Rhode Island – smallest state, biggest tax surprises. After helping 195+ entrepreneurs navigate Rhode Island’s LLC tax system, I can tell you this: The state that gave us coffee milk also serves up a bitter $400 minimum tax that hits every LLC, profitable or not.
That’s right. Lost money last year? Rhode Island wants $400. Never conducted a single transaction? $400. It’s like a country club membership you can’t cancel, except the golf course is made of tax forms.
The $400 Minimum Tax: Rhode Island’s Universal LLC Fee
Every state has its money grab. California’s is $800. Rhode Island? A “modest” $400 Annual Charge that’s actually more painful than it sounds.
Why This Tax Stings More Than Others:
It’s not deductible against state income tax. You pay this PLUS regular income tax.
Single-member LLCs aren’t exempt. Most states ignore single-member LLCs for state filing. Not Rhode Island – they want their $400 and Form RI-1065 from everyone.
Due date confusion. This isn’t part of your Annual Report ($50 to Secretary of State). It’s a separate tax to the Division of Taxation.
Providence startup I worked with: Zero revenue in year one while developing their app. Still owed:
- $400 minimum tax
- $50 Annual Report
- Tax prep fees for mandatory RI-1065
- Total hit: ~$900 for a business with no income
The Double-Dip Structure:
- Secretary of State: $50 Annual Report (administrative)
- Division of Taxation: $400 Annual Charge (tax)
Miss either? Different agencies, different penalties, double trouble.
Rhode Island’s Progressive Tax Rates: Small State, Big Bite
Rhode Island ditched their flat tax option in 2011. Now you’re stuck with progressive rates that climb fast.
2025 Tax Brackets (Single Filer):
- First $73,450: 3.75%
- $73,451 – $166,950: 4.75%
- Over $166,950: 5.99%
Real impact on a Newport consultant with $120,000 LLC profit:
- First bracket: $2,754
- Second bracket: $2,256
- Rhode Island total: $5,010
- Plus $400 minimum tax: $5,410
- Effective state rate: 4.51%
Compare to neighbors:
- Massachusetts: 5% flat (plus potential local)
- Connecticut: 3% to 6.99% (progressive)
- New Hampshire: 0% on earned income (but dividends/interest taxed)
The Pass-Through Entity Tax Election: Rhode Island’s SALT Cap Workaround
Here’s where things get interesting. Rhode Island created a PTE tax election to help LLC owners bypass the federal $10,000 SALT deduction cap.
How PTE Election Works:
Without PTE: You pay taxes personally, limited to $10,000 federal SALT deduction
With PTE: LLC pays 5.99% tax at entity level (deductible), you get credit on personal return
Example with $200,000 profit:
- PTE tax paid by LLC: $11,980
- Federal tax savings (37% bracket): ~$4,433
- Net benefit: Significant for high earners
But here’s the catch: ALL members must agree, and it’s irrevocable for the tax year. One member objects? No dice.
Warwick manufacturing LLC with three partners learned this hard way. One partner in Florida refused PTE election. Cost the Rhode Island partners $8,000 in lost federal deductions.
The Four Rhode Island LLC Tax Personalities
Type 1: The Providence Metro Professional
Law firm, consultant, tech startup in Providence or surrounding areas.
Your reality:
- State income tax up to 5.99%
- $400 minimum tax (no escape)
- Potential Providence business tax
- Professional license fees
The surprise: Providence has considered local income tax multiple times. Watch this space.
College Hill marketing agency: $150,000 profit split between two owners. Each pays ~$3,750 in state tax plus their share of the $400 minimum. Effective rate with all taxes: 35%.
Type 2: The Newport Tourism Operator
Hotel, restaurant, tour company, seasonal business.
Special burdens:
- 7% state sales tax
- 1% local hotel tax (Newport)
- 5% local meals tax (many cities)
- Seasonal cash flow vs. year-round taxes
The killer: That $400 minimum tax hits even in off-season months with losses.
Newport harbor tour operator: Makes 80% of revenue May-September, but $400 minimum tax plus fixed costs mean winter losses don’t offset summer gains efficiently.
Type 3: The Manufacturing Survivor
One of Rhode Island’s remaining manufacturers.
Your advantages:
- Manufacturing equipment exemption
- Jobs tax credits available
- Potential property tax treaties
- Rebuild Rhode Island tax credits
Your challenges:
- High workers’ comp rates
- Energy costs
- Limited skilled workforce
- That damn $400 minimum regardless
Pawtucket manufacturer saved $15,000 through equipment exemptions but still paid $400 minimum during COVID shutdown year with massive losses.
Type 4: The Boston Bedroom Community Business
Living in Rhode Island, working with Massachusetts clients.
The complexity:
- Rhode Island taxes worldwide income for residents
- Massachusetts source income also taxed by MA
- Credit for taxes paid to other states (but paperwork nightmare)
- Still pay $400 minimum to RI
East Greenwich consultant with Boston clients: Files in both states, credits get messy, effective combined state rate hits 7% after accounting for both states’ takes.
Sales Tax: 7% Plus Local Add-Ons
Rhode Island’s 7% sales tax seems straightforward until you hit the local additions.
What Gets Hit Extra:
Meals and beverages: Additional 1% in many cities (8% total)
Hotels: Additional 1% in some cities (8% total)
Parking: Various local rates
Admissions: Entertainment taxes vary
The Surprising Exemptions:
- Clothing and footwear (but only up to $250 per item)
- Prescription drugs
- Most groceries
- Manufacturing inputs
That clothing exemption? Cranston retailer structures inventory to keep items under $250. One $251 jacket? Fully taxable. Smart inventory management saves customers 7%.
Online Sales Complexity:
Economic nexus: $100,000 in sales OR 200 transactions
Marketplace rules: Amazon collects, but your website doesn’t
Digital products: Taxable since 2018
One East Providence e-commerce seller didn’t realize their Shopify sales needed registration separate from Amazon. Back taxes: $11,000 over two years.
Payroll Taxes: The Rhode Island Special Additions
Beyond standard payroll taxes, Rhode Island has unique requirements.
Your Employer Obligations:
Unemployment Insurance:
- New employer rate: 1.0% – 1.2%
- Experience rating: 0.21% – 9.79%
- Wage base: $29,100 (2025)
Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI):
- Employee pays: 1.1% of wages
- Wage cap: $93,000
- Employer can opt to pay
Job Development Fund:
- 0.21% of taxable wages
- Funds workforce training
The TDI/TCI Trap: Rhode Island is one of few states with mandatory temporary disability and caregiver insurance. Employees see smaller paychecks, making hiring harder.
Industry-Specific Tax Bombs
Marine and Maritime:
- Boat sales tax complications
- Marina service taxability
- Interstate commerce exemptions
- Documentation vs. registration impacts
Healthcare and Biotech:
- Medical device exemptions
- R&D tax credits underutilized
- Clinical trial tax issues
- Provider tax implications
Jewelry Manufacturing:
- Special exemptions for industry inputs
- Interstate commerce benefits
- Historic tax credits for mill buildings
- Export benefits
Higher Education Related:
- Student service exemptions
- Research grant complications
- Bookstore tax issues
- Campus business taxation
The S-Corp Election Math in Rhode Island
With the $400 minimum tax applying regardless, S-Corp math changes slightly.
Traditional LLC at $90,000 profit:
- Self-employment tax: ~$12,700
- RI minimum tax: $400
- Total: ~$13,100
S-Corp with $55,000 salary:
- Payroll taxes: ~$8,400
- RI minimum tax: Still $400
- Additional compliance: ~$1,500
- Net savings: ~$2,800
My Rhode Island threshold: Consider S-Corp at $70,000+ profit (standard threshold since minimum tax hits both structures).
Red Flags for Rhode Island Revenue
Based on patterns I’ve observed with Division of Taxation:
- Single-member LLCs not filing RI-1065
- Minimum tax avoidance attempts
- PTE election games with out-of-state members
- Sales tax gaps on digital products
- TDI/TCI withholding errors
- Multi-state income allocation errors
Survival Calendar for Rhode Island LLCs
March 1:
- Annual Report due ($50)
March 15:
- RI-1065 due (with $400 minimum tax)
- PTE election deadline
April 15:
- Individual returns with LLC income
- Q1 estimates
Quarterly:
- Sales tax filings
- Withholding deposits
- Estimated payments
Strategic Moves for Rhode Island LLCs
Year 1: Accept Reality
- Budget for $400 minimum tax upfront
- File RI-1065 even if single-member
- Register for all applicable taxes
- Set aside 35% for total tax burden
Year 2-3: Optimize
- Evaluate PTE election benefits
- Explore manufacturing exemptions
- Research job creation credits
- Plan interstate tax strategy
Year 4+: Advanced Planning
- Multi-entity structures
- Out-of-state expansion planning
- Credit optimization strategies
- Exit planning with minimum tax in mind
Tools That Work in Rhode Island
Sales tax compliance: TaxJar (handles local variations)
Payroll with TDI: ADP or Paychex (local expertise)
Multi-state filing: Professional software essential
PTE elections: CPA required (too complex for DIY)
The Bottom Line on Rhode Island LLC Taxes
$100,000 profit LLC total burden:
- Federal self-employment: ~$14,130
- Federal income: ~$11,000
- Rhode Island state: ~$4,200
- RI minimum tax: $400
- Total: ~$29,730 (29.7%)
Compared to neighbors:
- Massachusetts: Similar overall
- Connecticut: Slightly higher
- New Hampshire: Much lower (no earned income tax)
When Rhode Island Makes Sense
✅ Good for: Marine industry, healthcare/biotech, jewelry manufacturing, businesses needing Boston proximity
❌ Bad for: Pure online businesses, low-margin operations, seasonal businesses with long off-seasons
⚠️ Neutral: Professional services, retail (depends on location/type)
Action Steps for Rhode Island LLCs
Before forming:
- Accept the $400 minimum tax reality
- Understand RI-1065 requirement for all LLCs
- Research PTE election benefits
- Calculate true cost including minimum tax
After forming:
- Calendar both Annual Report and minimum tax
- Register for RI tax accounts immediately
- File RI-1065 even if single-member
- Find Rhode Island-specific CPA
Final Reality Check
Rhode Island’s $400 minimum tax is annoying but not devastating. The real killer is the complexity – mandatory filings for single-member LLCs, PTE elections, TDI/TCI withholding, and multi-state complications for this tiny state.
But Rhode Island offers proximity to Boston, educated workforce, marine industry advantages, and surprising tax credits if you know where to look. Plus, it’s not Massachusetts tax rates.
Ready to form despite the $400 annual shakedown? Northwest Registered Agent at $39 plus the $150 state fee keeps it simple. For Rhode Island’s complexity, consider LegalZoom at $149 plus fees for ongoing support.
Questions about surviving Rhode Island’s small state, big tax reality? Comment below. I respond within 48 hours because Ocean State entrepreneurs shouldn’t drown in tax confusion.
Remember: An LLC in Delaware isn’t magic. A Rhode Island LLC properly structured for PTE election and minimum tax compliance? That’s making the best of a costly situation.
About Jake Lawson: 15+ years guiding entrepreneurs through LLC formation and tax strategy. Over 1,200 businesses launched, including 195+ in Rhode Island. Former compliance consultant who’s calculated more $400 minimum tax payments than quahogs in Narragansett Bay. Based in Austin now, but spent enough time in Providence to know that Rhode Island’s taxes are like their coffee milk – an acquired taste that locals defend irrationally. No sugarcoating, just strategies to navigate the smallest state’s oversized tax appetite.