Rhode Island Code of Regulations
Title 280 - Department of Revenue
Chapter 20 - Division of Taxation
Subchapter 10 - Withholding Tax
Part 1 - Withholding Tax on the Sale of Real Property by Nonresidents (280-RICR-20-10-1)
Section 280-RICR-20-10-1.7 - Compliance

Universal Citation: 280 RI Code of Rules 20 10 1.7

Current through September 18, 2024

A. Residency affidavit: The buyer may rely on the seller's determination of residency only if the seller furnishes the buyer with a notarized seller's residency affidavit under penalties of perjury. A recitation of the seller's residency may be contained on the deed. If a deed contains a recitation of residency by the seller, the recording of such deed shall in all instances discharge the lien imposed by R.I. Gen. Laws § 44-30-71.3(c).

1. If a buyer has actual knowledge that a seller's residency affidavit is false and the buyer fails to withhold the prescribed amount, the buyer is liable for an amount equal to the amount which should have been withheld, together with penalty and interest and a lien shall arise upon the recording of a notice of lien by the Division of Taxation. Provided, however, notice of lien may only be filed if title to said property remains in the name of the buyer.

2. If, upon examination of title during a subsequent sale of the property, a recital of residency is not found in the deed and the affidavit of residency cannot be obtained from the prior seller, the prospective buyer or examining attorney may petition the tax administrator for a discharge of the lien based upon other indicia of residency or no tax due.

B. Nonresident corporation: If the seller is a nonresident corporation, the buyer is deemed to be in compliance with remittance requirements if the seller provides the buyer with a letter of good standing issued by the Tax Administrator for the purposes of the sale. If a letter of good standing was provided the buyer should complete the remittance form, indicate the appropriate information on the form and return the form to the Division of Taxation even though no tax is withheld.

C. Pass-through entity: In the case of a pass-through entity-seller, the buyer may rely on each seller member's determination of residency only if each seller-member furnishes the buyer with a notarized seller's residency affidavit under penalties of perjury. For each nonresident member, the buyer must withhold and remit for each such member based on the member's share. It is assumed that the members share equally unless otherwise specifically provided. The nonresident pass-through entity-seller must furnish the buyer with the names, addresses and Social Security or Federal employer identification numbers for each nonresident member. In the event that all the members are residents, a single seller's residency affidavit may be filed using the special area provided on that form.

D. Compliance using "gain" method: The buyer must withhold for the nonresident seller using the net proceeds unless, at the closing, the seller provides a Certificate of Withholding Due (Form RI 71.3 Certificate) at the closing. This certificate allows the buyer to withhold based on the nonresident seller's election of the gain method.

1. In order to use the gain method, the nonresident seller must first make the election by completing RI Form 71.3 Election and submit the completed form to the Division of Taxation for review at least twenty (20) days prior to the closing date. An approved Certificate of Withholding Due shall be sent to the seller or designee.

2. Election of gain method is binding upon seller. Failure to make the election at least twenty (20) days prior to the closing will result in withholding based on net proceeds. In the event of multiple sellers, all sellers must agree and elect the gain method or the net proceeds will be used for remittance.

3. Election of gain method allows the seller to recognize all the gain in the year of the sale or to allow the seller to recognize the gain on the installment method. Recognition of gain under either method may only be elected by the seller if, for the same transaction and tax year, the seller will be recognizing the gain by the same method for Federal tax purposes.

E. Remittance limited to net proceeds: If the withholding due under the gain method approved by the Division of Taxation on the Certificate of Withholding Due is more than the net proceeds payable to the seller, the buyer need only remit the net proceeds to the Division of Taxation.

F. Information to be submitted for installment sales method of gain election: If the seller elects the installment sale method for R.I. Gen. Laws §44-71.3 withholding, the installment sale method must also be the method used by the seller for gain recognition for Federal tax purposes. The information which must be supplied as part of the form RI 71-3 Election for the installment sales method must be supplied under penalties of perjury by the seller, the seller's certified public accountant, licensed public accountant or attorney and must include the following:

1. Name, address and number (FEI # or SS#) of each seller; and

2. Description of the property involved (including street address, city/town and plat and lot numbers); and

3. Calculation of gain for the property including the gross sales price of the real estate and related personal property, expenses of sale, the net sales price, the seller's cost or other basis and the resultant gain; and

4. A statement that the seller will be recognizing the gain from the sale of the stated property on the installment method for Federal tax purposes; and

5. An amortization schedule for the term of the installment sale itemizing the amount and timing of each installment payment (monthly, quarterly, etc.), the interest rate (if financed), the term of the installment sale, and the amount of each payment which represents interest (if any), return of basis and gain; and

6. A calculation of the amount of gain which will not be recognized by the seller for the year of the sale to be entered on Line 6 of the RI 71.3 Election form.

7. Withholding using the installment method must be calculated to include the gain portions of all installments payments to be received for the year of the sale as well as the gain portion of the payment received at the closing.

8. By election of the installment method the seller agrees to make such estimated payments and to file all appropriate Rhode Island tax returns for years following the year of sale during which any installment payments from this transaction are received.

G. Compliance for special cases: In the event that the sale of the property by a nonresident will not be subject to tax under Sections 121 (Sale of Principal Residence); 721 (Tax Free Exchanges - Partnership Interest); 1031 (Like Kind Exchanges); 1033 (Involuntary Conversions), or 408 (Individual Retirement Account) of the Internal Revenue Code, the nonresident seller must make the gain election and file the RI Form 71.3 Election even though no withholding need be made. If the seller later fails to comply with the above sections of the Internal Revenue Code, the seller acknowledges obligation to file an original or amended Rhode Island tax return for the year of the sale.

H. Zero withholding: A nonresident real estate withholding remittance form (RI 71.3 Remittance) must be completed for the nonresident and sent to the Division even though the results of the withholding calculation are that no withholding is to be made for the nonresident seller.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Rhode Island may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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