Rhode Island General Laws — Title 44 (Taxation)
R.I. Gen. Laws § 44-18-20
Use tax imposed
# (a)
An excise tax is imposed on the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of tangible personal property; prewritten computer software delivered electronically or by load and leave; vendor-hosted prewritten computer software; specified digital products; or services as defined in § 44-18-7.3, including a motor vehicle, a boat, an airplane, or a trailer, purchased from any retailer at the rate of six percent (6%) of the sale price of the property.
# (b)
An excise tax is imposed on the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of a motor vehicle, a boat, an airplane, or a trailer purchased from other than a licensed motor vehicle dealer or other than a retailer of boats, airplanes, or trailers respectively, at the rate of six percent (6%) of the sale price of the motor vehicle, boat, airplane, or trailer.
# (c)
The word âtrailer,â as used in this section and in § 44-18-21, means and includes those defined in § 31-1-5(a) â (f) and also includes boat trailers, camping trailers, house trailers, and mobile homes.
# (d)
Notwithstanding the provisions contained in this section and in § 44-18-21 relating to the imposition of a use tax and liability for this tax on certain casual sales, no tax is payable in any casual sale:
# (1)
When the transferee or purchaser is the spouse, mother, father, brother, sister, or child of the transferor or seller;
# (2)
When the transfer or sale is made in connection with the organization, reorganization, dissolution, or partial liquidation of a business entity, provided:
(i) The last taxable sale, transfer, or use of the article being transferred or sold was subjected to a tax imposed by this chapter;
(ii) The transferee is the business entity referred to or is a stockholder, owner, member, or partner; and
(iii) Any gain or loss to the transferor is not recognized for income tax purposes under the provisions of the federal income tax law and treasury regulations and rulings issued thereunder;
# (3)
When the sale or transfer is of a trailer, other than a camping trailer, of the type ordinarily used for residential purposes and commonly known as a house trailer or as a mobile home; or
# (4)
When the transferee or purchaser is exempt under the provisions of § 44-18-30 or other general law of this state or special act of the general assembly of this state.
# (e)
The term âcasualâ means a sale made by a person other than a retailer, provided, that in the case of a sale of a motor vehicle, the term means a sale made by a person other than a licensed motor vehicle dealer or an auctioneer at an auction sale. In no case is the tax imposed under the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section on the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of a used motor vehicle less than the product obtained by multiplying the amount of the retail dollar value at the time of purchase of the motor vehicle by the applicable tax rate; provided, that where the amount of the sale price exceeds the amount of the retail dollar value, the tax is based on the sale price. The tax administrator shall use as his or her guide the retail dollar value as shown in the current issue of any nationally recognized, used-vehicle guide for appraisal purposes in this state. On request within thirty
(30) days by the taxpayer after payment of the tax, if the tax administrator determines that the retail dollar value as stated in this subsection is inequitable or unreasonable, he or she shall, after affording the taxpayer reasonable opportunity to be heard, re-determine the tax.
# (f)
Every person making more than five (5) retail sales of tangible personal property or prewritten computer software delivered electronically or by load and leave, or vendor-hosted prewritten computer software, or specified digital products, or services as defined in § 44-18-7.3 during any twelve-month (12) period, including sales made in the capacity of assignee for the benefit of creditors or receiver or trustee in bankruptcy, is considered a retailer within the provisions of this chapter.
# (g)
# (1)
âCasual saleâ includes a sale of tangible personal property not held or used by a seller in the course of activities for which the seller is required to hold a sellerâs permit or permits or would be required to hold a sellerâs permit or permits if the activities were conducted in this state, provided that the sale is not one of a series of sales sufficient in number, scope, and character (more than five (5) in any twelve-month
(12) period) to constitute an activity for which the seller is required to hold a sellerâs permit or would be required to hold a sellerâs permit if the activity were conducted in this state.
# (2)
Casual sales also include sales made at bazaars, fairs, picnics, or similar events by nonprofit organizations, that are organized for charitable, educational, civic, religious, social, recreational, fraternal, or literary purposes during two (2) events not to exceed a total of six (6) days duration each calendar year. Each event requires the issuance of a permit by the division of taxation. Where sales are made at events by a vendor that holds a sales tax permit and is not a nonprofit organization, the sales are in the regular course of business and are not exempt as casual sales.
# (h)
The use tax imposed under this section for the period commencing July 1, 1990, is at the rate of seven percent (7%).
Amendment history
History of Section. P.L. 1947, ch. 1887, art. 2, § 23; P.L. 1951, ch. 2733, art. 2, § 2; P.L. 1952, ch. 3026, art. 2, § 2; P.L. 1953, ch. 3150, art. 2, § 2; P.L. 1954, ch. 3254, art. 2, § 2; P.L. 1955, ch. 3521, art. 2, § 2; P.L. 1956, ch. 3739, art. 2, § 2; P.L. 1956, ch. 3800, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 44-18-20; R.P.L. 1957, ch. 44, art. 2, § 2; P.L. 1958, ch. 17, art. 7, § 1; P.L. 1958, ch. 175, § 1; P.L. 1959, ch. 169, art. 3, § 2; P.L. 1960, ch. 64, § 2; P.L. 1964, ch. 234, § 3; P.L.
Source: view the official text
In this chapter (40 sections)
- 44-18-7.1 · Additional definitions
- 44-18-7.2 · Sales tax holiday definitions
- 44-18-7.3 · Services defined
- 44-18-8 · Retail sale or sale at retail defined
- 44-18-9 · âStorageâ defined
- 44-18-10 · âUseâ defined
- 44-18-11 · Storage or use for export
- 44-18-12 · âSale priceâ defined
- 44-18-12.1 · âAdditional measure subject to taxâ
- 44-18-13 · Gross receipts defined
- 44-18-14 · âBusinessâ defined
- 44-18-15 · âRetailerâ defined
- 44-18-15.1 · âPromoterâ and âshowâ defined â Duty of promoter…
- 44-18-15.2 · âRemote sellerâ defined â Collection of sales and…
- 44-18-16 · Tangible property defined
- 44-18-17 · âStateâ defined
- 44-18-18 · Sales tax imposed
- 44-18-18.1 · Local meals and beverage tax
- 44-18-19 · Collection of sales tax by retailer
- 44-18-19.1 · Direct Pay Permit
- 44-18-20 · Use tax imposed
- 44-18-21 · Liability for use tax
- 44-18-22 · Collection of use tax by retailer
- 44-18-23 · âEngaging in businessâ defined
- 44-18-24 · Collection by retailer of use tax on interstate sales
- 44-18-25 · Presumption that sale is for storage, use, or consumption…
- 44-18-26 · Tax on retailerâs use of merchandise
- 44-18-26.1 · âDemonstration boatâ defined
- 44-18-27 · Tax on rental income to retailer
- 44-18-28 · Resale of fungible goods from commingled mass
- 44-18-29 · Repealed
- 44-18-30 · Gross receipts exempt from sales and use taxes
- 44-18-30.1 · Application for certificate of exemption
- 44-18-30a · Exemption or credit where sales or use taxes were paid in…
- 44-18-30b · Exemption from sales tax for sales by writers, composers,…
- 44-18-30c · Exemption from or stabilization of sales and use taxes for…
- 44-18-30d · Repealed
- 44-18-31 · Exemption of sales to federal government
- 44-18-32 · Sales to federal contractors
- 44-18-33 · Sales to common carrier for use outside state