The Rhode Island Division of Taxation’s Online Business Registration is the newest eGovernment service to become available through the state’s web portal, RI.gov
PROVIDENCE: Many new businesses in Rhode Island, especially those that make sales at retail or have employees, are required to register with the Division of Taxation. Traditionally, the registration process included manually filling out and mailing the Business Application and Registration (B.A.R.) form to the state.
Entering approximately 7,500-8,000 forms each year took valuable staff time and the efforts to contact businesses to resolve issues related to missing or incorrect information occasionally resulted in delays in processing the paperwork. In an effort to help simplify the process for the businesses and the state, the RI Division of Taxation worked with the staff at RI.gov to create an online version of the B.A.R. form.
“There are many benefits to the online registration process, both to the business community and to the State of Rhode Island,� remarks Kenneth Iavarone, Principal Revenue Agent at the Division of Taxation. “Businesses expect and deserve to have this convenient registration option available to them. The State of Rhode Island also benefits by electronically collecting business registration data because it can be directly transferred into our computer system, thereby saving staff time and eliminating potential data entry errors.�
As certain types of business and business activities additionally require statutory fees, those completing the form had to calculate those fees and include payment with their registration form. The online application is designed to automatically make those calculations based on the information entered and then presents the user with a breakdown of fees owed which can be immediately paid through a secure credit card transaction.
Besides convenience, the new online service also offers a level of error checking which insures that submitted forms are complete and accurate.
“We often had to contact business owners because they simply didn’t fill in the form correctly resulting in a delay in processing,� says Nancy A. Telford, Principal Revenue Agent at the Division of Taxation. “The online application checks to make sure that the applicant has completed all the necessary parts of the form and hides information that isn’t required for their type of business, making the form as simple as possible for the business user.�
Businesses wishing to complete the B.A.R. online can do so by going to the Division’s websites at: www.tax.state.ri.us or www.uitax.ri.gov, or to the state’s official web page at www.RI.gov.
For more information, contact:
RI Division of Taxation:
Employer Registration Unit 401-222-3696
Withholding and Sales Tax Unit 401-222-6291
RI.gov Joan Gammon, General Manager 401-831-8099 x23; joan@neinetwork.com
About RI.gov: RI.gov is the State of Rhode Island’s official Web portal (www.RI.gov) and provider of electronic government solutions for the state.