Senate approves Sen. Murray’s tangible tax exemption bill
STATE HOUSE – The Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Melissa A. Murray to exempt the first $50,000 of tangible property from the tangible personal property tax to help businesses — especially small businesses — statewide.
The tangible personal property tax is paid by businesses on property, other than real estate, that has value by itself, such as computer equipment, furnishings and fixtures.
“The tangible tax is both a financial and administrative burden for small businesses. Complying with it is complex, and it’s also an enforcement burden for cities and towns. Eliminating this tax for smaller businesses will give them genuine, much-needed relief. It’s a way our state can provide help for the small businesses that support our cities and towns, make our communities unique, and most importantly, employ Rhode Islanders,” said Senator Murray (D-Dist. 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield).
The bill (2023-S 0928A) now goes to the House of Representatives, where Rep. Brandon T. Voas (D-Dist. 57, Cumberland, Central Falls) is sponsoring companion legislation (2023-H 6333)
The legislation would provide a $50,000 exemption to all tangible tax accounts beginning in the 2024 tax year. Those with more than $50,000 worth of tangible assets would have to pay the tax on the assets above $50,000, but would still receive an equal amount of tax relief. The legislation would completely wipe out the tangible tax for 75% of Rhode Island businesses.
Under current laws, $50,000 worth of computer equipment owned by a business located in Providence would result in more than $10,000 in tangible taxes over the course of 10 years, in addition to the $3,500 the company would have paid in sales tax at its purchase.
Since the tangible tax is a municipal-level tax rather than a state one, the state would reimburse each city, town and fire district annually for their lost revenue, just as it does for revenue they lost from the phased-out vehicle excise tax. According to the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC), which has recommended the exemption, the annual cost to the state would be about $25 million.
The bill would also require municipalities and fire districts to cap their tangible property tax rate at the level applied in fiscal year 2024. The tax cap would not apply in the case of municipalities and fire districts that utilize a uniform tax rate for all classes of property.
At an event held at Kay’s Restaurant in Woonsocket last month in support of the bill, Kay’s Restaurant president David Lahousse and Graze on Main owner Elyse Paré spoke about how the tangible tax is a burden on their small businesses, in terms of both the expense and the administrative hassle.
“The last few years have been especially challenging for businesses like mine, and this tangible tax exemption would provide some much-needed relief. I want to thank Senator Murray, Representative Voas, and their fellow legislators for their work on this proposal,” Lahousse said at that time.
President Biden is preparing to sign a new foreign aid bill into law today. On Tuesday, the Senate passed a 95-billion-dollar emergency foreign aid package, which included funding for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and the Indo-Pacific. 
