How do I register for Rhode Island payroll taxes?

Registering for Rhode Island Payroll Tax Account Numbers

Rhode Island requires employers to register with the Division of Taxation and Employer Tax Section. You can register for both online.

Division of Taxation Taxpayer Identification Number

• Register online
• Format: 11 digits - your FEIN and a two-digit sequence number (99999999900, 999999999 99, 999999999)
• To find an existing account number, call: (401) 574-8829

Employer Tax Section Employer Account Number

• Register online
• Format: 10 digits (9999999999)
• To find an existing account number, call: (401) 243-9137

Rhode Island Payroll Taxes

Payroll Tax Rates

The Department of Labor & Training will assign your unemployment insurance tax rate. New employers generally have an initial rate of 1.17%. There is a fixed Job Development Fund rate of 0.29% and a Temporary Disability Insurance rate.

Payroll Tax Deposit Schedules

All unemployment taxes are deposited quarterly.

The Division of Taxation will assign your withholding tax schedule based on your average accumulated monthly withholdings. If you accumulated:

• less than $50 in withholdings, you’ll deposit quarterly;
• $50 to $599 in withholdings, you’ll deposit monthly;
• $600 to $23,999 in withholdings, you’ll deposit quarter-monthly;
• $24,000 or more in withholdings, you’ll deposit daily.