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 July 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 Acting Director of Revenue Marilyn S. McConaghy were • Month-to-month increase in local 1.0 percent meal and beverage tax collections was strong at 17.7 percent above the 15.0 percent month-to-month growth recorded in July 2016; • Year-over-year decrease in local 1.0 percent meal and beverage tax collections for July 2017 of 1.6 percent versus an 8.3 percent growth rate posted in July 2016 which included a not insignificant amount of meal and beverage tax revenue for East Greenwich from an audit recovery; • The fiscal year-to-date over fiscal year-to-date results for the local 1.0 percent meal and beverage tax are the same as the year-over-year results as July is the first month of the fiscal year.
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.