Rhode Island Estate Taxes

The Rhode Island estate tax is designed to absorb the federal estate tax credit for state death taxes. However, Rhode Island has decoupled from current federal estate tax laws and adopts the version of the Internal Revenue Code in effect on January 1, 2001.

Estates of decedents who are declared missing in action by the armed forces of the United States are not subject to the state's estate tax.

Deductions. The federal estate tax deductions are essentially built into the Rhode Island estate tax laws.

Returns. An inventory of the estate and a Rhode Island estate tax return (Form RI-100A) must be filed with the Tax Administrator in the Department of Finance within the time required for filing a federal estate tax return (generally within nine months of decedent's death, unless a filing extension is granted). Any Rhode Island estate taxes owed must be paid by the due date for filing the return.

Generation-skipping transfer tax. Rhode Island imposes a generation-skipping transfer tax that is equal to the federal credit.