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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

     RELATING TO TAXATION -- SALES AND USE TAXES -- LIABILITY AND

COMPUTATION

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Carson, Edwards, Kazarian, Caldwell, Donovan, Craven,
Cortvriend, Alzate, and O'Brien

     Date Introduced: February 08, 2023

     Referred To: House Finance

     (By request)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 44-18-36.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 44-18 entitled "Sales and

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Use Taxes — Liability and Computation" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     44-18-36.1. Hotel tax.

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     (a) There is imposed a hotel tax of five percent (5%) upon the total consideration charged

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for occupancy of any space furnished by any hotel, travel packages, or room reseller or reseller as

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defined in § 44-18-7.3(b) in this state. A house, condominium, or other resident dwelling shall be

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exempt from the five percent (5%) hotel tax under this subsection if the house, condominium, or

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other resident dwelling is rented in its entirety; provided, however, a house, condominium, or other

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resident dwelling rented in its entirety on a hosting platform, as defined in 42-63.1-2(5), for rental

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activity on or after January 1, 2024 for a period of thirty (30) nights or less shall be subject to the

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five percent (5%) hotel tax under this subsection. The hotel tax is in addition to any sales tax

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imposed. This hotel tax is administered and collected by the division of taxation and unless

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provided to the contrary in this chapter, all the administration, collection, and other provisions of

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chapters 18 and 19 of this title apply. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit the powers

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of the convention authority of the city of Providence established pursuant to the provisions of

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chapter 84 of the public laws of 1980, except that distribution of hotel tax receipts shall be made

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pursuant to chapter 63.1 of title 42 rather than chapter 84 of the public laws of 1980.

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     (b) There is hereby levied and imposed, upon the total consideration charged for occupancy

 

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of any space furnished by any hotel in this state, in addition to all other taxes and fees now imposed

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by law, a local hotel tax at a rate of one percent (1%). The local hotel tax shall be administered and

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collected in accordance with subsection (a).

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     (c) All sums received by the division of taxation from the local hotel tax, penalties or

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forfeitures, interest, costs of suit and fines shall be distributed at least quarterly, credited and paid

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by the state treasurer to the city or town where the space for occupancy that is furnished by the

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hotel is located. Unless provided to the contrary in this chapter, all of the administration, collection,

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and other provisions of chapters 18 and 19 of this title shall apply.

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     (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the city of Newport

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shall have the authority to collect from hotels located in the city of Newport the tax imposed by

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subsection (a) of this section.

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     (1) Within ten (10) days of collection of the tax, the city of Newport shall distribute the tax

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as provided in § 42-63.1-3. No later than the first day of March and the first day of September in

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each year in which the tax is collected, the city of Newport shall submit to the division of taxation

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a report of the tax collected and distributed during the six (6) month period ending thirty (30) days

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prior to the reporting date.

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     (2) The city of Newport shall have the same authority as the division of taxation to recover

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delinquent hotel taxes pursuant to chapter 44-19, and the amount of any hotel tax, penalty and

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interest imposed by the city of Newport until collected constitutes a lien on the real property of the

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taxpayer.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

     RELATING TO TAXATION -- SALES AND USE TAXES -- LIABILITY AND

COMPUTATION

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     This act would remove the exemption from the state hotel tax for residences rented in their

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entirety on a hosting platform on or after January 1, 2024 for a period of thirty (30) nights or less.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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