How to get a Resale Certificate in Rhode Island
If your business will sell taxable goods or services in Rhode Island, you will want to obtain a resale certificate from the Rhode Island Division of Taxation. This certificate allows you to purchase goods and services without paying sales tax at the time of purchase, as long as you intend to resell the items.
Learn more about what a resale certificate is, how to get one, and more.
What is a Resale Certificate?
When retailers purchase products to resell, they often don’t pay sales tax to the supplier on the purchase. The sales tax will still be paid, but instead of the retailer paying sales tax, the retailer charges sales tax to their customer on the final value of the merchandise. The collected sales tax is then sent by the retailer to the Rhode Island Division of Taxation.
For example, when a pet store purchases dog toys from their supplier to sell in the store, the pet store owner won’t typically have to pay sales tax to their supplier. When a customer (or end-user) purchases the dog toy, the retailer will charge sales tax to the customer based on the full price of the toy. The retailer will collect the sales tax from all their transactions and periodically (typically at the end of the month) send the sales tax to the state.
The purpose of the certificate is to provide evidence of why sales tax was not collected on a transaction. Similar names for a resale certificate include reseller number, seller’s permit, exemption certificate, wholesale license, or reseller’s license. In order for the supplier to allow the tax-exempt purchase, the seller needs proof the buyer intends to resell the product by providing a valid resale certificate.
The sales tax exemption is only intended to be used for inventory that will be resold and not intended for the tax-free purchase of items used in normal business operations such as paper, pens, etc.
Getting Started
Before a business starts selling products or providing taxable services, it must first get a Sales Tax Permit from the Rhode Island Division of Taxation. The Sales Tax Permit is sometimes referred to as a seller’s permit, sales tax number, or sales tax license.
Is a Resale Certificate the same as a Sales Tax Permit?
The Sales Tax Permit and Resale Certificate are commonly thought of as the same thing, but they are actually two separate documents. The Sales Tax Permit allows a business to sell and collect sales tax from taxable products and services in the state, while the Resale Certificate allows the retailer to make tax-exempt purchases for products they intend to resell.
Related:Â How to register for a Rhode Island Sales Tax Permit
After registering, a sales tax number will be provided by the Division of Taxation. This number will be listed on the Resale Certificate.
How to fill out the Rhode Island Resale Certificate
Filling out the certificate is pretty straightforward but is critical for the seller to gather all the information.
If audited, the Rhode Island Division of Taxation requires the seller to have a correctly filled out Resale Certificate. Without it correctly filled out, the seller could end up owing sales taxes that should have been collected from the buyer in addition to penalties and interest.  Â
Steps for filling out the CRT-61 Rhode Island Resale Certificate
Step 1 – Begin by downloading the Rhode Island Resale Certificate
Step 2 – Include the buyer’s retail permit number
Step 3 – List what the buyer’s business sells
Step 4 – Enter the name of the seller
Step 5 – List the property being purchased from the seller
Step 6 – Describe the property being purchased from the seller
Step 7 – Enter the name and business address of the buyer
Step 8 – Last, the purchaser will sign and date the certificate.
Rhode Island Resale Certificate Fillable Form
How much does a Resale Certificate cost in Rhode Island?
There is no cost for a Resale Certificate in Rhode Island.
Does a Rhode Island Resale Certificate Expire?
Provided the buyer makes recurring purchases from the seller at least once in the previous 12 months, the certificate does not expire.
Where do I file the Rhode Island Resale Certificate?
The resale certificate is kept on file by the seller and is not filed with the state.
Are sellers required to accept resale certificates?
Sellers are not required to accept resale certificates, however, most do. If the vendor doesn’t accept the certificate, the buyer will have to pay sales tax on the merchandise being purchased. In most cases, a credit for the sales taxes paid is available when filing the Rhode Island sales tax return.Â
What steps should a business take to accept a resale certificate?
When a business is presented with a resale certificate, the burden of proof is on the seller to verify that the buyer’s information is correct and to keep these records. Failing to verify this information may put the liability of paying Rhode Island sales taxes on the seller.
Before accepting a resale certificate, a seller should:
– Review the resale certificate to make sure it is completely filled out.Â
– Verify the purchaser’s Resale Certificate by calling the Rhode Island Division of Taxation at 401-574-8922.
– Sellers are also responsible for examining the certificate and evaluating whether the goods sold are reasonably consistent with the purchaser’s line of business. For example, if the buyer’s business is a car dealership, but they want to purchase office supplies tax-free, the seller should investigate further. Â
– Keep a file of resale certificates.Â
