This bill proposes amendments to Section 44-18-30 of the General Laws in Chapter 44-18, which deals with sales and use taxes in Rhode Island. It introduces new exemptions from sales and use tax for a variety of items and services, including food and food ingredients, medicines, drugs, durable medical equipment, prosthetic devices, mobility enhancing equipment, coffins, caskets, urns, shrouds, burial garments, motor vehicles sold to nonresidents, and sales in public buildings by blind people. The bill also defines terms related to these exemptions and specifies conditions for their application. Additionally, it exempts the sale of special adaptations for wheelchair accessible taxicabs, the trade-in value of certain pickup trucks, and the sale and use of precious metal bullion, among other items. It clarifies that manufacturing machinery and equipment exemptions do not apply to property used in administration or distribution operations.

Furthermore, the bill mandates remote sellers to collect and remit sales and use taxes and lists items that are exempt, such as water for residential use, bibles, boats, and farm equipment. New exemptions are added for items like coins with numismatic value, farm structure construction materials, and telecommunications carrier access service. It also removes the exemption for the sale and consumption of new or used boats after a specific date unless a federal surcharge is repealed. The bill includes an exemption for the trade-in value of pickup trucks weighing 14,000 lbs. or less, effective upon passage. The bill's provisions aim to update the tax code by adjusting the exemptions for sales and use taxes to reflect current economic activities and needs.

Statutes affected:
2068: 44-18-30