Rhode Island: Sales Tax Handbook
How to get a Rhode Island Retail Sales Permit
In Rhode Island, most businesses are required to have a sales tax permit. This means that, if you are considering opening a new business or are beginning to make sales in Rhode Island for the first time, you will need to determine your business' permit requirements. The good news is that you can get a Rhode Island Retail Sales Permit and be ready to do business after you submit your application. This guide will help you learn how!
Who needs a Rhode Island Retail Sales Permit?
Rhode Island requires all businesses engaged in the retail sale, rental, or leasing of tangible personal property or the sale of certain taxable services to register for a sales tax permit with the RI Division of Taxation. There are also additional taxes on hotel occupancy and the sale of meals and beverages, which are also remitted to the Division of Taxation. All necessary permits can be acquired at the same time as the sales tax permit.
Businesses with a taxable presence within Rhode Island are considered to have sales tax nexus within the state. For more details on what constitutes a taxable presence, see sales tax nexus in Rhode Island.
How to get a Rhode Island Retail Sales Permit:
You can register a new business online through the Rhode Island Division of Taxation's Online Business Registration portal. Out-of-state businesses must mail in a paper form (Form BAR), but all in-state businesses can register and pay the application fee online.
Once you register, you will receive a Rhode Island Retail Sales Permit. This permit must be renewed yearly at a cost of $10 on July 1 (regardless of when in the year the initial registration was made). Renewals can also be completed online through a different interface, the Retail Sales Permit Renewal System.
If you have any problems with the online registration process, you can call the RI Division of Taxation Registration Section at 401-574-8829.
You need the following information to apply for a Rhode Island Retail Sales Permit:
Entity details (Name; EIN; Address; etc),
Info of each Owner; Partner; and Corporate Officer (Name; Address; SSN; etc),
Payroll information,
Industry information
Rhode Island Retail Sales Permit Application Fee, Turnaround Time, and Renewal Info
Applying for a Rhode Island Retail Sales Permit is free, and you will receive your permit after filing your application.
Application Fee: $10
Turnaround Time:
Permit Renewals: July 1st of each year
Note about permit renewals:
Sales tax permit renewals must be completed yearly, and can be done online via the RI Retail Sales Tax Permit Renewal System.Apply For Your Rhode Island Retail Sales Permit Now:
Get Your Rhode Island Retail Sales Permit Online
You can easily acquire your Rhode Island Retail Sales Permit online using the Combined Online Registration Service website. If you have quetions about the online permit application process, you can contact the Division of Taxation via the sales tax permit hotline (401) 462-8760 or by checking the permit info website 
.
Offline Rhode Island Retail Sales Permit Application Form
While generally slower than applying online, you can apply for a Rhode Island Retail Sales Permit for your business offline using Form BAR, the "Business Application and Registration".
Form BAR can be downloaded from the Division of Taxation here .
Mail Completed Form BAR To:
State of Rhode Island, Division of TaxationOne Capitol Hill Suite 36
Providence, RI 02908-5829
What's Next? Now that you know how to apply for your Rhode Island Retail Sales Permit, learn how to collect and remit the Rhode Island sales tax.
Simplify Rhode Island sales tax compliance! We provide sales tax rate databases for businesses who manage their own sales taxes, and can also connect you with firms that can completely automate the sales tax calculation and filing process. Click here to get more information.
Tax compliance done right
Tired of manually handling sales taxes? Avalara can automate your multi-state sales tax returns, let you know when you've triggered nexus, and more. Request a free demo of Avalara today.
-->
Back to Rhode Island Sales Tax Handbook Top