Rhode Island Sales Tax Calculator 2026

Calculate sales tax in Rhode Island. Rhode Island has a 7% state sales tax rate and no local sales taxes. Based on current RI rates.

By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated October 19, 2026 · Methodology

$
%
Groceries (food for home)
Clothing

Total Tax

$7.00

Total with Tax

$107.00

Combined Rate

7.000%

Tax Breakdown

State Tax (7.00%)$7.00
Local Tax (0.00%)$0.00
Total Sales Tax$7.00
Total with Tax$107.00

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.

Rhode Island Sales Tax Guide

Rhode Island charges a flat 7% sales tax statewide, one of the higher single rates in the country. There is no county or city add-on, so the number on a register receipt in Providence is the same as in Westerly or Woonsocket. That simplicity is a genuine advantage when you budget, you never have to track overlapping local rates the way shoppers do in states with home-rule jurisdictions.

What the 7% applies to is narrower than the rate suggests. Groceries bought for home preparation are exempt, as are prescription drugs and most clothing and footwear under a per-item price threshold. Prepared restaurant meals, by contrast, carry the 7% plus a separate 1% local meals-and-beverage tax. When you buy from an out-of-state seller that does not collect Rhode Island tax, the Division of Taxation expects you to report and pay a matching 7% use tax, commonly settled on your annual income tax return.

Rhode Island Sales Tax Details (2026)

State Sales Tax Rate 7%
Local Sales Taxes No
State Income Tax progressive (up to 5.99%)
Avg. Property Tax Rate 1%

Official Sources:

Rhode Island Sales Tax FAQ

Is Rhode Island's sales tax really 7% everywhere?
Yes. Rhode Island levies a single statewide rate of 7% with no county or municipal add-on, so the rate is identical in every city and town. The main exception shoppers notice is prepared food and drink, where a separate 1% local meals-and-beverage tax applies on top of the 7%, pushing restaurant tabs to 8%.
What is exempt from Rhode Island sales tax?
Groceries intended for home consumption, prescription drugs, and most clothing and footwear priced under a per-item threshold are exempt. Prepared and restaurant food is taxable, as are most general retail goods and many services that the state specifically enumerates. Because the exemption list has specific cutoffs, an expensive item of clothing can become taxable above the threshold while everyday apparel stays exempt.
Do I owe Rhode Island use tax on online or out-of-state purchases?
If you buy taxable goods from a seller that does not collect Rhode Island sales tax, you owe a 7% use tax on the same purchase. Many large online retailers now collect it automatically, but smaller out-of-state sellers may not. The Division of Taxation provides a line to report and pay use tax on your annual personal income tax return.
Why is my Rhode Island restaurant bill taxed more than 7%?
Prepared meals and beverages carry the 7% state sales tax plus a separate 1% local meals-and-beverage tax, for a combined 8% on restaurant and takeout food. The extra 1% is collected statewide and distributed back to the city or town where the sale occurred. Grocery food you cook at home avoids both because it is exempt.

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