Providence, R.I. -- The Rhode Island Department of Revenue today released its FY 2018 Local 1.0 Percent Meal and Beverage Tax Collections Report for August 2017. The Local 1.0 Percent Meal and Beverage Tax Collections Report compares the collections from the state's local 1.0 percent meal and beverage tax on a month-to-month, year-over-year, and fiscal year-to-date over fiscal year-to-date basis. The local 1.0 percent meal and beverage tax is collected on the sale of a meal and/or beverage that is prepared away from home. The data contained in the report is for the month in which the meal and beverage sales activity occurred. The receipts generated from this activity were paid to the Division of Taxation the month following the sales activity and distributed to the municipalities the month after receipt by the Division of Taxation.
Highlights from the report as noted by Director of Revenue Mark A. Furcolo were • Month-to-month increase in local 1.0 percent meal and beverage tax collections was very strong at 22.8 percent well above the 3.2 percent month-to-month growth recorded in August 2016; • A sharp year-over-year increase in local 1.0 percent meal and beverage tax collections for August 2017 of 24.9 percent versus a 4.0 percent growth rate posted in August 2016; • FY 2018 year-to-date growth through August of 11.4 percent nearly double the FY 2017 year-to-date growth rate recorded in August 2016.
The entire report can be found on the Department of Revenue's web site at http://www.dor.ri.gov/revenue-analysis/2018.php under the Local Reports tab. The full report includes the break down by municipality of local meal and beverage tax collections on a month-to-month, year-over-year, and fiscal year-to-date over fiscal year-to-date basis.
Questions or comments on the report should be directed to Paul Grimaldi, Chief of Information and Public Relations by e-mail at paul.grimaldi@revenue.ri.gov or by phone at (401) 574-8766.