Rhode Island Code of Regulations
Title 280 - Department of Revenue
Chapter 20 - Division of Taxation
Subchapter 70 - Sales and Use Tax
Part 6 - Clothing, Clothing Accessories, Sports or Recreational Equipment, and Protective Equipment (280-RICR-20-70-6)
Section 280-RICR-20-70-6.5 - Definitions

Universal Citation: 280 RI Code of Rules 20 70 6.5

Current through December 26, 2024

A. "Clothing" means all human wearing apparel suitable for general use.

1. Examples of nontaxable items include, but are not limited to: Aprons, household and shop; Athletic supporters; Baby receiving blankets; Bathing suits and caps; Beach capes and coats; Belts and suspenders; Boots; Coats and jackets; Costumes; Diapers, children and adult, including disposable diapers; Ear muffs; Footlets; Formal wear; Garters and garter belts; Girdles; Gloves and mittens for general use; Hats and caps; Hosiery; Insoles for shoes; Lab coats; Neckties; Overshoes; Pantyhose; Rainwear; Rubber pants; Sandals; Scarves; Shoes and shoe laces; Slippers; Sneakers; Socks and stockings; Steel toed shoes; Underwear; Uniforms, athletic and non-athletic; and Wedding apparel.

2. Examples of items not considered to be "Clothing" shall include, but not be limited to, the following taxable items: Belt buckles sold separately; Costume masks sold separately; Patches and emblems sold separately; Sewing equipment and supplies including, but not limited to, knitting needles, patterns, pins, scissors, sewing machines, sewing needles, tape measures, and thimbles; and Sewing materials that become part of "clothing" including, but not limited to, buttons, fabric, lace, thread, yarn, and zippers.

B. "Clothing accessories or equipment" means incidental items worn on the person or in conjunction with "clothing." "Clothing accessories or equipment" does not include: "clothing," "sport or recreational equipment," or "protective equipment."

1. Examples of "Clothing accessories or equipment" includes, but is not limited to: Briefcases; Cosmetics; Hair notions, including, but not limited to, barrettes, hair bows, and hairnets; Handbags; Handkerchiefs; Jewelry; Sun glasses, non-prescription; Umbrellas; Wallets; Watches; and Wigs and hair pieces.

C. "Essential clothing" means any article of "clothing" with a sales price at or below the dollar threshold set by the state that is taxed differently from "clothing."

D. "Protective equipment" means items for human wear and designed as protection of the wearer against injury or disease or as protections against damage or injury of other persons or property but not suitable for general use. "Protective equipment" does not include "clothing," "clothing accessories or equipment," and "sport or recreational equipment."

1. Examples of "Protective equipment" shall include, but is not limited to: Breathing masks; Clean room apparel and equipment; Ear and hearing protectors; Face shields; Hard hats; Helmets; Paint or dust respirators; Protective gloves; Safety glasses and goggles; Safety belts; Tool belts; and Welders gloves and masks.

E. "Sales price" means:

1. The total amount of consideration, including cash, credit, property, and services, for which personal property or services are sold, leased, or rented, valued in money, whether received in money or otherwise, without any deduction for the following:
a. The seller's cost of the property sold;

b. The cost of materials used, labor or service cost, interest, losses, all costs of transportation to the seller, all taxes imposed on the seller, and any other expense of the seller;

c. Charges by the seller for any services necessary to complete the sale, other than delivery and installation charges;

d. Delivery charges, as defined in R.I. Gen. Laws § 44-18-7.1(i);

e. Credit for any trade-in, as determined by state law;

f. The amount charged for services, as defined in R.I. Gen. Laws § 44-18-7.3.

2. "Sales price" shall not include:
a. Discounts, including cash, term, or coupons that are not reimbursed by a third party that are allowed by a seller and taken by a purchaser on a sale;

b. The amount charged for labor or services rendered in installing or applying the property sold when the charge is separately stated by the retailer to the purchaser; provided that in transactions subject to the provisions of this chapter the retailer shall separately state such charge when requested by the purchaser and, further, the failure to separately state such charge when requested may be restrained in the same manner as other unlawful acts or practices prescribed in R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 6-13.1.

c. Interest, financing, and carrying charges from credit extended on the sale of personal property or services, if the amount is separately stated on the invoice, bill of sale or similar document given to the purchaser; and

d. Any taxes legally imposed directly on the consumer that are separately stated on the invoice, bill of sale or similar document given to the purchaser.

e. Manufacturer rebates allowed on the sale of motor vehicles.

3. "Sales price" shall include consideration received by the seller from third parties if:
a. The seller actually receives consideration from a party other than the purchaser and the consideration is directly related to a price reduction or discount on the sale;

b. The seller has an obligation to pass the price reduction or discount through to the purchaser;

c. The amount of the consideration attributable to the sale is fixed and determinable by the seller at the time of the sale of the item to the purchaser; and

d. One of the following criteria is met:
(1) The purchaser presents a coupon, certificate or other documentation to the seller to claim a price reduction or discount where the coupon, certificate or documentation is authorized, distributed or granted by a third party with the understanding that the third party will reimburse any seller to whom the coupon, certificate or documentation is presented;

(2) The purchaser identifies himself or herself to the seller as a member of a group or organization entitled to a price reduction or discount (a "preferred customer" card that is available to any patron does not constitute membership in such a group), or

(3) The price reduction or discount is identified as a third party price reduction or discount on the invoice received by the purchaser or on a coupon, certificate or other documentation presented by the purchaser.

F. "Sport or recreational equipment" means items designed for human use and worn in conjunction with an athletic or recreational activity that are not suitable for general use. "Sport or recreational equipment" does not include "clothing," "clothing accessories or equipment," and "protective equipment."

1. Examples of "Sports or recreational equipment" shall include, but is not limited to: Ballet and tap shoes; Cleated or spiked athletic shoes; Gloves, including, but not limited to, baseball, bowling, boxing, hockey, and golf; Goggles; Hand and elbow guards; Life preservers and vests; Mouth guards; Roller and ice skates; Shin guards; Shoulder pads; Ski boots; Waders; and Wetsuits and fins.

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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