Tax Delinquents

Pursuant to House Bill 7225Aaa, the Rhode Island Tax Administrator is now authorized by state law to publish a list of delinquent taxpayers who owe at least $50,000 of state tax, both personal income tax and certain business taxes, and whose taxes have been unpaid for a period in excess of ninety (90) days following the date their tax was due.

The law authorizes the Tax Administrator to publish these lists on the Rhode Island Division of Taxation’s website:

• The first list includes those delinquent taxpayers who owe at least $50,000 of state personal income tax;
• The second list includes those delinquent taxpayers who owe at least $50,000 of certain state business taxes including, but not limited to, sales, meals and beverage, withholding, corporate, and health care taxes.

Like all states, Rhode Island relies on tax revenue to provide vital public services – from public safety and transportation to health care and education. When someone fails to pay the tax that is owed by law, everyone suffers, and honest taxpayers must shoulder an extra burden.

More than 23 states nationwide – including Connecticut and Massachusetts – use similar public notice lists to help collect unpaid taxes.

Posting the lists is a way to encourage tax delinquents to pay what they owe, come back into compliance with the law, and ease the burden on the overwhelming majority of taxpayers who pay what they owe and pay it on time.

Neena S. Savage
Tax Administrator