Rhode Island Estate Tax

If you're a resident of Rhode Island and leave behind more than $1,733,264 (for deaths occurring in 2023), your estate might have to pay Rhode Island estate tax. The Rhode Island estate tax is different from the federal estate tax, which is imposed on estates worth more than $12.92 million (for deaths in 2023). So even if your estate isn't large enough to owe federal estate tax, it might still owe Rhode Island estate tax.

But it's not just state residents who might owe Rhode Island estate tax. If you're a nonresident but own real estate or other tangible assets (a boat or plane, for example) located in Rhode Island, your estate might also need to file a Rhode Island estate tax return.

Do You Need to File a Rhode Island Estate Tax Return?

If the "gross estate" of a Rhode Island resident has a value of more than $1.3 million, the personal representative or executor of the estate must file the Rhode Island estate tax return, Form RI-706. (Smaller estates will need to file only a small portion of the full return.)

Your gross estate will include just about all of the property you own at your death:

• Real estate
• Bank and investment accounts—retirement and non-retirement
• Vehicles and other items of personal property
• Proceeds from any life insurance policies on your life, if you owned the policies
• Your business interests (sole proprietorship, limited liability company, or closely held corporation)
• Any property you hold in a revocable living trust

Co-owned property. If you own assets with someone else, generally only your share will be included in your estate. In other words, if you and your spouse own your house, half of its value would be included in your estate.

Nonprobate assets. Notably, your gross estate also includes non-probate assets. For example, the property you hold in a revocable living trust avoids probate, but it does not avoid estate taxes, and is counted in your gross estate.

Portability. The federal estate tax regime allows a surviving spouse to use the deceased spouse's unused portion of the exemption—a feature called "portability." However, Rhode Island's estate tax does not offer portability between spouses; each spouse has a separate exemption amount of $1,733,264

If the Gross Estate is Less Than $1.3 Million

If the gross estate of a Rhode Island resident has a value of $1.3 million or less, the personal representative or executor of the estate must still file Form RI-706, but only to show that no tax is required.

Will Your Estate Owe Estate Tax?

Even if a Rhode Island estate tax return must be filed, it doesn't necessarily mean that the estate will owe estate tax. Your estate might be able to take certain deductions that lower the value of your estate below $1,733,264, in which case no estate tax will be due. These deductions include:

• Marital deductions. Property left to a surviving spouse, no matter the amount, can be deducted from the gross estate.
• Charitable deductions. Gifts to qualified public, charitable, and religious organizations can be deducted from the gross estate.
• Debts and administration expenses. Debts owed and some administration expenses (funeral costs and attorney's fees, for example) can be deducted from the gross estate.

Deadlines for Filing the Rhode Island Estate Tax Return

If a return is required, it's due nine months after the date of death. When the payment of the tax causes undue hardship, requests can be made for extending the deadline or for paying in installments by contacting the Rhode Island Estate Tax Administrator.

Your executor will likely have to hire professional help (an experienced lawyer or CPA) to prepare the Rhode Island estate tax return. The estate's funds can be used to pay for professional fees. Estate tax forms and instructions are available at the Rhode Island Department of Revenue.

For more on estate planning issues specific to Rhode Island, see Nolo's Rhode Island Estate Planning section.