, convention purposes, or social welfare work, shall be two dollars ($2.00). |
(10) For the registration of every motor vehicle, trailer, or semi-trailer owned by any |
department or agency of any city or town or district, provided the name of the city or town or |
district or state department or agency owning the same shall be plainly printed on two (2) sides of |
the vehicle, two dollars ($2.00). |
(11) For the registration of motor vehicles used for racing, fifteen dollars ($15.00). |
(12) For every duplicate registration certificate, seventeen dollars ($17.00). |
(13) For every certified copy of a registration certificate or application, ten dollars ($10.00). |
(14) For every certificate assigning a special identification number or mark as provided in |
§ 31-3-37, one dollar ($1.00). |
(15) For every replacement of number plates or additional pair of number plates, without |
changing the number, thirty dollars ($30.00). |
(16) For the registration of every farm vehicle, used in farming as provided in § 31-3-31: |
ten dollars ($10.00). |
(17) For the registration of antique motor vehicles, five dollars ($5.00). |
(18) For the registration of a suburban vehicle, when used as a pleasure vehicle and the |
gross weight of which is not more than four thousand pounds (4,000 lbs.), the same rates as charged |
in subsection (1) of this section shall be applicable and when used as a commercial vehicle and the |
gross weight of which is not more than four thousand pounds (4,000 lbs.), the same rates as |
provided in subsection (2) of this section shall be applicable. The rates in subsection (3) of this |
section shall be applicable when the suburban vehicle has a gross weight of more than four thousand |
pounds (4,000 lbs.), regardless of the use of the vehicle. |
(19) For the registration of every motor bus that is used exclusively under contract with a |
political subdivision or school district of the state for the transportation of school children, twenty- |
five dollars ($25); provided that the motor bus may also be used for the transportation of persons |
to and from church and Sunday school services, and for the transportation of children to and from |
educational or recreational projects sponsored by a city or town or by any association or |
organization supported wholly or in part by public or private donations for charitable purposes, |
without the payment of additional registration fee. |
(20) For the registration of every motorized bicycle, ten dollars ($10.00). |
(21) For the registration of every motorized tricycle, ten dollars ($10.00). |
(22) For the replacement of number plates with a number change, twenty dollars ($20.00). |
(23) For the initial issuance and each reissuance of fully reflective plates, as required by §§ |
31-3-10, 31-3-32, and 31-3-33, an additional eight dollars ($8.00); provided, however, for the initial |
issuance of new license plates as required by § 31-3-33(c) that feature the 2022 approved design, |
the fee shall be waived when the plate is issued for a vehicle with an existing registration. |
(24) For the issuance of a trip permit under the International Registration Plan, twenty-five |
dollars ($25.00) per vehicle. The division of motor vehicles is authorized to issue seventy-two-hour |
(72) trip permits for vehicles required to be registered in the International Registration Plan that |
have not been apportioned with the state of Rhode Island. |
(25) For the issuance of a hunter's permit under the International Registration Plan, twenty- |
five dollars ($25.00) per vehicle. The division of motor vehicles is authorized to issue hunter's |
permits for motor vehicles based in the state of Rhode Island and otherwise required to be registered |
in the International Registration Plan. These permits are valid for thirty (30) days. |
(26) For the registration of a specially adapted motor vehicle necessary to transport a family |
member with a disability for personal, noncommercial use, a fee of thirty dollars ($30.00) assessed. |
SECTION 3. Section 42-61-15 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-61 entitled "State |
Lottery" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
42-61-15. State lottery fund. |
(a) There is created the state lottery fund, into which shall be deposited all revenues |
received by the division from the sales of lottery tickets and license fees. The fund shall be in the |
custody of the general treasurer, subject to the direction of the division for the use of the division, |
and money shall be disbursed from it on the order of the controller of the state, pursuant to vouchers |
or invoices signed by the director and certified by the director of administration. The moneys in the |
state lottery fund shall be allotted in the following order, and only for the following purposes: |
(1) Establishing a prize fund from which payments of the prize awards shall be disbursed |
to holders of winning lottery tickets on checks signed by the director and countersigned by the |
controller of the state or his or her designee. |
(i) The amount of payments of prize awards to holders of winning lottery tickets shall be |
determined by the division, but shall not be less than forty-five percent (45%) nor more than sixty- |
five percent (65%) seventy-one percent (71%) of the total revenue accruing from the sale of lottery |
tickets; |
(ii) For the lottery game commonly known as "Keno," the amount of prize awards to |
holders of winning Keno tickets shall be determined by the division, but shall not be less than forty- |
five percent (45%) nor more than seventy-two percent (72%) of the total revenue accruing from |
the sale of Keno tickets; |
(2) Payment of expenses incurred by the division in the operation of the state lotteries |
including, but not limited to, costs arising from contracts entered into by the director for |
promotional, consulting, or operational services, salaries of professional, technical, and clerical |
assistants, and purchases or lease of facilities, lottery equipment, and materials; provided however, |
solely for the purpose of determining revenues remaining and available for transfer to the state's |
general fund, expenses incurred by the division in the operation of state lotteries shall reflect (i) |
Beginning in fiscal year 2015, the actuarially determined employer contribution to the Employees' |
Retirement System consistent with the state's adopted funding policy; and (ii) Beginning in fiscal |
year 2018, the actuarially determined employer contribution to the State Employees and Electing |
Teachers' OPEB System consistent with the state's adopted funding policy. For financial reporting |
purposes, the state lottery fund financial statements shall be prepared in accordance with generally |
accepted accounting principles as promulgated by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board; |
and |
(3) Payment into the general revenue fund of all revenues remaining in the state lottery |
fund after the payments specified in subsections (a)(1) -- (a)(2) of this section. |
(b) The auditor general shall conduct an annual post audit of the financial records and |
operations of the lottery for the preceding year in accordance with generally accepted auditing |
standards and government auditing standards. In connection with the audit, the auditor general may |
examine all records, files, and other documents of the division, and any records of lottery sales |
agents that pertain to their activities as agents, for purposes of conducting the audit. The auditor |
general, in addition to the annual post audit, may require or conduct any other audits or studies he |
or she deems appropriate, the costs of which shall be borne by the division. |
(c) Payments into the state's general fund specified in subsection (a)(3) of this section shall |
be made on an estimated quarterly basis. Payment shall be made on the tenth business day following |
the close of the quarter except for the fourth quarter when payment shall be on the last business |
day. |
SECTION 4. Section 44-1-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 44-1 entitled "State Tax |
Officials" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
44-1-7. Interest on delinquent payments. |
(a) Whenever the full amount of any state tax or any portion or deficiency, as finally |
determined by the tax administrator, has not been paid on the date when it is due and payable, |
whether the time has been extended or not, there shall be added as part of the tax or portion or |
deficiency interest at the rate as determined in accordance with subsection (b) of this section, |
notwithstanding any general or specific statute to the contrary. |
(b) Each January 1 the tax administrator shall compute the rate of interest to be in effect |
for that calendar year by adding two percent (2%) to the prime rate, which was in effect on October |
1 of the preceding year, except: |
(1) Before January 1, 2023, iIn no event shall the rate of interest exceed twenty-one percent |
(21%) per annum nor be less than eighteen percent (18%) per annum;. |
(2) On and after January 1, 2023, in no event shall the rate of interest exceed twenty-one |
percent (21%) per annum nor be less than twelve percent (12%) per annum except: |
(A) (i) for For trust fund taxes as established by §§ 44-19-35 and 44-30-76, in no event |
shall the rate of interest exceed twenty-one percent (21%) per annum nor be less than eighteen |
percent (18%) per annum. |
(c) "Prime rate" as used in subsection (b) of this section means the predominant prime rate |
quoted by commercial banks to large businesses as determined by the board of governors of the |
Federal Reserve System. |
(d) Notwithstanding any provisions of the general laws to the contrary, the tax |
administrator shall waive interest and penalty on the taxable portion of each Paycheck Protection |
Program loan taxed pursuant to §§ 44-11-11(a)(1)(iv), 44-14-11, and 44-30-12(b)(8) and forgiven |
during tax year 2020 provided that the tax on that portion is paid in full on or before March 31, |
2022. The tax administrator shall make available suitable forms with instructions for making tax |
payments on the taxable portion of such forgiven Paycheck Protection Program loans. |
SECTION 5. Chapter 44-1 of the General Laws entitled "State Tax Officials" is hereby |
amended by adding thereto the following section: |
44-1-31.2. Electronic filing of large entity tax returns, electronic payments, and |
penalties.. |
(a) For the purposes of this chapter, "larger business registrant" means any person who: |
(1) Operates as a business whose combined annual liability for all taxes administered by |
the division of taxation for the entity is or exceeds five thousand dollars ($5,000); or |
(2) Operated as a business whose annual gross income is over one hundred thousand dollars |
($100,000) for the entity. |
(b) Beginning on January 1, 2023, any larger business registrant is required to file returns |
and remit taxes to the State state of Rhode Island electronically. |
(c) Beginning on January 1, 2023, if any larger business registrant fails to pay said taxes |
by electronic funds transfer or other electronic means defined by the tax administrator as required |
hereunder, there shall be added to the amount of tax the lesser of five percent (5%) of the tax |
liability amount that was not filed electronically or five hundred dollars ($500), whichever is less, |
unless there was reasonable cause for the failure and such failure was not due to negligence or |
willful neglect. |
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, beginning on January |
1, 2023, if any larger business registrant fails to file a return by electronic means defined by the tax |
administrator as required hereunder, there shall be added to the amount of tax equal to fifty dollars |
($50.00), unless there was reasonable cause for the failure and such failure was not due to |
negligence or willful neglect. |
SECTION 6. Section 44-3-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 44-3 entitled "Property |
Subject to Taxation" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
44-3-3. Property exempt. [Effective January 1, 2022.] |
(a) The following property is exempt from taxation: |
(1) Property belonging to the state, except as provided in § 44-4-4.1; |
(2) Lands ceded or belonging to the United States; |
(3) Bonds and other securities issued and exempted from taxation by the government of |
the United States or of this state; |
(4) Real estate, used exclusively for military purposes, owned by chartered or incorporated |
organizations approved by the adjutant general and composed of members of the national guard, |
the naval militia, or the independent, chartered-military organizations; |
(5) Buildings for free public schools, buildings for religious worship, and the land upon |
which they stand and immediately surrounding them, to an extent not exceeding five (5) acres so |
far as the buildings and land are occupied and used exclusively for religious or educational |
purposes; |
(6) Dwellings houses and the land on which they stand, not exceeding one acre in size, or |
the minimum lot size for zone in which the dwelling house is located, whichever is the greater, |
owned by, or held in trust for, any religious organization and actually used by its officiating clergy; |
provided, further, that in the town of Charlestown, where the property previously described in this |
paragraph is exempt in total, along with dwelling houses and the land on which they stand in |
Charlestown, not exceeding one acre in size, or the minimum lot size for zone in which the dwelling |
house is located, whichever is the greater, owned by, or held in trust for, any religious organization |
and actually used by its officiating clergy, or used as a convent, nunnery, or retreat center by its |
religious order; |
(7) Intangible personal property owned by, or held in trust for, any religious or charitable |
organization, if the principal or income is used or appropriated for religious or charitable purposes; |
(8) Buildings and personal estate owned by any corporation used for a school, academy, or |
seminary of learning, and of any incorporated public charitable institution, and the land upon which |
the buildings stand and immediately surrounding them to an extent not exceeding one acre, so far |
as they are used exclusively for educational purposes, but no property or estate whatever is hereafter |
exempt from taxation in any case where any part of its income or profits, or of the business carried |
on there, is divided among its owners or stockholders; provided, however, that unless any private |
nonprofit corporation organized as a college or university located in the town of Smithfield reaches |
a memorandum of agreement with the town of Smithfield, the town of Smithfield shall bill the |
actual costs for police, fire, and rescue services supplied, unless otherwise reimbursed, to said |
corporation commencing March 1, 2014; |
(9) Estates, persons, and families of the president and professors for the time being of |
Brown University for not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each officer, the officer's |
estate, person, and family included, but only to the extent that any person had claimed and utilized |
the exemption prior to, and for a period ending, either on or after December 31, 1996; |
(10) Property especially exempt by charter unless the exemption has been waived in whole |
or in part; |
(11) Lots of land exclusively for burial grounds; |
(12) Property, real and personal, held for, or by, an incorporated library, society, or any |
free public library, or any free public library society, so far as the property is held exclusively for |
library purposes, or for the aid or support of the aged poor, or poor friendless children, or the poor |
generally, or for a nonprofit hospital for the sick or disabled; |
(13) Real or personal estate belonging to, or held in trust for, the benefit of incorporated |
organizations of veterans of any war in which the United States has been engaged, the parent body |
of which has been incorporated by act of Congress, to the extent of four hundred thousand dollars |
($400,000) if actually used and occupied by the association; provided, that the city council of the |
city of Cranston may by ordinance exempt the real or personal estate as previously described in |
this subdivision located within the city of Cranston to the extent of five hundred thousand dollars |
($500,000); |
(14) Property, real and personal, held for, or by, the fraternal corporation, association, or |
body created to build and maintain a building or buildings for its meetings or the meetings of the |
general assembly of its members, or subordinate bodies of the fraternity, and for the |
accommodation of other fraternal bodies or associations, the entire net income of which real and |
personal property is exclusively applied or to be used to build, furnish, and maintain an asylum or |
asylums, a home or homes, a school or schools, for the free education or relief of the members of |
the fraternity, or the relief, support, and care of worthy and indigent members of the fraternity, their |
wives, widows, or orphans, and any fund given or held for the purpose of public education, |
almshouses, and the land and buildings used in connection therewith; |
(15) Real estate and personal property of any incorporated volunteer fire engine company |
or incorporated volunteer ambulance or rescue corps in active service; |
(16) The estate of any person who, in the judgment of the assessors, is unable from infirmity |
or poverty to pay the tax; provided, that in the towns of Burrillville and West Greenwich, the tax |
shall constitute a lien for five (5) years on the property where the owner is entitled to the exemption. |
At the expiration of five (5) years, the lien shall be abated in full. Provided, if the property is sold |
or conveyed, or if debt secured by the property is refinanced during the five-year (5) period, the |
lien immediately becomes due and payable; any person claiming the exemption aggrieved by an |
adverse decision of an assessor shall appeal the decision to the local board of tax review and |
thereafter according to the provisions of § 44-5-26; |
(17) Household furniture and family stores of a housekeeper in the whole, including |
clothing, bedding, and other white goods, books, and all other tangible personal property items that |
are common to the normal household; |
(18) Improvements made to any real property to provide a shelter and fallout protection |
from nuclear radiation, to the amount of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500); provided, that |
the improvements meet applicable standards for shelter construction established, from time to time, |
by the Rhode Island emergency management agency. The improvements are deemed to comply |
with the provisions of any building code or ordinance with respect to the materials or the methods |
of construction used and any shelter or its establishment is deemed to comply with the provisions |
of any zoning code or ordinance; |
(19) Aircraft for which the fee required by § 1-4-6 has been paid to the tax administrator; |
(20) Manufacturer's inventory. |
(i) For the purposes of §§ 44-4-10, 44-5-3, 44-5-20, and 44-5-38, a person is deemed to be |
a manufacturer within a city or town within this state if that person uses any premises, room, or |
place in it primarily for the purpose of transforming raw materials into a finished product for trade |
through any or all of the following operations: adapting, altering, finishing, making, and |
ornamenting; provided, that public utilities; non-regulated power producers commencing |
commercial operation by selling electricity at retail or taking title to generating facilities on or after |
July 1, 1997; building and construction contractors; warehousing operations, including distribution |
bases or outlets of out-of-state manufacturers; and fabricating processes incidental to warehousing |
or distribution of raw materials, such as alteration of stock for the convenience of a customer; are |
excluded from this definition; |
(ii) For the purposes of this section and §§ 44-4-10 and 44-5-38, the term "manufacturer's |
inventory," or any similar term, means and includes the manufacturer's raw materials, the |
manufacturer's work in process, and finished products manufactured by the manufacturer in this |
state, and not sold, leased, or traded by the manufacturer or its title or right to possession divested; |
provided, that the term does not include any finished products held by the manufacturer in any retail |
store or other similar selling place operated by the manufacturer whether or not the retail |
establishment is located in the same building in which the manufacturer operates the manufacturing |
plant; |
(iii) For the purpose of § 44-11-2, a "manufacturer" is a person whose principal business |
in this state consists of transforming raw materials into a finished product for trade through any or |
all of the operations described in paragraph (i) of this subdivision. A person will be deemed to be |
principally engaged if the gross receipts that person derived from the manufacturing operations in |
this state during the calendar year or fiscal year mentioned in § 44-11-1 amounted to more than |
fifty percent (50%) of the total gross receipts that person derived from all the business activities in |
which that person engaged in this state during the taxable year. For the purpose of computing the |
percentage, gross receipts derived by a manufacturer from the sale, lease, or rental of finished |
products manufactured by the manufacturer in this state, even though the manufacturer's store or |
other selling place may be at a different location from the location of the manufacturer's |
manufacturing plant in this state, are deemed to have been derived from manufacturing; |
(iv) Within the meaning of the preceding paragraphs of this subdivision, the term |
"manufacturer" also includes persons who are principally engaged in any of the general activities |
coded and listed as establishments engaged in manufacturing in the Standard Industrial |
Classification Manual prepared by the Technical Committee on Industrial Classification, Office of |
Statistical Standards, Executive Office of the President, United States Bureau of the Budget, as |
revised from time to time, but eliminating as manufacturers those persons, who, because of their |
limited type of manufacturing activities, are classified in the manual as falling within the trade |
rather than an industrial classification of manufacturers. Among those thus eliminated, and |
accordingly also excluded as manufacturers within the meaning of this paragraph, are persons |
primarily engaged in selling, to the general public, products produced on the premises from which |
they are sold, such as neighborhood bakeries, candy stores, ice cream parlors, shade shops, and |
custom tailors, except, that a person who manufactures bakery products for sale primarily for home |
delivery, or through one or more non-baking retail outlets, and whether or not retail outlets are |
operated by the person, is a manufacturer within the meaning of this paragraph; |
(v) The term "Person" means and includes, as appropriate, a person, partnership, or |
corporation; and |
(vi) The department of revenue shall provide to the local assessors any assistance that is |
necessary in determining the proper application of the definitions in this subdivision; |
(21) Real and tangible personal property acquired to provide a treatment facility used |
primarily to control the pollution or contamination of the waters or the air of the state, as defined |
in chapter 12 of title 46 and chapter 25 of title 23, respectively, the facility having been constructed, |
reconstructed, erected, installed, or acquired in furtherance of federal or state requirements or |
standards for the control of water or air pollution or contamination, and certified as approved in an |
order entered by the director of environmental management. The property is exempt as long as it is |
operated properly in compliance with the order of approval of the director of environmental |
management; provided, that any grant of the exemption by the director of environmental |
management in excess of ten (10) years is approved by the city or town in which the property is |
situated. This provision applies only to water and air pollution control properties and facilities |
installed for the treatment of waste waters and air contaminants resulting from industrial |
processing; furthermore, it applies only to water or air pollution control properties and facilities |
placed in operation for the first time after April 13, 1970; |
(22) Manufacturing machinery and equipment acquired or used by a manufacturer after |
December 31, 1974. Manufacturing machinery and equipment is defined as: |
(i) Machinery and equipment used exclusively in the actual manufacture or conversion of |
raw materials or goods in the process of manufacture by a manufacturer, as defined in subdivision |
(20), and machinery, fixtures, and equipment used exclusively by a manufacturer for research and |
development or for quality assurance of its manufactured products; |
(ii) Machinery and equipment that is partially used in the actual manufacture or conversion |
of raw materials or goods in process of manufacture by a manufacturer, as defined in subdivision |
(20), and machinery, fixtures, and equipment used by a manufacturer for research and development |
or for quality assurance of its manufactured products, to the extent to which the machinery and |
equipment is used for the manufacturing processes, research and development, or quality assurance. |
In the instances where machinery and equipment is used in both manufacturing and/or research and |
development and/or quality assurance activities and non-manufacturing activities, the assessment |
on machinery and equipment is prorated by applying the percentage of usage of the equipment for |
the manufacturing, research and development, and quality-assurance activity to the value of the |
machinery and equipment for purposes of taxation, and the portion of the value used for |
manufacturing, research and development, and quality assurance is exempt from taxation. The |
burden of demonstrating this percentage usage of machinery and equipment for manufacturing and |
for research and development and/or quality assurance of its manufactured products rests with the |
manufacturer; and |
(iii) Machinery and equipment described in §§ 44-18-30(7) and 44-18-30(22) that was |
purchased after July 1, 1997; provided that the city or town council of the city or town in which the |
machinery and equipment is located adopts an ordinance exempting the machinery and equipment |
from taxation. For purposes of this subsection, city councils and town councils of any municipality |
may, by ordinance, wholly or partially exempt from taxation the machinery and equipment |
discussed in this subsection for the period of time established in the ordinance and may, by |
ordinance, establish the procedures for taxpayers to avail themselves of the benefit of any |
exemption permitted under this section; provided, that the ordinance does not apply to any |
machinery or equipment of a business, subsidiary, or any affiliated business that locates or relocates |
from a city or town in this state to another city or town in the state; |
(23) Precious metal bullion, meaning any elementary metal that has been put through a |
process of melting or refining, and that is in a state or condition that its value depends upon its |
content and not its form. The term does not include fabricated precious metal that has been |
processed or manufactured for some one or more specific and customary industrial, professional, |
or artistic uses; |
(24) Hydroelectric power-generation equipment, which includes, but is not limited to, |
turbines, generators, switchgear, controls, monitoring equipment, circuit breakers, transformers, |
protective relaying, bus bars, cables, connections, trash racks, headgates, and conduits. The |
hydroelectric power-generation equipment must have been purchased after July 1, 1979, and |
acquired or used by a person or corporation who or that owns or leases a dam and utilizes the |
equipment to generate hydroelectric power; |
(25) Subject to authorization by formal action of the council of any city or town, any real |
or personal property owned by, held in trust for, or leased to an organization incorporated under |
chapter 6 of title 7, as amended, or an organization meeting the definition of "charitable trust" set |
out in § 18-9-4, as amended, or an organization incorporated under the not-for-profits statutes of |
another state or the District of Columbia, the purpose of which is the conserving of open space, as |
that term is defined in chapter 36 of title 45, as amended, provided the property is used exclusively |
for the purposes of the organization; |
(26) Tangible personal property, the primary function of which is the recycling, reuse, or |
recovery of materials (other than precious metals, as defined in § 44-18-30(24)(ii) and (iii)), from, |
or the treatment of "hazardous wastes," as defined in § 23-19.1-4, where the "hazardous wastes" |
are generated primarily by the same taxpayer and where the personal property is located at, in, or |
adjacent to a generating facility of the taxpayer. The taxpayer may, but need not, procure an order |
from the director of the department of environmental management certifying that the tangible |
personal property has this function, which order effects a conclusive presumption that the tangible |
personal property qualifies for the exemption under this subdivision. If any information relating to |
secret processes or methods of manufacture, production, or treatment is disclosed to the department |
of environmental management only to procure an order, and is a "trade secret" as defined in § 28- |
21-10(b), it shall not be open to public inspection or publicly disclosed unless disclosure is |
otherwise required under chapter 21 of title 28 or chapter 24.4 of title 23; |
(27) Motorboats as defined in § 46-22-2 for which the annual fee required in § 46-22-4 has |
been paid; |
(28) Real and personal property of the Providence Performing Arts Center, a non-business |
corporation as of December 31, 1986; |
(29) Tangible personal property owned by, and used exclusively for the purposes of, any |
religious organization located in the city of Cranston; |
(30) Real and personal property of the Travelers Aid Society of Rhode Island, a nonprofit |
corporation, the Union Mall Real Estate Corporation, and any limited partnership or limited liability |
company that is formed in connection with, or to facilitate the acquisition of, the Providence YMCA |
Building; |
(31) Real and personal property of Meeting Street Center or MSC Realty, Inc., both not- |
for-profit Rhode Island corporations, and any other corporation, limited partnership, or limited |
liability company that is formed in connection with, or to facilitate the acquisition of, the properties |
designated as the Meeting Street National Center of Excellence on Eddy Street in Providence, |
Rhode Island; |
(32) The buildings, personal property, and land upon which the buildings stand, located on |
Pomham Island, East Providence, currently identified as Assessor's Map 211, Block 01, Parcel |
001.00, that consists of approximately twenty-one thousand three hundred (21,300) square feet and |
is located approximately eight hundred sixty feet (860′), more or less, from the shore, and limited |
exclusively to these said buildings, personal estate and land, provided that said property is owned |
by a qualified 501(c)(3) organization, such as the American Lighthouse Foundation, and is used |
exclusively for a lighthouse; |
(33) The Stadium Theatre Performing Arts Centre building located in Monument Square, |
Woonsocket, Rhode Island, so long as said Stadium Theatre Performing Arts Center is owned by |
the Stadium Theatre Foundation, a Rhode Island nonprofit corporation; |
(34) Real and tangible personal property of St. Mary Academy — Bay View, located in |
East Providence, Rhode Island; |
(35) Real and personal property of East Bay Community Action Program and its |
predecessor, Self Help, Inc; provided, that the organization is qualified as a tax-exempt corporation |
under § 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code; |
(36) Real and personal property located within the city of East Providence of the Columbus |
Club of East Providence, a Rhode Island charitable nonprofit corporation; |
(37) Real and personal property located within the city of East Providence of the Columbus |
Club of Barrington, a Rhode Island charitable nonprofit corporation; |
(38) Real and personal property located within the city of East Providence of Lodge 2337 |
BPO Elks, a Rhode Island nonprofit corporation; |
(39) Real and personal property located within the city of East Providence of the St. |
Andrews Lodge No. 39, a Rhode Island charitable nonprofit corporation; |
(40) Real and personal property located within the city of East Providence of the Trustees |
of Methodist Health and Welfare service a/k/a United Methodist Elder Care, a Rhode Island |
nonprofit corporation; |
(41) Real and personal property located on the first floor of 90 Leonard Avenue within the |
city of East Providence of the Zion Gospel Temple, Inc., a religious nonprofit corporation; |
(42) Real and personal property located within the city of East Providence of the Cape |
Verdean Museum Exhibit, a Rhode Island nonprofit corporation; |
(43) The real and personal property owned by a qualified 501(c)(3) organization that is |
affiliated and in good standing with a national, congressionally chartered organization and thereby |
adheres to that organization's standards and provides activities designed for recreational, |
educational, and character building purposes for children from ages six (6) years to seventeen (17) |
years; |
(44) Real and personal property of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra and Music |
School; provided, that the organization is qualified as a tax-exempt corporation under § 501(c)(3) |
of the United States Internal Revenue Code; |
(45) The real and personal property located within the town of West Warwick at 211 |
Cowesett Avenue, Plat 29-Lot 25, which consists of approximately twenty-eight thousand seven |
hundred fifty (28,750) square feet and is owned by the Station Fire Memorial Foundation of East |
Greenwich, a Rhode Island nonprofit corporation; |
(46) Real and personal property of the Comprehensive Community Action Program, a |
qualified tax-exempt corporation under § 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code; |
(47) Real and personal property located at 52 Plain Street, within the city of Pawtucket of |
the Pawtucket Youth Soccer Association, a Rhode Island nonprofit corporation; |
(48) Renewable energy resources, as defined in § 39-26-5, used in residential systems and |
associated equipment used therewith in service after December 31, 2015; |
(49) Renewable energy resources, as defined in § 39-26-5, if employed by a manufacturer, |
as defined in subsection (a) of this section, shall be exempt from taxation in accordance with |
subsection (a) of this section; |
(50) Real and personal property located at 415 Tower Hill Road within the town of North |
Kingstown, of South County Community Action, Inc., a qualified tax-exempt corporation under § |
501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code; |
(51) As an effort to promote business growth, tangible business or personal property, in |
whole or in part, within the town of Charlestown's community limits, subject to authorization by |
formal action of the town council of the town of Charlestown; |
(52) All real and personal property located at 1300 Frenchtown Road, within the town of |
East Greenwich, identified as assessor's map 027, plat 019, lot 071, and known as the New England |
Wireless and Steam Museum, Inc., a qualified tax-exempt corporation under § 501(c)(3) of the |
United States Internal Revenue Code; |
(53) Real and tangible personal property of Mount Saint Charles Academy located within |
the city of Woonsocket, specifically identified as the following assessor's plats and lots: Logee |
Street, plat 23, lot 62, Logee Street, plat 24, lots 304 and 305; Welles Street, plat 23, lot 310; |
Monroe Street, plat 23, lot 312; and Roberge Avenue, plat 24, lot 47; |
(54) Real and tangible personal property of Steere House, a Rhode Island nonprofit |
corporation, located in Providence, Rhode Island; |
(55) Real and personal property located within the town of West Warwick of Tides Family |
Services, Inc., a Rhode Island nonprofit corporation; |
(56) Real and personal property of Tides Family Services, Inc., a Rhode Island nonprofit |
corporation, located in the city of Pawtucket at 242 Dexter Street, plat 44, lot 444; |
(57) Real and personal property located within the town of Middletown of Lucy's Hearth, |
a Rhode Island nonprofit corporation; |
(58) Real and tangible personal property of Habitat for Humanity of Rhode Island— |
Greater Providence, Inc., a Rhode Island nonprofit corporation, located in Providence, Rhode |
Island; |
(59) Real and personal property of the Artic Playhouse, a Rhode Island nonprofit |
corporation, located in the town of West Warwick at 1249 Main Street; |
(60) Real and personal property located at 321 Main Street, within the town of South |
Kingstown, of the Contemporary Theatre Company, a qualified, tax-exempt corporation under § |
501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code; |
(61) Real and personal property of The Samaritans, Inc., a Rhode Island nonprofit § |
501(c)(3) corporation located at 67 Park Place, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, to the extent the city |
council of Pawtucket may from time to time determine; |
(62) Real and personal property of North Kingstown, Exeter Animal Protection League, |
Inc., dba "Pet Refuge," 500 Stony Lane, a Rhode Island nonprofit corporation, located in North |
Kingstown, Rhode Island; |
(63) Real and personal property located within the city of East Providence of Foster |
Forward (formerly the Rhode Island Foster Parents Association), a Rhode Island charitable |
nonprofit corporation; |
(64) Real and personal property located at 54 Kelly Avenue within the town of East |
Providence, of the Associated Radio Amateurs of Southern New England, a Rhode Island nonprofit |
corporation; |
(65) Real and tangible personal property of Providence Country Day School, a Rhode |
Island nonprofit corporation, located in East Providence, Rhode Island and further identified as plat |
406, block 6, lot 6, and plat 506, block 1, lot 8; |
(66) As an effort to promote business growth, tangible business or personal property, in |
whole or in part, within the town of Bristol's community limits, subject to authorization by formal |
action of the town council of the town of Bristol; |
(67) Real and tangible personal property of the Heritage Harbor Foundation, a Rhode |
Island nonprofit corporation, located at 1445 Wampanoag Trail, Suites 103 and 201, within the city |
of East Providence; |
(68) Real property of Ocean State Community Wellness, Inc., a qualified tax-exempt |
corporation under § 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, located in North |
Kingstown, Rhode Island, with a physical address of 7450 Post Road, and further identified as plat |
108, lot 83; |
(69) Real and tangible personal property of St. John Baptist De La Salle Institute, d/b/a La |
Salle Academy, a Rhode Island domestic nonprofit corporation, located in Providence, Rhode |
Island denominated at the time this subsection was adopted as Plat 83 Lot 276 by the tax assessor |
for the city of Providence comprising approximately 26.08 acres of land along with all buildings |
and improvements that have been or may be made; |
(70) Real and tangible personal property of The Providence Community Health Centers, |
Inc., a Rhode Island domestic nonprofit corporation, located in Providence, Rhode Island; and |
(71) In the city of Central Falls and the city of Pawtucket, real property and tangible |
personal property located on or in the premise acquired or leased by a railroad entity and for the |
purpose of providing boarding and disembarking of railroad passengers and the supporting |
passenger railroad operations and services. For the purpose of this section, a railroad entity shall be |
any incorporated entity that has been duly authorized by the Rhode Island public utilities |
commission to provide passenger railroad services. |
(b) Except as provided below, when a city or town taxes a for-profit hospital facility, the |
value of its real property shall be the value determined by the most recent full revaluation or |
statistical property update performed by the city or town; provided, however, in the year a nonprofit |
hospital facility converts to or otherwise becomes a for-profit hospital facility, or a for-profit |
hospital facility is initially established, the value of the real property and personal property of the |
for-profit hospital facility shall be determined by a valuation performed by the assessor for the |
purpose of determining an initial assessed value of real and personal property, not previously taxed |
by the city or town, as of the most recent date of assessment pursuant to § 44-5-1, subject to a right |
of appeal by the for-profit hospital facility which shall be made to the city or town tax assessor with |
a direct appeal from an adverse decision to the Rhode Island superior court business calendar. |
A "for-profit hospital facility" includes all real and personal property affiliated with any |
hospital as identified in an application filed pursuant to chapter 17 or 17.14 of title 23. |
Notwithstanding the above, a city or town may enter into a stabilization agreement with a for-profit |
hospital facility under § 44-3-9 or other laws specific to the particular city or town relating to |
stabilization agreements. In a year in which a nonprofit hospital facility converts to, or otherwise |
becomes, a for-profit hospital facility, or a for-profit hospital facility is otherwise established, in |
that year only the amount levied by the city or town and/or the amount payable under the |
stabilization agreement for that year related to the for-profit hospital facility shall not be counted |
towards determining the maximum tax levy permitted under § 44-5-2. |
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, in an effort to provide relief |
for businesses, including small businesses, and to promote economic development, a city, town, or |
fire district may establish an exemption for tangible personal property within its geographic limits |
by formal action of the appropriate governing body within the city, town, or fire district, which |
exemptions shall be uniformly applied and in compliance with local tax classification requirements. |
Exemptions established pursuant to this subsection shall conform to the requirements of § 44-5- |
12.2. |
SECTION 7. Chapter 44-5 of the General Laws entitled " Levy and Assessment of Local |
Taxes" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections: |
44-5-11.16 44-5-11.17. Division of Municipal Finance Classification Exemption |
Authority municipal finance classification exemption authority. |
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the Division division of |
Municipal Finance municipal finance (Division division) within the Department department of |
Revenue revenue shall have the authority to grant a one-year exemption to any city or town |
authorized to have a property tax classification structure under this chapter, where in the absence |
of such an exemption, the city or town would not be in compliance with its applicable tax |
classification structure. Any city or town seeking such an exemption shall provide the Division |
division with any documentation that the Division division deems necessary to grant an exemption. |
Such exemption, if approved by the Division division, shall be limited to one year. The city or |
town, if granted such an exemption, shall be required to either have applicable state legislation |
approved amending the specific section of law for which the exemption was sought or adjust its |
class tax rates so that the city or town is in compliance for its next fiscal year. |
44-5-12.2. Tangible personal property exemption -- Tax rate cap. |
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the tax rate for the class of |
property that includes tangible personal property for any city, town, or fire district that also |
establishes a tangible personal property assessment exemption, pursuant to subsections (a)(51), |
(a)(66), or (c) of § 44-3-3, § 44-3-47, § 44-3-65, or any other provision of law that enables a city, |
town, or fire district to establish a tangible personal property assessment exemption, shall be capped |
at the tax rate in effect for the assessment date immediately preceding the assessment date on which |
the exemption takes effect or the assessment date immediately following the effective date of this |
section, whichever is later. |
SECTION 8. Section 44-18-30 of the General Laws in Chapter 44-18 entitled "Sales and |
Use Taxes - Liability and Computation" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
44-18-30. Gross receipts exempt from sales and use taxes. |
There are exempted from the taxes imposed by this chapter the following gross receipts: |
(1) Sales and uses beyond constitutional power of state. From the sale and from the storage, |
use, or other consumption in this state of tangible personal property the gross receipts from the sale |
of which, or the storage, use, or other consumption of which, this state is prohibited from taxing |
under the Constitution of the United States or under the constitution of this state. |
(2) Newspapers. |
(i) From the sale and from the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of any |
newspaper. |
(ii) "Newspaper" means an unbound publication printed on newsprint that contains news, |
editorial comment, opinions, features, advertising matter, and other matters of public interest. |
(iii) "Newspaper" does not include a magazine, handbill, circular, flyer, sales catalog, or |
similar item unless the item is printed for, and distributed as, a part of a newspaper. |
(3) School meals. From the sale and from the storage, use, or other consumption in this |
state of meals served by public, private, or parochial schools, school districts, colleges, universities, |
student organizations, and parent-teacher associations to the students or teachers of a school, |
college, or university whether the meals are served by the educational institutions or by a food |
service or management entity under contract to the educational institutions. |
(4) Containers. |
(i) From the sale and from the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of: |
(A) Non-returnable containers, including boxes, paper bags, and wrapping materials that |
are biodegradable and all bags and wrapping materials utilized in the medical and healing arts, |
when sold without the contents to persons who place the contents in the container and sell the |
contents with the container. |
(B) Containers when sold with the contents if the sale price of the contents is not required |
to be included in the measure of the taxes imposed by this chapter. |
(C) Returnable containers when sold with the contents in connection with a retail sale of |
the contents or when resold for refilling. |
(D) Keg and barrel containers, whether returnable or not, when sold to alcoholic beverage |
producers who place the alcoholic beverages in the containers. |
(ii) As used in this subdivision, the term "returnable containers" means containers of a kind |
customarily returned by the buyer of the contents for reuse. All other containers are "non-returnable |
containers." |
(5)(i) Charitable, educational, and religious organizations. From the sale to, as in defined |
in this section, and from the storage, use, and other consumption in this state, or any other state of |
the United States of America, of tangible personal property by hospitals not operated for a profit; |
"educational institutions" as defined in subdivision (18) not operated for a profit; churches, |
orphanages, and other institutions or organizations operated exclusively for religious or charitable |
purposes; interest-free loan associations not operated for profit; nonprofit, organized sporting |
leagues and associations and bands for boys and girls under the age of nineteen (19) years; the |
following vocational student organizations that are state chapters of national vocational student |
organizations: Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA); Future Business Leaders of |
America, Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA/PBL); Future Farmers of America (FFA); Future Homemakers |
of America/Home Economics Related Occupations (FHA/HERD); Vocational Industrial Clubs of |
America (VICA); organized nonprofit golden age and senior citizens clubs for men and women; |
and parent-teacher associations; and from the sale, storage, use, and other consumption in this state, |
of and by the Industrial Foundation of Burrillville, a Rhode Island domestic nonprofit corporation. |
(ii) In the case of contracts entered into with the federal government, its agencies, or |
instrumentalities, this state, or any other state of the United States of America, its agencies, any |
city, town, district, or other political subdivision of the states; hospitals not operated for profit; |
educational institutions not operated for profit; churches, orphanages, and other institutions or |
organizations operated exclusively for religious or charitable purposes, the contractor may purchase |
such materials and supplies (materials and/or supplies are defined as those that are essential to the |
project) that are to be utilized in the construction of the projects being performed under the contracts |
without payment of the tax. |
(iii) The contractor shall not charge any sales or use tax to any exempt agency, institution, |
or organization but shall in that instance provide his or her suppliers with certificates in the form |
as determined by the division of taxation showing the reason for exemption and the contractor's |
records must substantiate the claim for exemption by showing the disposition of all property so |
purchased. If any property is then used for a nonexempt purpose, the contractor must pay the tax |
on the property used. |
(6) Gasoline. From the sale and from the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of: |
(i) Gasoline and other products taxed under chapter 36 of title 31 and (ii) Fuels used for the |
propulsion of airplanes. |
(7) Purchase for manufacturing purposes. |
(i) From the sale and from the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of computer |
software, tangible personal property, electricity, natural gas, artificial gas, steam, refrigeration, and |
water, when the property or service is purchased for the purpose of being manufactured into a |
finished product for resale and becomes an ingredient, component, or integral part of the |
manufactured, compounded, processed, assembled, or prepared product, or if the property or |
service is consumed in the process of manufacturing for resale computer software, tangible personal |
property, electricity, natural gas, artificial gas, steam, refrigeration, or water. |
(ii) "Consumed" means destroyed, used up, or worn out to the degree or extent that the |
property cannot be repaired, reconditioned, or rendered fit for further manufacturing use. |
(iii) "Consumed" includes mere obsolescence. |
(iv) "Manufacturing" means and includes: manufacturing, compounding, processing, |
assembling, preparing, or producing. |
(v) "Process of manufacturing" means and includes all production operations performed in |
the producing or processing room, shop, or plant, insofar as the operations are a part of and |
connected with the manufacturing for resale of tangible personal property, electricity, natural gas, |
artificial gas, steam, refrigeration, or water and all production operations performed insofar as the |
operations are a part of and connected with the manufacturing for resale of computer software. |
(vi) "Process of manufacturing" does not mean or include administration operations such |
as general office operations, accounting, collection, or sales promotion, nor does it mean or include |
distribution operations that occur subsequent to production operations, such as handling, storing, |
selling, and transporting the manufactured products, even though the administration and |
distribution operations are performed by, or in connection with, a manufacturing business. |
(8) State and political subdivisions. From the sale to, and from the storage, use, or other |
consumption by, this state, any city, town, district, or other political subdivision of this state. Every |
redevelopment agency created pursuant to chapter 31 of title 45 is deemed to be a subdivision of |
the municipality where it is located. |
(9) Food and food ingredients. From the sale and storage, use, or other consumption in this |
state of food and food ingredients as defined in § 44-18-7.1(l). |
For the purposes of this exemption "food and food ingredients" shall not include candy, |
soft drinks, dietary supplements, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, food sold through vending |
machines, or prepared food, as those terms are defined in § 44-18-7.1, unless the prepared food is: |
(i) Sold by a seller whose primary NAICS classification is manufacturing in sector 311, |
except sub-sector 3118 (bakeries); |
(ii) Sold in an unheated state by weight or volume as a single item; |
(iii) Bakery items, including: bread, rolls, buns, biscuits, bagels, croissants, pastries, |
donuts, danish, cakes, tortes, pies, tarts, muffins, bars, cookies, tortillas; and |
is not sold with utensils provided by the seller, including: plates, knives, forks, spoons, |
glasses, cups, napkins, or straws. |
(10) Medicines, drugs, and durable medical equipment. From the sale and from the storage, |
use, or other consumption in this state, of: |
(i) "Drugs" as defined in § 44-18-7.1(h)(i), sold on prescriptions, medical oxygen, and |
insulin whether or not sold on prescription. For purposes of this exemption drugs shall not include |
over-the-counter drugs and grooming and hygiene products as defined in § 44-18-7.1(h)(iii). |
(ii) Durable medical equipment as defined in § 44-18-7.1(k) for home use only, including, |
but not limited to: syringe infusers, ambulatory drug delivery pumps, hospital beds, convalescent |
chairs, and chair lifts. Supplies used in connection with syringe infusers and ambulatory drug |
delivery pumps that are sold on prescription to individuals to be used by them to dispense or |
administer prescription drugs, and related ancillary dressings and supplies used to dispense or |
administer prescription drugs, shall also be exempt from tax. |
(11) Prosthetic devices and mobility enhancing equipment. From the sale and from the |
storage, use, or other consumption in this state, of prosthetic devices as defined in § 44-18-7.1(t), |
sold on prescription, including, but not limited to: artificial limbs, dentures, spectacles, eyeglasses, |
and artificial eyes; artificial hearing devices and hearing aids, whether or not sold on prescription; |
and mobility enhancing equipment as defined in § 44-18-7.1(p), including wheelchairs, crutches, |
and canes. |
(12) Coffins, caskets, urns, shrouds and burial garments. From the sale and from the |
storage, use, or other consumption in this state of coffins, caskets, burial containers, urns, urn liners, |
urn vaults, grave liners, grave vaults, burial tent setups, prayer cards, shrouds, and other burial |
garments that are ordinarily sold by a funeral director as part of the business of funeral directing. |
(13) Motor vehicles sold to nonresidents. |
(i) From the sale, subsequent to June 30, 1958, of a motor vehicle to a bona fide nonresident |
of this state who does not register the motor vehicle in this state, whether the sale or delivery of the |
motor vehicle is made in this state or at the place of residence of the nonresident. A motor vehicle |
sold to a bona fide nonresident whose state of residence does not allow a like exemption to its |
nonresidents is not exempt from the tax imposed under § 44-18-20. In that event, the bona fide |
nonresident pays a tax to Rhode Island on the sale at a rate equal to the rate that would be imposed |
in his or her state of residence not to exceed the rate that would have been imposed under § 44-18- |
20. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, a licensed motor vehicle dealer shall add and |
collect the tax required under this subdivision and remit the tax to the tax administrator under the |
provisions of chapters 18 and 19 of this title. When a Rhode Island licensed, motor vehicle dealer |
is required to add and collect the sales and use tax on the sale of a motor vehicle to a bona fide |
nonresident as provided in this section, the dealer in computing the tax takes into consideration the |
law of the state of the nonresident as it relates to the trade-in of motor vehicles. |
(ii) The tax administrator, in addition to the provisions of §§ 44-19-27 and 44-19-28, may |
require any licensed motor vehicle dealer to keep records of sales to bona fide nonresidents as the |
tax administrator deems reasonably necessary to substantiate the exemption provided in this |
subdivision, including the affidavit of a licensed motor vehicle dealer that the purchaser of the |
motor vehicle was the holder of, and had in his or her possession a valid out-of-state motor vehicle |
registration or a valid out-of-state driver's license. |
(iii) Any nonresident who registers a motor vehicle in this state within ninety (90) days of |
the date of its sale to him or her is deemed to have purchased the motor vehicle for use, storage, or |
other consumption in this state, and is subject to, and liable for, the use tax imposed under the |
provisions of § 44-18-20. |
(14) Sales in public buildings by blind people. From the sale and from the storage, use, or |
other consumption in all public buildings in this state of all products or wares by any person |
licensed under § 40-9-11.1. |
(15) Air and water pollution control facilities. From the sale, storage, use, or other |
consumption in this state of tangible personal property or supplies acquired for incorporation into |
or used and consumed in the operation of a facility, the primary purpose of which is to aid in the |
control of the pollution or contamination of the waters or air of the state, as defined in chapter 12 |
of title 46 and chapter 23 of title 23, respectively, and that has been certified as approved for that |
purpose by the director of environmental management. The director of environmental management |
may certify to a portion of the tangible personal property or supplies acquired for incorporation |
into those facilities or used and consumed in the operation of those facilities to the extent that that |
portion has as its primary purpose the control of the pollution or contamination of the waters or air |
of this state. As used in this subdivision, "facility" means any land, facility, device, building, |
machinery, or equipment. |
(16) Camps. From the rental charged for living quarters, or sleeping, or housekeeping |
accommodations at camps or retreat houses operated by religious, charitable, educational, or other |
organizations and associations mentioned in subsection (5), or by privately owned and operated |
summer camps for children. |
(17) Certain institutions. From the rental charged for living or sleeping quarters in an |
institution licensed by the state for the hospitalization, custodial, or nursing care of human beings. |
(18) Educational institutions. From the rental charged by any educational institution for |
living quarters, or sleeping, or housekeeping accommodations or other rooms or accommodations |
to any student or teacher necessitated by attendance at an educational institution. "Educational |
institution" as used in this section means an institution of learning not operated for profit that is |
empowered to confer diplomas, educational, literary, or academic degrees; that has a regular |
faculty, curriculum, and organized body of pupils or students in attendance throughout the usual |
school year; that keeps and furnishes to students and others records required and accepted for |
entrance to schools of secondary, collegiate, or graduate rank; and no part of the net earnings of |
which inures to the benefit of any individual. |
(19) Motor vehicle and adaptive equipment for persons with disabilities. |
(i) From the sale of: (A) Special adaptations; (B) The component parts of the special |
adaptations; or (C) A specially adapted motor vehicle; provided that the owner furnishes to the tax |
administrator an affidavit of a licensed physician to the effect that the specially adapted motor |
vehicle is necessary to transport a family member with a disability or where the vehicle has been |
specially adapted to meet the specific needs of the person with a disability. This exemption applies |
to not more than one motor vehicle owned and registered for personal, noncommercial use. |
(ii) For the purpose of this subsection the term "special adaptations" includes, but is not |
limited to: wheelchair lifts, wheelchair carriers, wheelchair ramps, wheelchair securements, hand |
controls, steering devices, extensions, relocations, and crossovers of operator controls, power- |
assisted controls, raised tops or dropped floors, raised entry doors, or alternative signaling devices |
to auditory signals. |
(iii) From the sale of: (a) Special adaptations, (b) The component parts of the special |
adaptations, for a "wheelchair accessible taxicab" as defined in § 39-14-1, and/or a "wheelchair |
accessible public motor vehicle" as defined in § 39-14.1-1. |
(iv) For the purpose of this subdivision the exemption for a "specially adapted motor |
vehicle" means a use tax credit not to exceed the amount of use tax that would otherwise be due on |
the motor vehicle, exclusive of any adaptations. The use tax credit is equal to the cost of the special |
adaptations, including installation. |
(20) Heating fuels. From the sale and from the storage, use, or other consumption in this |
state of every type of heating fuel. |
(21) Electricity and gas. From the sale and from the storage, use, or other consumption in |
this state of electricity and gas. |
(22) Manufacturing machinery and equipment. |
(i) From the sale and from the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of tools, dies, |
molds, machinery, equipment (including replacement parts), and related items to the extent used in |
an industrial plant in connection with the actual manufacture, conversion, or processing of tangible |
personal property, or to the extent used in connection with the actual manufacture, conversion, or |
processing of computer software as that term is utilized in industry numbers 7371, 7372, and 7373 |
in the standard industrial classification manual prepared by the Technical Committee on Industrial |
Classification, Office of Statistical Standards, Executive Office of the President, United States |
Bureau of the Budget, as revised from time to time, to be sold, or that machinery and equipment |
used in the furnishing of power to an industrial manufacturing plant. For the purposes of this |
subdivision, "industrial plant" means a factory at a fixed location primarily engaged in the |
manufacture, conversion, or processing of tangible personal property to be sold in the regular |
course of business; |
(ii) Machinery and equipment and related items are not deemed to be used in connection |
with the actual manufacture, conversion, or processing of tangible personal property, or in |
connection with the actual manufacture, conversion, or processing of computer software as that |
term is utilized in industry numbers 7371, 7372, and 7373 in the standard industrial classification |
manual prepared by the Technical Committee on Industrial Classification, Office of Statistical |
Standards, Executive Office of the President, United States Bureau of the Budget, as revised from |
time to time, to be sold to the extent the property is used in administration or distribution operations; |
(iii) Machinery and equipment and related items used in connection with the actual |
manufacture, conversion, or processing of any computer software or any tangible personal property |
that is not to be sold and that would be exempt under subdivision (7) or this subdivision if purchased |
from a vendor or machinery and equipment and related items used during any manufacturing, |
converting, or processing function is exempt under this subdivision even if that operation, function, |
or purpose is not an integral or essential part of a continuous production flow or manufacturing |
process; |
(iv) Where a portion of a group of portable or mobile machinery is used in connection with |
the actual manufacture, conversion, or processing of computer software or tangible personal |
property to be sold, as previously defined, that portion, if otherwise qualifying, is exempt under |
this subdivision even though the machinery in that group is used interchangeably and not otherwise |
identifiable as to use. |
(23) Trade-in value of motor vehicles. From the sale and from the storage, use, or other |
consumption in this state of so much of the purchase price paid for a new or used automobile as is |
allocated for a trade-in allowance on the automobile of the buyer given in trade to the seller, or of |
the proceeds applicable only to the automobile as are received from the manufacturer of |
automobiles for the repurchase of the automobile whether the repurchase was voluntary or not |
towards the purchase of a new or used automobile by the buyer. For the purpose of this subdivision, |
the word "automobile" means a private passenger automobile not used for hire and does not refer |
to any other type of motor vehicle. |
(24) Precious metal bullion. |
(i) From the sale and from the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of precious |
metal bullion, substantially equivalent to a transaction in securities or commodities. |
(ii) For purposes of this subdivision, "precious metal bullion" means any elementary |
precious metal that has been put through a process of smelting or refining, including, but not limited |
to: gold, silver, platinum, rhodium, and chromium, and that is in a state or condition that its value |
depends upon its content and not upon its form. |
(iii) The term does not include fabricated precious metal that has been processed or |
manufactured for some one or more specific and customary industrial, professional, or artistic uses. |
(25) Commercial vessels. From sales made to a commercial ship, barge, or other vessel of |
fifty (50) tons burden or over, primarily engaged in interstate or foreign commerce, and from the |
repair, alteration, or conversion of the vessels, and from the sale of property purchased for the use |
of the vessels including provisions, supplies, and material for the maintenance and/or repair of the |
vessels. |
(26) Commercial fishing vessels. From the sale and from the storage, use, or other |
consumption in this state of vessels and other watercraft that are in excess of five (5) net tons and |
that are used exclusively for "commercial fishing," as defined in this subdivision, and from the |
repair, alteration, or conversion of those vessels and other watercraft, and from the sale of property |
purchased for the use of those vessels and other watercraft including provisions, supplies, and |
material for the maintenance and/or repair of the vessels and other watercraft and the boats nets, |
cables, tackle, and other fishing equipment appurtenant to or used in connection with the |
commercial fishing of the vessels and other watercraft. "Commercial fishing" means taking or |
attempting to take any fish, shellfish, crustacea, or bait species with the intent of disposing of it for |
profit or by sale, barter, trade, or in commercial channels. The term does not include subsistence |
fishing, i.e., the taking for personal use and not for sale or barter; or sport fishing; but shall include |
vessels and other watercraft with a Rhode Island party and charter boat license issued by the |
department of environmental management pursuant to § 20-2-27.1 that meet the following criteria: |
(i) The operator must have a current United States Coast Guard (U.S.C.G.) license to carry |
passengers for hire; (ii) U.S.C.G. vessel documentation in the coast wide fishery trade; (iii) |
U.S.C.G. vessel documentation as to proof of Rhode Island home port status or a Rhode Island boat |
registration to prove Rhode Island home port status; and (iv) The vessel must be used as a |
commercial passenger carrying fishing vessel to carry passengers for fishing. The vessel must be |
able to demonstrate that at least fifty percent (50%) of its annual gross income derives from charters |
or provides documentation of a minimum of one hundred (100) charter trips annually; and (v) The |
vessel must have a valid Rhode Island party and charter boat license. The tax administrator shall |
implement the provisions of this subdivision by promulgating rules and regulations relating thereto. |
(27) Clothing and footwear. From the sales of articles of clothing, including footwear, |
intended to be worn or carried on or about the human body for sales prior to October 1, 2012. |
Effective October 1, 2012, the exemption will apply to the sales of articles of clothing, including |
footwear, intended to be worn or carried on or about the human body up to two hundred and fifty |
dollars ($250) of the sales price per item. For the purposes of this section, "clothing or footwear" |
does not include clothing accessories or equipment or special clothing or footwear primarily |
designed for athletic activity or protective use as these terms are defined in section 44-18-7.1(f). In |
recognition of the work being performed by the streamlined sales and use tax governing board, |
upon passage of any federal law that authorizes states to require remote sellers to collect and remit |
sales and use taxes, this unlimited exemption will apply as it did prior to October 1, 2012. The |
unlimited exemption on sales of clothing and footwear shall take effect on the date that the state |
requires remote sellers to collect and remit sales and use taxes. |
(28) Water for residential use. From the sale and from the storage, use, or other |
consumption in this state of water furnished for domestic use by occupants of residential premises. |
(29) Bibles. [Unconstitutional; see Ahlburn v. Clark, 728 A.2d 449 (R.I. 1999); see Notes |
to Decisions.] From the sale and from the storage, use, or other consumption in the state of any |
canonized scriptures of any tax-exempt nonprofit religious organization including, but not limited |
to, the Old Testament and the New Testament versions. |
(30) Boats. |
(i) From the sale of a boat or vessel to a bona fide nonresident of this state who does not |
register the boat or vessel in this state or document the boat or vessel with the United States |
government at a home port within the state, whether the sale or delivery of the boat or vessel is |
made in this state or elsewhere; provided, that the nonresident transports the boat within thirty (30) |
days after delivery by the seller outside the state for use thereafter solely outside the state. |
(ii) The tax administrator, in addition to the provisions of §§ 44-19-27 and 44-19-28, may |
require the seller of the boat or vessel to keep records of the sales to bona fide nonresidents as the |
tax administrator deems reasonably necessary to substantiate the exemption provided in this |
subdivision, including the affidavit of the seller that the buyer represented himself or herself to be |
a bona fide nonresident of this state and of the buyer that he or she is a nonresident of this state. |
(31) Youth activities equipment. From the sale, storage, use, or other consumption in this |
state of items for not more than twenty dollars ($20.00) each by nonprofit Rhode Island |
eleemosynary organizations, for the purposes of youth activities that the organization is formed to |
sponsor and support; and by accredited elementary and secondary schools for the purposes of the |
schools or of organized activities of the enrolled students. |
(32) Farm equipment. From the sale and from the storage or use of machinery and |
equipment used directly for commercial farming and agricultural production; including, but not |
limited to: tractors, ploughs, harrows, spreaders, seeders, milking machines, silage conveyors, |
balers, bulk milk storage tanks, trucks with farm plates, mowers, combines, irrigation equipment, |
greenhouses and greenhouse coverings, graders and packaging machines, tools and supplies and |
other farming equipment, including replacement parts appurtenant to or used in connection with |
commercial farming and tools and supplies used in the repair and maintenance of farming |
equipment. "Commercial farming" means the keeping or boarding of five (5) or more horses or the |
production within this state of agricultural products, including, but not limited to, field or orchard |
crops, livestock, dairy, and poultry, or their products, where the keeping, boarding, or production |
provides at least two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) in annual gross sales to the operator, |
whether an individual, a group, a partnership, or a corporation for exemptions issued prior to July |
1, 2002. For exemptions issued or renewed after July 1, 2002, there shall be two (2) levels. Level I |
shall be based on proof of annual, gross sales from commercial farming of at least twenty-five |
hundred dollars ($2,500) and shall be valid for purchases subject to the exemption provided in this |
subdivision except for motor vehicles with an excise tax value of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or |
greater. Level II shall be based on proof of annual gross sales from commercial farming of at least |
ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or greater and shall be valid for purchases subject to the exemption |
provided in this subdivision including motor vehicles with an excise tax value of five thousand |
dollars ($5,000) or greater. For the initial issuance of the exemptions, proof of the requisite amount |
of annual gross sales from commercial farming shall be required for the prior year; for any renewal |
of an exemption granted in accordance with this subdivision at either level I or level II, proof of |
gross annual sales from commercial farming at the requisite amount shall be required for each of |
the prior two (2) years. Certificates of exemption issued or renewed after July 1, 2002, shall clearly |
indicate the level of the exemption and be valid for four (4) years after the date of issue. This |
exemption applies even if the same equipment is used for ancillary uses, or is temporarily used for |
a non-farming or a non-agricultural purpose, but shall not apply to motor vehicles acquired after |
July 1, 2002, unless the vehicle is a farm vehicle as defined pursuant to § 31-1-8 and is eligible for |
registration displaying farm plates as provided for in § 31-3-31. |
(33) Compressed air. From the sale and from the storage, use, or other consumption in the |
state of compressed air. |
(34) Flags. From the sale and from the storage, consumption, or other use in this state of |
United States, Rhode Island or POW-MIA flags. |
(35) Motor vehicle and adaptive equipment to certain veterans. From the sale of a motor |
vehicle and adaptive equipment to and for the use of a veteran with a service-connected loss of or |
the loss of use of a leg, foot, hand, or arm, or any veteran who is a double amputee, whether service |
connected or not. The motor vehicle must be purchased by and especially equipped for use by the |
qualifying veteran. Certificate of exemption or refunds of taxes paid is granted under rules or |
regulations that the tax administrator may prescribe. |
(36) Textbooks. From the sale and from the storage, use, or other consumption in this state |
of textbooks by an "educational institution," as defined in subsection (18) of this section, and any |
educational institution within the purview of § 16-63-9(4), and used textbooks by any purveyor. |
(37) Tangible personal property and supplies used in on-site hazardous waste recycling, |
reuse, or treatment. From the sale, storage, use, or other consumption in this state of tangible |
personal property or supplies used or consumed in the operation of equipment, the exclusive |
function of which is the recycling, reuse, or recovery of materials (other than precious metals, as |
defined in subdivision (24)(ii) of this section) from the treatment of "hazardous wastes," as defined |
in § 23-19.1-4, where the "hazardous wastes" are generated in Rhode Island solely by the same |
taxpayer and where the personal property is located at, in, or adjacent to a generating facility of the |
taxpayer in Rhode Island. The taxpayer shall procure an order from the director of the department |
of environmental management certifying that the equipment and/or supplies as used or consumed, |
qualify for the exemption under this subdivision. If any information relating to secret processes or |
methods of manufacture, production, or treatment is disclosed to the department of environmental |
management only to procure an order, and is a "trade secret" as defined in § 28-21-10(b), it is not |
open to public inspection or publicly disclosed unless disclosure is required under chapter 21 of |
title 28 or chapter 24.4 of title 23. |
(38) Promotional and product literature of boat manufacturers. From the sale and from the |
storage, use, or other consumption of promotional and product literature of boat manufacturers |
shipped to points outside of Rhode Island that either: (i) Accompany the product that is sold; (ii) |
Are shipped in bulk to out-of-state dealers for use in the sale of the product; or (iii) Are mailed to |
customers at no charge. |
(39) Food items paid for by food stamps. From the sale and from the storage, use, or other |
consumption in this state of eligible food items payment for which is properly made to the retailer |
in the form of U.S. government food stamps issued in accordance with the Food Stamp Act of 1977, |
7 U.S.C. § 2011 et seq. |
(40) Transportation charges. From the sale or hiring of motor carriers as defined in § 39- |
12-2(12) to haul goods, when the contract or hiring cost is charged by a motor freight tariff filed |
with the Rhode Island public utilities commission on the number of miles driven or by the number |
of hours spent on the job. |
(41) Trade-in value of boats. From the sale and from the storage, use, or other consumption |
in this state of so much of the purchase price paid for a new or used boat as is allocated for a trade- |
in allowance on the boat of the buyer given in trade to the seller or of the proceeds applicable only |
to the boat as are received from an insurance claim as a result of a stolen or damaged boat, towards |
the purchase of a new or used boat by the buyer. |
(42) Equipment used for research and development. From the sale and from the storage, |
use, or other consumption of equipment to the extent used for research and development purposes |
by a qualifying firm. For the purposes of this subsection, "qualifying firm" means a business for |
which the use of research and development equipment is an integral part of its operation and |
"equipment" means scientific equipment, computers, software, and related items. |
(43) Coins. From the sale and from the other consumption in this state of coins having |
numismatic or investment value. |
(44) Farm structure construction materials. Lumber, hardware, and other materials used in |
the new construction of farm structures, including production facilities such as, but not limited to: |
farrowing sheds, free stall and stanchion barns, milking parlors, silos, poultry barns, laying houses, |
fruit and vegetable storages, rooting cellars, propagation rooms, greenhouses, packing rooms, |
machinery storage, seasonal farm worker housing, certified farm markets, bunker and trench silos, |
feed storage sheds, and any other structures used in connection with commercial farming. |
(45) Telecommunications carrier access service. Carrier access service or |
telecommunications service when purchased by a telecommunications company from another |
telecommunications company to facilitate the provision of telecommunications service. |
(46) Boats or vessels brought into the state exclusively for winter storage, maintenance, |
repair, or sale. Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 44-18-10, 44-18-11 and 44-18-20, the tax |
imposed by § 44-18-20 is not applicable for the period commencing on the first day of October in |
any year up to and including the 30th day of April next succeeding with respect to the use of any |
boat or vessel within this state exclusively for purposes of: (i) Delivery of the vessel to a facility in |
this state for storage, including dry storage and storage in water by means of apparatus preventing |
ice damage to the hull, maintenance, or repair; (ii) The actual process of storage, maintenance, or |
repair of the boat or vessel; or (iii) Storage for the purpose of selling the boat or vessel. |
(47) Jewelry display product. From the sale and from the storage, use, or other consumption |
in this state of tangible personal property used to display any jewelry product; provided that title to |
the jewelry display product is transferred by the jewelry manufacturer or seller and that the jewelry |
display product is shipped out of state for use solely outside the state and is not returned to the |
jewelry manufacturer or seller. |
(48) Boats or vessels generally. Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, the tax |
imposed by §§ 44-18-20 and 44-18-18 shall not apply with respect to the sale and to the storage, |
use, or other consumption in this state of any new or used boat. The exemption provided for in this |
subdivision does not apply after October 1, 1993, unless prior to October 1, 1993, the federal ten |
percent (10%) surcharge on luxury boats is repealed. |
(49) Banks and regulated investment companies interstate toll-free calls. Notwithstanding |
the provisions of this chapter, the tax imposed by this chapter does not apply to the furnishing of |
interstate and international, toll-free terminating telecommunication service that is used directly |
and exclusively by or for the benefit of an eligible company as defined in this subdivision; provided |
that an eligible company employs on average during the calendar year no less than five hundred |
(500) "full-time equivalent employees" as that term is defined in § 42-64.5-2. For purposes of this |
section, an "eligible company" means a "regulated investment company" as that term is defined in |
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. § 851, or a corporation to the extent the service is |
provided, directly or indirectly, to or on behalf of a regulated investment company, an employee |
benefit plan, a retirement plan or a pension plan, or a state-chartered bank. |
(50) Mobile and manufactured homes generally. From the sale and from the storage, use, |
or other consumption in this state of mobile and/or manufactured homes as defined and subject to |
taxation pursuant to the provisions of chapter 44 of title 31. |
(51) Manufacturing business reconstruction materials. |
(i) From the sale and from the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of lumber, |
hardware, and other building materials used in the reconstruction of a manufacturing business |
facility that suffers a disaster, as defined in this subdivision, in this state. "Disaster" means any |
occurrence, natural or otherwise, that results in the destruction of sixty percent (60%) or more of |
an operating manufacturing business facility within this state. "Disaster" does not include any |
damage resulting from the willful act of the owner of the manufacturing business facility. |
(ii) Manufacturing business facility includes, but is not limited to, the structures housing |
the production and administrative facilities. |
(iii) In the event a manufacturer has more than one manufacturing site in this state, the sixty |
percent (60%) provision applies to the damages suffered at that one site. |
(iv) To the extent that the costs of the reconstruction materials are reimbursed by insurance, |
this exemption does not apply. |
(52) Tangible personal property and supplies used in the processing or preparation of floral |
products and floral arrangements. From the sale, storage, use, or other consumption in this state of |
tangible personal property or supplies purchased by florists, garden centers, or other like producers |
or vendors of flowers, plants, floral products, and natural and artificial floral arrangements that are |
ultimately sold with flowers, plants, floral products, and natural and artificial floral arrangements |
or are otherwise used in the decoration, fabrication, creation, processing, or preparation of flowers, |
plants, floral products, or natural and artificial floral arrangements, including descriptive labels, |
stickers, and cards affixed to the flower, plant, floral product, or arrangement, artificial flowers, |
spray materials, floral paint and tint, plant shine, flower food, insecticide, and fertilizers. |
(53) Horse food products. From the sale and from the storage, use, or other consumption |
in this state of horse food products purchased by a person engaged in the business of the boarding |
of horses. |
(54) Non-motorized recreational vehicles sold to nonresidents. |
(i) From the sale, subsequent to June 30, 2003, of a non-motorized recreational vehicle to |
a bona fide nonresident of this state who does not register the non-motorized recreational vehicle |
in this state, whether the sale or delivery of the non-motorized recreational vehicle is made in this |
state or at the place of residence of the nonresident; provided that a non-motorized recreational |
vehicle sold to a bona fide nonresident whose state of residence does not allow a like exemption to |
its nonresidents is not exempt from the tax imposed under § 44-18-20; provided, further, that in |
that event the bona fide nonresident pays a tax to Rhode Island on the sale at a rate equal to the rate |
that would be imposed in his or her state of residence not to exceed the rate that would have been |
imposed under § 44-18-20. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, a licensed, non-motorized |
recreational vehicle dealer shall add and collect the tax required under this subdivision and remit |
the tax to the tax administrator under the provisions of chapters 18 and 19 of this title. Provided, |
that when a Rhode Island licensed, non-motorized recreational vehicle dealer is required to add and |
collect the sales and use tax on the sale of a non-motorized recreational vehicle to a bona fide |
nonresident as provided in this section, the dealer in computing the tax takes into consideration the |
law of the state of the nonresident as it relates to the trade-in of motor vehicles. |
(ii) The tax administrator, in addition to the provisions of §§ 44-19-27 and 44-19-28, may |
require any licensed, non-motorized recreational vehicle dealer to keep records of sales to bona fide |
nonresidents as the tax administrator deems reasonably necessary to substantiate the exemption |
provided in this subdivision, including the affidavit of a licensed, non-motorized recreational |
vehicle dealer that the purchaser of the non-motorized recreational vehicle was the holder of, and |
had in his or her possession a valid out-of-state non-motorized recreational vehicle registration or |
a valid out-of-state driver's license. |
(iii) Any nonresident who registers a non-motorized recreational vehicle in this state within |
ninety (90) days of the date of its sale to him or her is deemed to have purchased the non-motorized |
recreational vehicle for use, storage, or other consumption in this state, and is subject to, and liable |
for, the use tax imposed under the provisions of § 44-18-20. |
(iv) "Non-motorized recreational vehicle" means any portable dwelling designed and |
constructed to be used as a temporary dwelling for travel, camping, recreational, and vacation use |
that is eligible to be registered for highway use, including, but not limited to, "pick-up coaches" or |
"pick-up campers," "travel trailers," and "tent trailers" as those terms are defined in chapter 1 of |
title 31. |
(55) Sprinkler and fire alarm systems in existing buildings. From the sale in this state of |
sprinkler and fire alarm systems; emergency lighting and alarm systems; and the materials |
necessary and attendant to the installation of those systems that are required in buildings and |
occupancies existing therein in July 2003 in order to comply with any additional requirements for |
such buildings arising directly from the enactment of the Comprehensive Fire Safety Act of 2003 |
and that are not required by any other provision of law or ordinance or regulation adopted pursuant |
to that act. The exemption provided in this subdivision shall expire on December 31, 2008. |
(56) Aircraft. Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, the tax imposed by §§ 44-18- |
18 and 44-18-20 shall not apply with respect to the sale and to the storage, use, or other consumption |
in this state of any new or used aircraft or aircraft parts. |
(57) Renewable energy products. Notwithstanding any other provisions of Rhode Island |
general laws, the following products shall also be exempt from sales tax: solar photovoltaic |
modules or panels, or any module or panel that generates electricity from light; solar thermal |
collectors, including, but not limited to, those manufactured with flat glass plates, extruded plastic, |
sheet metal, and/or evacuated tubes; geothermal heat pumps, including both water-to-water and |
water-to-air type pumps; wind turbines; towers used to mount wind turbines if specified by or sold |
by a wind turbine manufacturer; DC to AC inverters that interconnect with utility power lines; and |
manufactured mounting racks and ballast pans for solar collector, module, or panel installation. Not |
to include materials that could be fabricated into such racks; monitoring and control equipment, if |
specified or supplied by a manufacturer of solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, geothermal, or wind |
energy systems or if required by law or regulation for such systems but not to include pumps, fans |
or plumbing or electrical fixtures unless shipped from the manufacturer affixed to, or an integral |
part of, another item specified on this list; and solar storage tanks that are part of a solar domestic |
hot water system or a solar space heating system. If the tank comes with an external heat exchanger |
it shall also be tax exempt, but a standard hot water tank is not exempt from state sales tax. |
(58) Returned property. The amount charged for property returned by customers upon |
rescission of the contract of sale when the entire amount exclusive of handling charges paid for the |
property is refunded in either cash or credit, and where the property is returned within one hundred |
twenty (120) days from the date of delivery. |
(59) Dietary supplements. From the sale and from the storage, use, or other consumption |
of dietary supplements as defined in § 44-18-7.1(l)(v), sold on prescriptions. |
(60) Blood. From the sale and from the storage, use, or other consumption of human blood. |
(61) Agricultural products for human consumption. From the sale and from the storage, |
use, or other consumption of livestock and poultry of the kinds of products that ordinarily constitute |
food for human consumption and of livestock of the kind the products of which ordinarily constitute |
fibers for human use. |
(62) Diesel emission control technology. From the sale and use of diesel retrofit technology |
that is required by § 31-47.3-4. |
(63) Feed for certain animals used in commercial farming. From the sale of feed for animals |
as described in subsection (61) of this section. |
(64) Alcoholic beverages. From the sale and storage, use, or other consumption in this state |
by a Class A licensee of alcoholic beverages, as defined in § 44-18-7.1, excluding beer and malt |
beverages; provided, further, notwithstanding § 6-13-1 or any other general or public law to the |
contrary, alcoholic beverages, as defined in § 44-18-7.1, shall not be subject to minimum markup. |
(65) Seeds and plants used to grow food and food ingredients. From the sale, storage, use, |
or other consumption in this state of seeds and plants used to grow food and food ingredients as |
defined in § 44-18-7.1(l)(i). "Seeds and plants used to grow food and food ingredients" shall not |
include marijuana seeds or plants. |
(66) Feminine hygiene products. From the sale and from the storage, use, or other |
consumption of tampons, panty liners, menstrual cups, sanitary napkins, and other similar products |
the principal use of which is feminine hygiene in connection with the menstrual cycle. |
(67) “Breast pump collection and storage supplies" means items of tangible personal |
property used in conjunction with a breast pump to collect milk expressed from a human breast and |
to store collected milk until it is ready for consumption. "Breast pump collection and storage |
supplies" include, but are not limited to, breast shields and breast shield connectors; breast pump |
tubes and tubing adapters adaptors; breast pump valves and membranes; backflow protectors and |
backflow protector adaptors; bottles and bottle caps specific to the operation of the breast pump; |
breast milk storage bags; and related items sold as part of a breast pump kit pre-packaged by the |
breast pump manufacturer. "Breast pump collection and storage supplies" does not include: bottles |
and bottle caps not specific to the operation of the breast pump; breast pump travel bags and other |
similar carrying accessories, including ice packs, labels, and other similar products, unless sold as |
part of a breast pump kit pre-packed by the breast pump manufacturer; breast pump cleaning |
supplies, unless sold as part of a breast pump kit pre-packaged by the breast pump manufacturer; |
nursing bras, bra pads, breast shells, and other similar products; and creams, ointments, and other |
similar products that relieve breastfeeding-related symptoms or conditions of the breasts or nipples. |
(68) Trade-in value of motorcycles. From the sale and from the storage, use, or other |
consumption in this state of so much of the purchase price paid for a new or used motorcycle as is |
allocated for a trade in allowance on the motorcycle of the buyer given in trade to the seller, or of |
the proceeds applicable only to the motorcycle as are received from the manufacturer of |
motorcycles for the repurchase of the motorcycle whether the repurchase was voluntary or not |
towards the purchase of a new or used motorcycle by the buyer. For the purpose of this subsection, |
the word "motorcycle" means a motorcycle not used for hire and does not refer to any other type |
of motor vehicle. |
SECTION 9. Section 44-30-12 of the General Laws in Chapter 44-30 entitled "Personal |
Income Tax" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
44-30-12 Rhode Island income of a resident individual. |
(a) General. The Rhode Island income of a resident individual means his or her adjusted |
gross income for federal income tax purposes, with the modifications specified in this section. |
(b) Modifications increasing federal adjusted gross income. There shall be added to federal |
adjusted gross income: |
(1) Interest income on obligations of any state, or its political subdivisions, other than |
Rhode Island or its political subdivisions; |
(2) Interest or dividend income on obligations or securities of any authority, commission, |
or instrumentality of the United States, but not of Rhode Island or its political subdivisions, to the |
extent exempted by the laws of the United States from federal income tax but not from state income |
taxes; |
(3) The modification described in § 44-30-25(g); |
(4) (i) The amount defined below of a nonqualified withdrawal made from an account in |
the tuition savings program pursuant to § 16-57-6.1. For purposes of this section, a nonqualified |
withdrawal is: |
(A) A transfer or rollover to a qualified tuition program under Section 529 of the Internal |
Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 529, other than to the tuition savings program referred to in § 16-57- |
6.1; and |
(B) A withdrawal or distribution that is: |
(I) Not applied on a timely basis to pay "qualified higher education expenses" as defined |
in § 16-57-3(12) of the beneficiary of the account from which the withdrawal is made; |
(II) Not made for a reason referred to in § 16-57-6.1(e); or |
(III) Not made in other circumstances for which an exclusion from tax made applicable by |
Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 529, pertains if the transfer, rollover, |
withdrawal, or distribution is made within two (2) taxable years following the taxable year for |
which a contributions modification pursuant to subsection (c)(4) of this section is taken based on |
contributions to any tuition savings program account by the person who is the participant of the |
account at the time of the contribution, whether or not the person is the participant of the account |
at the time of the transfer, rollover, withdrawal or distribution; |
(ii) In the event of a nonqualified withdrawal under subsection (b)(4)(i)(A) or (b)(4)(i)(B) |
of this section, there shall be added to the federal adjusted gross income of that person for the |
taxable year of the withdrawal an amount equal to the lesser of: |
(A) The amount equal to the nonqualified withdrawal reduced by the sum of any |
administrative fee or penalty imposed under the tuition savings program in connection with the |
nonqualified withdrawal plus the earnings portion thereof, if any, includible in computing the |
person's federal adjusted gross income for the taxable year; and |
(B) The amount of the person's contribution modification pursuant to subsection (c)(4) of |
this section for the person's taxable year of the withdrawal and the two (2) prior taxable years less |
the amount of any nonqualified withdrawal for the two (2) prior taxable years included in |
computing the person's Rhode Island income by application of this subsection for those years. Any |
amount added to federal adjusted gross income pursuant to this subdivision shall constitute Rhode |
Island income for residents, nonresidents and part-year residents; |
(5) The modification described in § 44-30-25.1(d)(3)(i); |
(6) The amount equal to any unemployment compensation received but not included in |
federal adjusted gross income; |
(7) The amount equal to the deduction allowed for sales tax paid for a purchase of a |
qualified motor vehicle as defined by the Internal Revenue Code § 164(a)(6); and |
(8) For any taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2020, the amount of any Paycheck |
Protection Program loan forgiven for federal income tax purposes as authorized by the Coronavirus |
Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act and/or the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 and/or |
any other subsequent federal stimulus relief packages enacted by law, to the extent that the amount |
of the loan forgiven exceeds $250,000, including an individual's distributive share of the amount |
of a pass-through entity's loan forgiveness in excess of $250,000. |
(c) Modifications reducing federal adjusted gross income. There shall be subtracted from |
federal adjusted gross income: |
(1) Any interest income on obligations of the United States and its possessions to the extent |
includible in gross income for federal income tax purposes, and any interest or dividend income on |
obligations, or securities of any authority, commission, or instrumentality of the United States to |
the extent includible in gross income for federal income tax purposes but exempt from state income |
taxes under the laws of the United States; provided, that the amount to be subtracted shall in any |
case be reduced by any interest on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry |
obligations or securities the income of which is exempt from Rhode Island personal income tax, to |
the extent the interest has been deducted in determining federal adjusted gross income or taxable |
income; |
(2) A modification described in § 44-30-25(f) or § 44-30-1.1(c)(1); |
(3) The amount of any withdrawal or distribution from the "tuition savings program" |
referred to in § 16-57-6.1 that is included in federal adjusted gross income, other than a withdrawal |
or distribution or portion of a withdrawal or distribution that is a nonqualified withdrawal; |
(4) Contributions made to an account under the tuition savings program, including the |
"contributions carryover" pursuant to subsection (c)(4)(iv) of this section, if any, subject to the |
following limitations, restrictions and qualifications: |
(i) The aggregate subtraction pursuant to this subdivision for any taxable year of the |
taxpayer shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500) or one thousand dollars ($1,000) if a joint |
return; |
(ii) The following shall not be considered contributions: |
(A) Contributions made by any person to an account who is not a participant of the account |
at the time the contribution is made; |
(B) Transfers or rollovers to an account from any other tuition savings program account or |
from any other "qualified tuition program" under section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 |
U.S.C. § 529; or |
(C) A change of the beneficiary of the account; |
(iii) The subtraction pursuant to this subdivision shall not reduce the taxpayer's federal |
adjusted gross income to less than zero (0); |
(iv) The contributions carryover to a taxable year for purpose of this subdivision is the |
excess, if any, of the total amount of contributions actually made by the taxpayer to the tuition |
savings program for all preceding taxable years for which this subsection is effective over the sum |
of: |
(A) The total of the subtractions under this subdivision allowable to the taxpayer for all |
such preceding taxable years; and |
(B) That part of any remaining contribution carryover at the end of the taxable year which |
exceeds the amount of any nonqualified withdrawals during the year and the prior two (2) taxable |
years not included in the addition provided for in this subdivision for those years. Any such part |
shall be disregarded in computing the contributions carryover for any subsequent taxable year; |
(v) For any taxable year for which a contributions carryover is applicable, the taxpayer |
shall include a computation of the carryover with the taxpayer's Rhode Island personal income tax |
return for that year, and if for any taxable year on which the carryover is based the taxpayer filed a |
joint Rhode Island personal income tax return but filed a return on a basis other than jointly for a |
subsequent taxable year, the computation shall reflect how the carryover is being allocated between |
the prior joint filers; |
(5) The modification described in § 44-30-25.1(d)(1); |
(6) Amounts deemed taxable income to the taxpayer due to payment or provision of |
insurance benefits to a dependent, including a domestic partner pursuant to chapter 12 of title 36 or |
other coverage plan; |
(7) Modification for organ transplantation. |
(i) An individual may subtract up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) from federal adjusted |
gross income if he or she, while living, donates one or more of his or her human organs to another |
human being for human organ transplantation, except that for purposes of this subsection, "human |
organ" means all or part of a liver, pancreas, kidney, intestine, lung, or bone marrow. A subtract |
modification that is claimed hereunder may be claimed in the taxable year in which the human |
organ transplantation occurs. |
(ii) An individual may claim that subtract modification hereunder only once, and the |
subtract modification may be claimed for only the following unreimbursed expenses that are |
incurred by the claimant and related to the claimant's organ donation: |
(A) Travel expenses. |
(B) Lodging expenses. |
(C) Lost wages. |
(iii) The subtract modification hereunder may not be claimed by a part-time resident or a |
nonresident of this state; |
(8) Modification for taxable Social Security income. |
(i) For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2016: |
(A) For a person who has attained the age used for calculating full or unreduced social |
security Social Security retirement benefits who files a return as an unmarried individual, head of |
household, or married filing separate whose federal adjusted gross income for the taxable year is |
less than eighty thousand dollars ($80,000); or |
(B) A married individual filing jointly or individual filing qualifying widow(er) who has |
attained the age used for calculating full or unreduced social security social security retirement |
benefits whose joint federal adjusted gross income for the taxable year is less than one hundred |
thousand dollars ($100,000), an amount equal to the social security social security benefits |
includible in federal adjusted gross income. |
(ii) Adjustment for inflation. The dollar amount contained in subsections (c)(8)(i)(A) and |
(c)(8)(i)(B) of this section shall be increased annually by an amount equal to: |
(A) Such dollar amount contained in subsections (c)(8)(i)(A) and (c)(8)(i)(B) of this section |
adjusted for inflation using a base tax year of 2000, multiplied by; |
(B) The cost-of-living adjustment with a base year of 2000. |
(iii) For the purposes of this section the cost-of-living adjustment for any calendar year is |
the percentage (if any) by which the consumer price index for the preceding calendar year exceeds |
the consumer price index for the base year. The consumer price index for any calendar year is the |
average of the consumer price index as of the close of the twelve-month (12) period ending on |
August 31, of such calendar year. |
(iv) For the purpose of this section the term "consumer price index" means the last |
consumer price index for all urban consumers published by the department of labor. For the purpose |
of this section the revision of the consumer price index which is most consistent with the consumer |
price index for calendar year 1986 shall be used. |
(v) If any increase determined under this section is not a multiple of fifty dollars ($50.00), |
such increase shall be rounded to the next lower multiple of fifty dollars ($50.00). In the case of a |
married individual filing separate return, if any increase determined under this section is not a |
multiple of twenty-five dollars ($25.00), such increase shall be rounded to the next lower multiple |
of twenty-five dollars ($25.00); |
(9) Modification for up to fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) of taxable retirement income |
from certain pension plans or annuities. |
(i) For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2017, until the tax year beginning January |
1, 2022, a modification shall be allowed for up to fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000), and for tax |
years beginning on or after January 1, 2023, a modification shall be allowed for up to twenty |
thousand dollars ($20,000), of taxable pension and/or annuity income that is included in federal |
adjusted gross income for the taxable year: |
(A) For a person who has attained the age used for calculating full or unreduced social |
security Social Security retirement benefits who files a return as an unmarried individual, head of |
household, or married filing separate whose federal adjusted gross income for such taxable year is |
less than the amount used for the modification contained in subsection (c)(8)(i)(A) of this section |
an amount not to exceed $15,000 for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2017, until the tax |
year beginning January 1, 2022, and an amount not to exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) |
for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2023, of taxable pension and/or annuity income |
includible in federal adjusted gross income; or |
(B) For a married individual filing jointly or individual filing qualifying widow(er) who |
has attained the age used for calculating full or unreduced social security Social Security retirement |
benefits whose joint federal adjusted gross income for such taxable year is less than the amount |
used for the modification contained in subsection (c)(8)(i)(B) of this section an amount not to |
exceed $15,000 for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2017, until the tax year beginning |
January 1, 2022, and an amount not to exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for tax years |
beginning on or after January 1, 2023, of taxable pension and/or annuity income includible in |
federal adjusted gross income. |
(ii) Adjustment for inflation. The dollar amount contained by reference in subsections |
(c)(9)(i)(A) and (c)(9)(i)(B) of this section shall be increased annually for tax years beginning on |
or after January 1, 2018, by an amount equal to: |
(A) Such dollar amount contained by reference in subsections (c)(9)(i)(A) and (c)(9)(i)(B) |
of this section adjusted for inflation using a base tax year of 2000, multiplied by; |
(B) The cost-of-living adjustment with a base year of 2000. |
(iii) For the purposes of this section, the cost-of-living adjustment for any calendar year is |
the percentage (if any) by which the consumer price index for the preceding calendar year exceeds |
the consumer price index for the base year. The consumer price index for any calendar year is the |
average of the consumer price index as of the close of the twelve-month (12) period ending on |
August 31, of such calendar year. |
(iv) For the purpose of this section, the term "consumer price index" means the last |
consumer price index for all urban consumers published by the department of labor. For the purpose |
of this section, the revision of the consumer price index which is most consistent with the consumer |
price index for calendar year 1986 shall be used. |
(v) If any increase determined under this section is not a multiple of fifty dollars ($50.00), |
such increase shall be rounded to the next lower multiple of fifty dollars ($50.00). In the case of a |
married individual filing a separate return, if any increase determined under this section is not a |
multiple of twenty-five dollars ($25.00), such increase shall be rounded to the next lower multiple |
of twenty-five dollars ($25.00);. and |
(vi) For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2022, the dollar amount contained by |
reference in subsection (c)(9)(i)(A) shall be adjusted to equal the dollar amount contained in |
subsection (c)(8)(i)(A), as adjusted for inflation, and the dollar amount contained by reference in |
subsection(c)(9)(i)(B) shall be adjusted to equal the dollar amount contained in subsection |
(c)(8)(i)(B), as adjusted for inflation.; |
(10) Modification for Rhode Island investment in opportunity zones. For purposes of a |
taxpayer's state tax liability, in the case of any investment in a Rhode Island opportunity zone by |
the taxpayer for at least seven (7) years, a modification to income shall be allowed for the |
incremental difference between the benefit allowed under 26 U.S.C. § 1400Z-2(b)(2)(B)(iv) and |
the federal benefit allowed under 26 U.S.C. § 1400Z-2(c).; and |
(11) Modification for military service pensions. |
(i) For purposes of a taxpayer’s state tax liability, a modification to income shall be allowed |
as follows: |
(A) For the tax years beginning on January 1, 2023, a taxpayer may subtract from federal |
adjusted gross income the taxpayer’s military service pension benefits included in federal adjusted |
gross income; |
(ii) As used in this subsection, the term “military service” shall have the same meaning as |
set forth in 20 CFR C.F.R. Section § 212.2.; |
(iii) At no time shall the modification allowed under this subsection alone or in conjunction |
with subsection (c)(9) exceed the amount of the military service pension received in the tax year |
for which the modification is claimed.; and |
(12) Any rebate issued to the taxpayer pursuant to § 44-30-103 to the extent included in |
gross income for federal tax purposes. |
(d) Modification for Rhode Island fiduciary adjustment. There shall be added to, or |
subtracted from, federal adjusted gross income (as the case may be) the taxpayer's share, as |
beneficiary of an estate or trust, of the Rhode Island fiduciary adjustment determined under § 44- |
30-17. |
(e) Partners. The amounts of modifications required to be made under this section by a |
partner, which relate to items of income or deduction of a partnership, shall be determined under § |
44-30-15. |
SECTION 10. Chapter 30 of Title 44 of the General Laws entitled "Personal Income Tax" |
is amended to add Section 103 as follows: |
44-30-103. Child Tax Rebates tax rebates. |
(a) As used in this section, (1) "child" means an individual who is eighteen years of age or |
under as of December 31, 2021, and (2) "eligible taxpayer" means any natural person domiciled in |
this state who filed a Rhode Island state personal income tax return for the 2021 taxable year by |
the due date for filing said return either as a: |
(1) Single, married filing separately, head of household, or qualifying widow/widower |
taxpayer with a federal adjusted gross income of $100,000.00 or less for the 2021 taxable year; or |
(2) Married filing jointly with a federal adjusted gross income of $200,000.00 or less for |
the 2021 taxable year. |
(b) (1) An eligible taxpayer will be issued a rebate payment in the amount of two hundred |
fifty dollars for each child, up to a maximum of three children, who whom the eligible taxpayer |
validly claims as a dependent on such taxpayer's Rhode Island state personal income tax return |
properly filed with this state for the 2021 taxable year by the due date for filing said return. |
(2) The rebate amount shall be determined by the division of taxation based on the eligible |
taxpayer's Rhode Island state personal income tax return filed for the 2021 taxable year in |
accordance with this section and no determination shall be based on amended filings received by |
the division of taxation after August 31, 2022. |
(3) In the case of a married couple filing separately, the rebate payment will be made to the |
eligible taxpayer making the filing and in the case of a married couple filing jointly, the rebate |
payment will be made jointly to the eligible taxpayers. |
(4) Rebate payments made under this subsection shall not be subject to offset pursuant to |
chapter 44-30.1 of this title and shall not be considered income for the purposes of state personal |
income tax under this chapter 44-30 or for determining eligibility for any state program. |
(5) In no event shall the rebate amount provided for in this section accrue interest for the |
benefit of any eligible taxpayer. |
(6) In addition to all other penalties provided under Rhode Island state law, any eligible |
taxpayer that fraudulently claims a dependent on the taxpayer's Rhode Island state personal income |
tax return shall pay a ten thousand dollar ($10,000) penalty for each dependent fraudulently claimed |
and shall pay any rebate amount fraudulently received. The tax administrator shall have the same |
powers to collect payment under this subsection as under title 44 of the general laws. |
SECTION 11. Section 44-33-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 44-33 entitled "Property |
Tax Relief" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
44-33-9. Computation of credit. |
The amount of any claim made pursuant to this chapter shall be determined as follows: |
(1) For any taxable year, a claimant is entitled to a credit against his or her tax liability |
equal to the amount by which the property taxes accrued or rent constituting property taxes accrued |
upon the claimant's homestead for the taxable year exceeds a certain percentage of the claimant's |
total household income for that taxable year, which percentage is based upon income level and |
household size. The credit shall be computed in accordance with the following table: |
Income Range 1 Person 2 or More Persons |
less than $6000 3% 3% |
$6001-9000 4% 4% |
$9001-12000 5% 5% |
$12001-15000 6% 5% |
$15001-30000 35000 6% 6% |
(2) The maximum amount of the credit granted under this chapter will be as follows: |
Year Credit Maximum |
Commencing July 1977 $55.00 |
Commencing July 1978 $150.00 |
Commencing July 1979 $175.00 |
Commencing July 1980 $200.00 |
Commencing on July 1997 and subsequent years $250.00 |
Commencing on July 2006 $300.00 |
Commencing July 2007 and subsequent years and subsequent tax years ending on or before |
December 31, 2021, the credit shall be increased, at a minimum, to the maximum amount to the |
nearest five dollars ($5.00) increment within the allocation of five one-hundredths of one percent |
(0.05%) of net terminal income derived from video lottery games up to a maximum of five million |
dollars ($5,000,000) until a maximum credit of five hundred dollars ($500) is obtained pursuant to |
the provisions of § 42-61-15. In no event shall the exemption in any fiscal year be less than the |
prior fiscal year. |
For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2022, the maximum credit shall be six |
hundred dollars ($600). |
For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2023, the income range provided pursuant |
to subsection (1) of this section and the maximum credit granted pursuant to subsection (2) of this |
section shall be adjusted by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban |
Consumers (CPI-U) as published by the United States Department of Labor Statistics determined |
as of September 30 of the prior calendar years. Said adjustment shall be compounded annually and |
shall be rounded up to the nearest five dollar ($5.00) increment. In no event shall the income range |
or the maximum credit in any tax year be less than the prior tax year. |
SECTION 12. Chapter 44-34.1 of the General Laws entitled "Motor Vehicle and Trailer |
Excise Tax Elimination Act of 1998" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
44-34.1-5. Excise tax elimination. |
(a) Notwithstanding any provisions of the general or public laws to the contrary, for each |
city, town, and fire district, except for the city of East Providence: |
(1) The motor vehicle and trailer excise tax established by § 44-34-1 shall be repealed |
effective July 1, 2022. For fiscal year 2023 and thereafter, no tax shall be levied. |
(2) For fiscal year 2023, each city, town, and fire district shall receive a reimbursement |
equal to the amount it received in fiscal year 2017 plus its FY 2018 baseline amount (“FY 2023 |
reimbursement amount”). A city, town, or fire district is entitled to receive additional |
reimbursement in fiscal year 2023 as follows: |
(i) If the department of revenue certifies that a city, town, or fire district’s budgeted motor |
vehicle levy for the assessment date of December 31, 2021, is in excess of its FY 2023 |
reimbursement amount, the city, town, or fire district shall be reimbursed the difference between |
such motor vehicle levy and its FY 2023 reimbursement amount. |
(3) Any fire district reimbursement amounts outstanding as of the effective date of this act |
shall be distributed by August 1, 2022. |
(4) For fiscal year 2024 and thereafter, cities, towns, and fire districts shall receive |
reimbursements in accordance with § 44-34.1-2. |
(b) Notwithstanding any provisions of the general or public laws to the contrary, for the |
city of East Providence the following shall apply: |
(1) It shall levy the excise tax in its fiscal year 2022 because its implementation of the |
phase out was delayed by one year to match its fiscal year; provided, however, it shall apply the |
phase-out parameters for fiscal year 2023 as set forth in §§ 44-34-11 and 44-34.1-1. |
(2) The motor vehicle and trailer excise tax established by § 44-34-1 shall be repealed |
effective July 1, 2023. |
(3) For its fiscal year 2023 and thereafter, no tax shall be levied, and the city of East |
Providence shall receive reimbursements in accordance with § 44-34.1-2. |
SECTION 13. Section 45-13-14 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-13 entitled "State Aid" |
is hereby amended to read as follows: |
45-13-14. Adjustments to tax levy, assessed value, and full value when computing state |
aid. |
(a) Whenever the director of revenue computes the relative wealth of municipalities for the |
purpose of distributing state aid in accordance with title 16 and the provisions of § 45-13-12, he or |
she shall base it on the full value of all property except: |
(1) That exempted from taxation by acts of the general assembly and reimbursed under § |
45-13-5.1 of the general laws, which shall have its value calculated as if the payment in lieu of tax |
revenues received pursuant to § 45-13-5.1, has resulted from a tax levy; |
(2) That whose tax levy or assessed value is based on a tax treaty agreement authorized by |
a special public law or by reason of agreements between a municipality and the economic |
development corporation in accordance with § 42-64-20 prior to May 15, 2005, which shall not |
have its value included; |
(3) That whose tax levy or assessed value is based on tax treaty agreements or tax |
stabilization agreements in force prior to May 15, 2005, which shall not have its value included; |
(4) That which is subject to a payment in lieu of tax agreement in force prior to May 15, |
2005; |
(5) Any other property exempt from taxation under state law; or |
(6) Any property subject to chapter 27 of title 44, taxation of Farm, Forest, and Open Space |
Land.; or |
(7) Any property exempt from taxation, in whole or in part, under the provisions of |
subsections (a)(51), (a)(66), or (c) of § 44-3-3, § 44-3-47, § 44-3-65, or any other provision of law |
that enables a city, town, or fire district to establish a tangible personal property exemption, which |
shall have its value calculated as the full value of the property minus the exemption amount. |
(b) The tax levy of each municipality and fire district shall be adjusted for any real estate |
and personal property exempt from taxation by act of the general assembly by the amount of |
payment in lieu of property tax revenue anticipated to be received pursuant to § 45-13-5.1 relating |
to property tax from certain exempt private and state properties, and for any property subject to any |
payment in lieu of tax agreements, any tax treaty agreements or tax stabilization agreements in |
force after May 15, 2005, by the amount of the payment in lieu of taxes pursuant to such |
agreements. |
(c) Fire district tax levies within a city or town shall be included as part of the total levy |
attributable to that city or town. |
(d) The changes as required by subsections (a) through (c) of this section shall be |
incorporated into the computation of entitlements effective for distribution in fiscal year 2007-2008 |
and thereafter. |
SECTION 14. Section 8 of this article shall take effect on October 1, 2022. Sections 1 |
through 7 and Sections 9 through 13 shall take effect upon passage. |