§ 44-11-2. Imposition of tax.
(a) Each corporation shall annually pay to the state a tax equal to nine percent (9%) of net income, as defined in § 44-11-11, qualified in § 44-11-12, and apportioned to this state as provided in §§ 44-11-13 — 44-11-15, for the taxable year. For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2015, each corporation shall annually pay to the state a tax equal to seven percent (7.0%) of net income, as defined in § 44-11-13 — 44-11-15, for the taxable year.
(b) A corporation shall pay the amount of any tax as computed in accordance with subsection (a) after deducting from “net income,” as used in this section, fifty percent (50%) of the excess of capital gains over capital losses realized during the taxable year, if for the taxable year:
(1) The corporation is engaged in buying, selling, dealing in, or holding securities on its own behalf and not as a broker, underwriter, or distributor;
(2) Its gross receipts derived from these activities during the taxable year amounted to at least ninety percent (90%) of its total gross receipts derived from all of its activities during the year. “Gross receipts” means all receipts, whether in the form of money, credits, or other valuable consideration, received during the taxable year in connection with the conduct of the taxpayer’s activities.
(c) A corporation shall not pay the amount of the tax computed on the basis of its net income under subsection (a), but shall annually pay to the state a tax equal to ten cents ($.10) for each one hundred dollars ($100) of gross income for the taxable year or a tax of one hundred dollars ($100), whichever tax shall be the greater, if for the taxable year the corporation is either a “personal holding company” registered under the federal Investment Company Act of 1940, 15 U.S.C. § 80a-1 et seq., “regulated investment company,” or a “real estate investment trust” as defined in the federal income tax law applicable to the taxable year. “Gross income” means gross income as defined in the federal income tax law applicable to the taxable year, plus:
(1) Any interest not included in the federal gross income; minus
(2) Interest on obligations of the United States or its possessions, and other interest exempt from taxation by this state; and minus
(3) Fifty percent (50%) of the excess of capital gains over capital losses realized during the taxable year.
(d)(1) A small business corporation having an election in effect under subchapter S, 26 U.S.C. § 1361 et seq., shall not be subject to the Rhode Island income tax on corporations, except that the corporation shall be subject to the provisions of subsection (a), to the extent of the income that is subjected to federal tax under subchapter S. Effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2015, a small business corporation having an election in effect under subchapter S, 26 U.S.C. § 1361 et seq., shall be subject to the minimum tax under § 44-11-2(e).
(2) The shareholders of the corporation who are residents of Rhode Island shall include in their income their proportionate share of the corporation’s federal taxable income.
(3) [Deleted by P.L. 2004, ch. 595, art. 29, § 1.]
(4) [Deleted by P.L. 2004, ch. 595, art. 29, § 1.]
(e) Minimum tax. The tax imposed upon any corporation under this section, including a small business corporation having an election in effect under subchapter S, 26 U.S.C. § 1361 et seq., shall not be less than four hundred fifty dollars ($450). For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2017, the tax imposed shall not be less than four hundred dollars ($400).
History of Section.G.L. 1938, ch. 37, § 2; P.L. 1947, ch. 1887, art. 1, § 1; P.L. 1949, ch. 2168, § 1; P.L. 1951, ch. 2733, art. 1, § 1; P.L. 1952, ch. 3026, art. 1, § 1; P.L. 1953, ch. 3150, art. 1, § 1; P.L. 1954, ch. 3254, art. 1, § 1; P.L. 1955, ch. 3521, art. 1, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 44-11-2; P.L. 1956, ch. 3739, art. 1, § 1; P.L. 1957, ch. 44, art. 1, § 1; P.L. 1958, ch. 17, art. 3, § 1; P.L. 1959, ch. 169, art. 2, § 1; P.L. 1960, ch. 66, art. 2, § 1; P.L. 1965, ch. 34, § 1; P.L. 1966, ch. 238, § 1; P.L. 1966, ch. 245, § 7; P.L. 1968, ch. 263, art. 5, §§ 1, 2; P.L. 1970, ch. 139, art. 1, § 1; 1970, ch. 226, § 1; P.L. 1974, ch. 151, art. 4, § 1; impl. am. P.L. 1974, ch. 200, art. 2, § 2; P.L. 1977, ch. 133, § 2; P.L. 1983, ch. 2, art. 8, § 1; P.L. 1988, ch. 12, § 1; P.L. 1989, ch. 126, art. 20, § 1; P.L. 1992, ch. 15, art. 4, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 595, art. 17, § 6; P.L. 2004, ch. 595, art. 29, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 145, art. 12, § 15; P.L. 2015, ch. 141, art. 11, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 142, art. 13, § 9.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 44-11 - Business Corporation Tax
Section 44-11-1. - Definitions.
Section 44-11-2. - Imposition of tax.
Section 44-11-2.2. - Pass-through entities — Definitions — Withholding — Returns.
Section 44-11-2.3. - Pass-through entities — Election to pay state income tax at the entity level.
Section 44-11-3. - Filing of returns — Due date.
Section 44-11-4. - Returns of affiliated groups of corporations.
Section 44-11-4.1. - Combined reporting.
Section 44-11-5. - Extension of time for filing of returns.
Section 44-11-6. - Determination and payment of tax due — Hearings and redeterminations.
Section 44-11-7. - Interest on delinquency payments.
Section 44-11-7.1. - Limitations on assessment.
Section 44-11-8. - Lien on real estate.
Section 44-11-9. - Records, statements, and rules and regulations.
Section 44-11-10. - Returns and statements required to show whether corporation liable.
Section 44-11-11. - “Net income” defined.
Section 44-11-11.2. - Definition of “treatment facility”.
Section 44-11-11.3. - Accelerated amortization deductions for certain manufacturers.
Section 44-11-12. - Dividends and interest excluded from net income.
Section 44-11-13. - Entire net income of business wholly within state.
Section 44-11-14. - Allocation of income from business partially within state.
Section 44-11-14.1. - Certified facility apportionment exclusion.
Section 44-11-14.3. - Credit card banks — Allocation and apportionment of income.
Section 44-11-14.4. - Allocation and apportionment — Retirement and pension plans.
Section 44-11-14.5. - International investment management service income.
Section 44-11-14.6. - Allocation and apportionment — Manufacturers.
Section 44-11-15. - Variation of method of allocating income.
Section 44-11-16 - — 44-11-18. Repealed.
Section 44-11-19. - Supplemental returns — Additional tax or refund.
Section 44-11-20. - Claims for refund — Hearing upon denial.
Section 44-11-22. - Tax administrator’s power to summon witnesses and evidence.
Section 44-11-23. - Service of summons.
Section 44-11-24. - Enforcement of summons.
Section 44-11-25. - Determination of tax without return.
Section 44-11-26. - Pecuniary penalty for failure to file return or to pay tax or for negligence.
Section 44-11-27. - Pecuniary penalty for fraud.
Section 44-11-28. - Collection of pecuniary penalties.
Section 44-11-29. - Notice to tax administrator of sale of assets — Tax due.
Section 44-11-29.1. - Letters of good standing — Fees.
Section 44-11-30. - Examination of taxpayer’s records — Witnesses.
Section 44-11-31. - Examinations as to liability of transferee.
Section 44-11-32. - Violations by corporations.
Section 44-11-33. - Violations by individuals.
Section 44-11-34. - Criminal penalty for failure to file return.
Section 44-11-36. - Liability of fiduciaries.
Section 44-11-37. - General collection powers.
Section 44-11-38. - Collection by writ of execution.
Section 44-11-39. - Tax as debt to state.
Section 44-11-40. - Severability.
Section 44-11-43. - Passive investment treatment.
Section 44-11-44. - Annual Rhode Island corporate income and tax data report.