Rhode Island sales tax
At a glance
| State sales tax | 7 % |
|---|---|
| Local taxes | No local sales tax. |
Average combined rate
Only the state rate is known here: 7 %. Rank 24 of 51, highest first.
Example
An item with a $100 tag costs $107.00 with 7 % tax.
Clothing and shoes
Only the part of an item's price above $250 is taxed. Below that, clothing is exempt.
Food and drink
| Groceries | Exempt from state tax, and from local tax |
|---|---|
| Prepared food and restaurants | Taxed at the regular rate * |
| Candy | Taxed at the regular rate * |
| Soft drinks | Taxed at the regular rate * |
| Alcohol | Taxed at the regular rate |
| Over-the-counter medicine | Taxed at the regular rate |
* Depends on details a price tag does not show (hot or cold, packaging, local options). Treat it as an estimate.
Tax-free days
No regular sales tax holidays.
Neighbouring states
| State | Average rate |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | 6.35 % |
| Massachusetts | 6.25 % |
Official sources
- webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE44/44-18/44-18-30.htm
- tax.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur541/files/notice/2012/2012-10--Clothing-and-Footwear---08-22-12.pdf
- rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/Part/280-20-70-4
- rules.sos.ri.gov/Regulations/Part/280-20-70-47
Rules as of 2026-10-04. These pages summarise the rules Summalo uses. They are estimates, not tax advice. At the register, the store's receipt is what counts.
Summalo applies these rules to the price tag you scan, offline.