Rhode Island Expands Tax Base to Streaming Services

Rhode Island lawmakers expanded the state’s tax base to computer software and streaming entertainment in a bid to avoid sanctions by a state compact working toward sales tax harmonization.

The streaming services bill, H. 7532, is headed to Gov. Gina Raimondo (D), who is expected to sign it after requesting wider authority to tax digital products and online entertainment in her budget last year. The bill expands the definition of a taxable sale to include any license, lease, or rental of prewritten or vendor-hosted computer software and specified digital products. It also clarifies the definition of the “end-user” of ...