Rhode Island registration and tax info

How it works

Once a work address has been added in a new state and a new employee has been hired and assigned a work address in that state, you can get registration assistance in Gusto.

Pricing varies by state—get started below and during step 4, you'll review the price, process, and estimated timeline to completion.

Here’s a snapshot of the process:

1. We’ll collect some basic business information from you.
2. Gusto and CorpNet will check the information for accuracy.
3. Your registration application(s) are usually submitted within 3-5 business days.
4. Check the mail for registration info—the state will typically send your tax account numbers and rates to you directly.

CorpNet can walk you through entering any info that they themselves do not enter in Gusto on your behalf.

Get started with state tax registration

1. Sign in to Gusto as an admin.
2. Click the Taxes & compliance section and select Tax setup.
3. Under “[State name] Tax Setup”, click Have us register for you.
   • The state you want to register in will only appear in this location once a work address has been added in a new state and an employee has been assigned a work address in that state.
4. Review the price, process, and estimated timeline to completion.
   • We will not charge you the registration service fee until you send us your order.
5. Click Continue.
6. Answer a couple eligibility questions.
   • Note: Gusto can only register for you if you don't yet have a state account already.
7. Click Save & continue.
8. Enter some company information.
   • We’ll pre-populate the information we already have.
9. Click Save & continue.
10. Tell us about your responsible party–this is the person who is to be held accountable for the company’s good standing and a point of contact within the organization for tax purposes.
    • If you're a nonprofit and run into any issues, check out our FAQ section below for more information.
11. Click Save & continue.
12. Enter some state-specific operational information.
13. Click Save and continue.
14. Review all information thoroughly–if any information is incorrect it may delay the process.
    • Heads up: state and local agencies may charge additional fees and increase the estimated turnaround time shown. CorpNet will let you know if that happens.
15. Check the box to acknowledge all info is accurate and you agree to the Terms of Service.
16. Click Send registration order.

After you send your order, we’ll email you with status updates and add your order total to your next monthly invoice.

Check the status of your order

When your order is complete you’ll receive emails from both Gusto and CorpNet. They’ll detail the next steps which include:

• Reviewing registration details
• Any other state-specific instructions

Before your order is completed, you can use the link in the state registration confirmation email from Gusto to check the status of your order. 

You can also check the status in your Gusto account:

1. Head to the Taxes & compliance section and select Tax setup.
2. Scroll to the state's headline.
3. Click Check the status of your registration.

Cancel your order

If an order is already completed, you'll need to contact CorpNet at [email protected] or 1(888) 449-2638 to cancel. They’re open Monday-Friday from 7am-5pm PT.

If your order is still in progress, you can cancel from your Gusto account:

1. Head to the Taxes & compliance section and select Tax setup.
2. Scroll to the state's headline.
3. Click Check the status of your registration.
4. On the right-side of the page, under "Changed your mind?", click Cancel your order.
5. Let us know why you're canceling.
6. Click Cancel your order.

FAQs

Q: Can I run payroll for my employees before my registration is complete?

A: Not in most cases—you typically need to have a withholding account number and required tax rate(s) in Gusto before you can run payroll. 

If you’re registering in a state where there is no income tax withheld, you can use the state-specific “new employer rate” in this article until you receive your company-assigned rate from the agency.

Q: Can I use Gusto to register in a new state if I don't have a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) yet?

A: No–you must have a FEIN entered in Gusto to order a state tax registration.

Q: Where can I see all my tax information?

A: You can see all tax details in the following locations: 

• Gusto–head to the Taxes & compliance and select Tax setup, and scroll to the applicable state tax setup.
• CorpNet–create a CorpNet account and login at any time to review information.
• State online account–once you’ve gained access to your agency accounts, your tax details will also be available there.

Gusto’s state tax registration service does not contain tax, legal, financial, or HR advice. Since rules and regulations change over time and can vary by location, consult a lawyer, HR expert, or accountant for specific guidance.

Q: My company is a nonprofit and I'm unable to enter 0% in the responsible party section, what do I do?

A: Some states have a 1% minimum for the responsible party ownership percentage. Those states are: ID, KS, MN, OH, SC, DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, and RI.

Registration orders will need to be placed directly through CorpNet, outside of Gusto, or you'll need to register directly with the agency yourself.

Rhode Island tax agency

• Rhode Island Division of Taxation - income tax withholding and unemployment tax

Register a new company

Income tax withholding and Unemployment tax

Register your business with the Rhode Island Division of Taxation online here for withholding and unemployment tax. You will receive a withholding Account ID, but Gusto uses your FEIN to file and pay your withholding taxes. You will also be assigned a withholding deposit schedule during the online application process after selecting your wage threshold, but Gusto will make your tax payments at the fastest deposit schedule.

Your RI Employer Account Number (Unemployment number) will be unique to your business. You should receive it within 3-5 days after registering.

Unemployment experience rate

Your Rhode Island Experience Rate (tax rate) will appear on the Notice of Tax Rate that you receive from the Rhode Island Department of Labor & Training. Click here to view state-by-state new employer rates and wage bases (not company-specific).

• Gusto will add the 0.21% Job Development Assessment to your rate. You do not need to include the JDA in the rate that you enter in Gusto.

If you're unsure of your rate, please call the agency at (401) 574-8700. 

Set up an existing company 

Income tax withholding 

Your withholding account number is the same as your FEIN.

Unemployment tax

Businesses that have run payroll in Rhode Island before can find their Employer Account Number on the Quarterly Wage Report (Form TX-17) or other notices received from the Rhode Island Division of Taxation. If you are unsure, you should call the agency at (401) 574-8829 for withholding tax registration questions or (401) 574-8700 for unemployment tax questions.

Unemployment experience rate

Your Rhode Island Experience Rate (tax rate) will appear on the Notice of Tax Rate that you receive from the Rhode Island Division of Taxation. Please do not include your Job Development Assessment (JDA) rate when adding your experience rate to Gusto.

Click here to view state-by-state new employer rates and wage bases (not company-specific).

• Rhode Island Annual W/H Reconciliation (RI-W-3)
• Rhode Island Income Tax Transmittal Form for the Reporting of W2 Information (RI State W2)
• Rhode Island Income Tax Withholding Coupon [Monthly] (941M - until 2020)*
• Rhode Island Income Tax Withholding Coupon [Quarterly] (941Q - until 2020)*
• Rhode Island Employer’s Quarterly Tax Return and Reconciliation [Quarterly] (RI 941 - for after 2020)
• Rhode Island Income Tax Withholding Coupon [Weekly]*
• Rhode Island Quarterly Contributions (RI TX-17)
• New Hire Report

• Rhode Island Division of Taxation (401) 574-8829
• Rhode Island Division of Taxation, Employer Tax Section (401) 574-8700, Option 2

• Agent name: Tomer London

• Firm Name: ZenPayroll Inc (dba: Gusto)

• FEIN: 453942850

• Email: [email protected]

• Address: 525 20th Street San Francisco, CA 94107 

• Phone: (415) 935-0230

Reminder: If state-specific codes/IDs are requested and you cannot match them to the information above, check the Register a company with the state on your own dropdown of the article.