Rhode Island Code of Regulations
Title 280 - Department of Revenue
Chapter 20 - Division of Taxation
Subchapter 70 - Sales and Use Tax
Part 30 - Bottles, Containers, and Labels (280-RICR-20-70-30)
Section 280-RICR-20-70-30.6 - Bottles and Other Returnable Containers

Universal Citation: 280 RI Code of Rules 20 70 30.6

Current through September 18, 2024

A. R.I. Gen. Laws § 44-18-30(4)(C) provides that returnable containers, when sold with the contents in connection with a retail sale of the contents, or when resold for refilling, are not subject to the tax.

1. Example: a beverage manufacturer sells products to a storekeeper at a fixed price per bottle or per case, and that price includes a charge for such bottles and cases, even though the beverage manufacturer does not reserve title thereto, the purchase of such bottles and cases by the beverage manufacturer from its bottle supplier is a taxable transaction. It is regarded as a retail sale made by the company which supplies the beverage manufacturer with bottles and cases, and is not regarded as a purchase for resale, even though the beverage manufacturer allows a credit or makes a cash refund for the empty bottles and cases when they are returned in good condition by the storekeeper, who in turn, had them returned to such storekeeper by the consumer.

2. It is to be noted that R.I. Gen. Laws § 44-18-30(4)(C) provides that the exemption shall apply to returnable containers when they are sold with the contents in connection with a retail sale.

3. It is clear that since the sale by the beverage manufacturer to the storekeeper is not a retail sale, then the exemption does not apply.

4. Accordingly, when the supplier of the bottles sells bottles to the beverage manufacturer, this does not constitute a "sale for resale" of a nature which is entitled to exemption.

B. Inasmuch as it is contemplated by the beverage manufacturer that when the storekeeper to whom the products are sold (including the returnable bottles) returns these bottles to the beverage manufacturer, the manufacturer will allow the storekeeper a credit similar or equivalent to the credit or cash refund which, in turn, the storekeeper allows or makes to the consumer. Inasmuch as R.I. Gen. Laws § 44-18-30(4)(C) provides that the sales tax is not to be collected on the amount which represents the deposit paid by the consumer to the storekeeper, and because as the law further provides that such bottles will be exempt when "resold for refilling" by the storekeeper to the beverage manufacturer; it therefore becomes clear why the legislature restricted the exemption of the bottles to apply only to the sales transaction between the storekeeper and the consumer, and did not intend to exempt the sale of returnable bottles to the beverage manufacturer because such are purchased for storage, use, or other consumption in this state.

1. To arrive at a different conclusion would mean, in effect, that these bottles would be exempt all along the line. If this is so, then the reason for the legislature making a distinction between returnable and nonreturnable containers ceases to exist.

C. When the consumer buys a product in a nonreturnable container, the consumer is deemed to be paying for the cost of such container, for it affects and adds to the price of the product sold.

1. On the other hand, where the law relieves such consumer from paying the tax on a deposit bottle or other returnable container, it is manifestly clear that the legislature was desirous of avoiding duplicate taxation which otherwise would result in increasing the ultimate sales price to the consumer.

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