This regulation implements R.I. Gen. Laws Chapters 44-18 and 44-19. These Chapters provide for sales and use tax liability and computation and sales and use tax enforcement and collection in regard to registration of retailers to collect and remit Rhode Island sales and use tax.

This regulation is promulgated pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws Chapters 44-18 and 44-19 as amended. These rules have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 44-1-1 et seq. and 44-19-33.

The terms and provisions of these rules and regulations shall be liberally construed to permit the Department of Revenue to effectuate the purposes of R.I. Gen. Laws Chapters 44-18 and 44-19 and other applicable state laws and regulations.

If any provision of these rules and regulations, or the application thereof to any person or circumstances, is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the validity of the remainder of the rules and regulations shall not be affected thereby.

A. “Engaging in business in this state” means the selling or delivering in this state, or any activity related to the selling or delivering of tangible personal property or prewritten computer software delivered electronically or by load and leave for storage, use, or other consumption in this state, as well as providing package tour and scenic and sightseeing transportation services. The term includes the following acts or methods of transacting business:

1. Maintaining, occupying, or using in this state permanently or temporarily, directly or indirectly or through a subsidiary, representative, or agent by whatever name called and whether or not qualified to do business in this state, any office, place of distribution, sales or sample room or place, warehouse or storage place, or other place of business;

2. Having any subsidiary, representative, agent, salesperson, canvasser, or solicitor permanently or temporarily, and whether or not said subsidiary, representative, or agent is qualified to do business in this state, operate in this state for the purpose of selling, delivering, or the taking of orders for any tangible personal property or taxable services;

3. The regular or systematic solicitation of sales of tangible personal property or taxable services in this state by means of advertising in newspapers and other periodicals; billboards; brochures, catalogs and similar advertising material mailed to or distributed within the state to residents of this state; telephone; computer assisted shopping networks; television, radio or other electronic media intended to be broadcast to customers located in this state.

B. "Person" means any individual, partnership, association, corporation, estate, trust, fiduciary, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or any other legal entity.

C. "Retail sale" or "Sale at retail" means any sale, lease or rental of tangible personal property, prewritten computer software delivered electronically or by load and leave, and/or package tour and scenic and sightseeing transportation services for any purpose other than resale, sublease or subrent in the regular course of business. The sale of tangible personal property to be used for purposes of rental in the regular course of business is considered to be a sale for resale. In regard to telecommunications service as defined in R.I. Gen. Laws § 44-18-7(9), retail sale does not include the purchase of telecommunications service by a telecommunications provider from another telecommunication provider for resale to the ultimate consumer; provided, that the purchaser submits to the seller a certificate attesting to the applicability of this exclusion, upon receipt of which the seller is relieved of any tax liability for the sale.

D. "Retailer" means:

1. Every person engaged in the business of making sales at retail as defined above.

2. Every person making sales at retail as defined above through an independent contractor or other representative, if the retailer enters into an agreement with a resident of this state, under which the resident, for a commission or other consideration, directly or indirectly refers potential customers, whether by a link on an Internet website or otherwise, to the retailer, provided the cumulative gross receipts from sales by the retailer to customers in the state who are referred to the retailer by all residents with this type of an agreement with the retailer, is in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000) during the preceding four (4) quarterly periods ending on the last day of March, June, September and December. Such retailer shall be presumed to be soliciting business through such independent contractor or other representative, which presumption may be rebutted by proof that the resident with whom the retailer has an agreement did not engage in any solicitation in the state on behalf of the retailer that would satisfy the nexus requirement of the United States Constitution during such four (4) quarterly periods.

3. Every person engaged in the business of renting any living quarters in any hotel, rooming house, or tourist camp.

4. Every person maintaining a business within or outside of this state who engages in the regular or systematic solicitation of sales at retail as defined by means of:

a. Advertising in newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals published in this state, sold over the counter in this state or sold by subscription to residents of this state, billboards located in this state, airborne advertising messages produced or transported in the airspace above this state, display cards and posters on common carriers or any other means of public conveyance incorporated or operated primarily in this state, brochures, catalogs, circulars, coupons, pamphlets, samples, and similar advertising material mailed to, or distributed within this state to residents of this state;

b. Telephone;

c. Computer assisted shopping networks; and

d. Television, radio or any other electronic media, which is intended to be broadcast to consumers located in this state.

A. Every retailer selling tangible personal property or prewritten computer software delivered electronically or by load and leave for storage, use, or other consumption in this state, or package tour and scenic and sightseeing transportation services, or renting living quarters in any hotel, rooming house, or tourist camp in this state, shall register with the tax administrator and give the name and address of all agents operating in this state, the location of all distribution or sales houses or offices, or of any hotel, rooming house, or tourist camp or other places of business in this state, and other information that the tax administrator may require.

B. Registration of Out-of-State Retailers – All out-of-state retailers engaging in business in this state, shall register with the Tax Administrator to collect the use tax, and have the same obligation to add, collect and remit the tax on Rhode Island sales in the same manner as a local retailer with a place of business located within this state.

C. Every Retailer, at the time of making taxable sales, shall collect and remit sales and use tax at the tax rate as provided in R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 44-18-18 and 44-18-20 from the purchaser or person renting the room and give a receipt therefore.

Under the laws of Rhode Island, a nonresident seller engaging in business in this state and making sales of tangible personal property and taxable services for use or consumption in this state, automatically consents to the appointment of the Director of Business Regulation of the State of Rhode Island as statutory agent for the purpose of accepting service of process on his or her behalf in any suit or other proceeding brought by the Tax Administrator in the courts of Rhode Island for the collection of the Rhode Island use tax from such nonresident seller.