Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 44-1 - State Tax Officials
Section 44-1-7. - Interest on delinquent payments.

§ 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, in 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:
(i) 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.
History of Section.P.L. 1974, ch. 151, art. 1, § 1; P.L. 1981, ch. 293, § 1; P.L. 1982, ch. 9, art. 4, § 1; P.L. 1984, ch. 289, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 138, art. 67, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 157, § 2; P.L. 2006, ch. 246, art. 21, § 2; P.L. 2006, ch. 631, § 2; P.L. 2007, ch. 73, art. 4, § 3; P.L. 2021, ch. 162, art. 6, § 10, effective July 6, 2021; P.L. 2022, ch. 231, art. 6, § 4, effective June 27, 2022.

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