In Rhode Island, Pantyhose and Ties Aren’t Taxed — But Masks Are
Friday, November 20, 2020
Rhode Island has suffered 1,288 coronavirus-related fatalities to date, and is on course to see 250 -- or more -- additional deaths by the end of the year.
One thing the coronavirus hasn’t killed is ridiculous government policies.
Public health experts in Rhode Island and across the country have urged people to wear masks to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn Rhode Island, you don’t pay tax on most clothes — from bathing suits to earmuffs, to socks and scarves.
You do, however, pay a 7% tax on masks during the coronavirus crisis.
See List of Tax-Exempt Items HERE
And if you order online? You’ll be paying tax on the shipping and handling as well.
“Rhode Island law provides a sales and use tax exemption of up to $250 of the purchase price of clothing or footwear,” said Division of Taxation spokesperson Paul Grimaldi. “However, under Rhode Island law, masks and other protective clothing are not considered ‘clothing or footwear’ so they do not qualify for the sales and use tax exemption.”
“Therefore, masks and other protective clothing are, by law, subject to the Rhode Island sales and use tax,” he added.
On April 14, Governor Gina Raimondo issued her 24th “Supplemental Emergency Declaration” (she is now up to 98) requiring cloth face masks at work.
Raimondo infamously went into a protest in June not wearing a mask.
Rhode Island currently recommends that residents choose masks that have “two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric.”
“Please, stay home except for essential activities, and wear a mask anytime you’re with people you don’t live with, said Raimondo on Sunday. “Together, we can turn our case numbers around.”
Ordering Online — Tax That, Too
A recent order of two “Tommy Copper” masks from QVC shows came to $17.90.
Shipping and handling was $3.50 — and the 7% sales tax -- $1.50 -- applied to both.
“By State regulation, “delivery charges” are included in the “sales price” of property and therefore subject to sales tax if the property sold is taxable,” said Grimaldi. “If the property sold is exempt, delivery charges are not subject to sales tax.”
Across the state, numerous mask donations have been made — Bank of America, for instance, just announced it is providing 50,000 face masks (and 120 cases of hand sanitizer) to Rhode Island non-profits, after donating 100,000 face masks to Providence schools earlier this fall.
Related Articles
- VIDEO: “We are in a Bad Place,” Says Raimondo as Infection Spirals in RI
- VIDEO: Raimondo, Officials to Address Rising Coronavirus Numbers in RI Wednesday at 1 PM
- Biden Picking Raimondo for Treasury Would Be Like Naming Dracula To Guard Blood Bank: Siedle
- WATCH LIVE: Raimondo to Announce New Restrictions As Cases Continue to Spiral in RI
- An Open Letter to Governor Raimondo - Angelica Penta of Gels Kitchen
- Raimondo Nominates Furcolo as Lottery Director, Thorsen as New Revenue Director
- Time is Running Out, Raimondo Is Failing Us — Nick Landekic
- Watch LIVE: RI at Highest Coronavirus Warning Level - Raimondo LIVE at 1
- 5 Major Coronavirus Developments - Raimondo Is Focused on the Wrong Numbers
- EDITORIAL: Police in RI Should Hand Out Masks - Not Citations
- Dr. Ed Iannuccilli: Once Masks Were Fun - King Tut He Was
- LIVE from Italy: Economy Starts to Reopen, But Masks - and Gloves - Required
- EDITORIAL: Wear a Mask (You Runners Too) - Save Someone’s Health and the Economy
- Rob Horowitz: To Mask or Not
- Another RI Police Union Criticizes Raimondo’s Mask Order and Refuses to Enforce - North Providence
- UPDATED: Warwick Police Union Issues Blistering Rebuke of Raimondo Mask Order & Enforcement Policy
- RI’s Chen Developing Virucide for Masks in Fight Against Coronavirus - Could Be Manufactured Here
- 7 Major Coronavirus Developments — RI’s Honeywell Mask Factory Opens in Record Time — April 18
- 7 Major Coronavirus Developments — Raimondo’s Confusing Mask Order — April 19, 2020
- Raimondo: Masks Will Be Necessary at Camps This Summer, Maybe for School in Rhode Island in Fall
- 7 Major Coronavirus Developments — Raimondo Presses for More Mask Wearing — May 27, 2020
- Raimondo Ignores Own Orders on Coronavirus, Goes Maskless Into Crowd at Protest
- UK Company with RI Facility Introduces Paper Masks, Dubbed a “Scam” By Leading Health Expert
- Politics of Coronavirus: Fung and GOP Candidates Fail to Wear Masks for Political Photo
- Masks, Distancing, and In-Person Learning: Head of PCD on Being Back at School for Two Weeks
- GoLocal Launches “Save a Job. Save a Business. Wear a Mask. It Is That Simple.” Campaign
- EDITORIAL: A Tip of the Mask to Mayor Diossa for Demonstrating Leadership in Combating the Virus
- “We Have Our Employees’ Backs”- Latest RI Restaurant Group Takes on Criticism, Mask-Wearing
- DEM Warns About Traffic at Beaches and Urges Mask Wearing at Concessions
- Raimondo Issues Apology for Failing to Wear Mask at Providence Protest
- Mask Rule Relaxed in Northern Italy - What Happens Next: Couto da Silva LIVE
- RI Beaches Attract Large Crowds, Officials Say Mask Wearing Needs to Improve
- RI Trump Co-Chair and Candidate for Senate Holds Campaign Event Larger Than Limit and Few Wear Masks
- In Rhode Island, Pantyhose and Ties Aren’t Taxed — But Masks Are
- Raimondo Administration Announces $3.1M in Additional “Take It Outside” Grants
- RI’s “Real” Infection Rate Is Approximately 6%, Raimondo’s Testing Strategy Comes Under Criticism
- Despite Record Cases, Raimondo Offers Few New Restrictions or Enforcement
- Raimondo’s Lack of Action Was Deeply Disappointing But Not Surprising - MINDSETTTER™ Landekic
- RI House Oversight Committee to Review Emergency COVID-19 Spending By Raimondo Administration
- VIDEO: RI Hospitals to Hit COVID Capacity in Weeks Says Raimondo, After Latest 900+ Case Day
- Coronavirus Hits Raimondo’s Office—Multiple Staffers Impacted
- WATCH LIVE: Raimondo Expected to Announce RI Shutdowns at 1 PM
- Raimondo Restricts Social Gatherings to Single Households, K-8 Schools to Stay Open
- RI’s Record-Breaking Coronavirus Week — Watch Raimondo’s 1 PM Press Conference LIVE
- Investigation: Raimondo Administration Overestimated Cost of Coronavirus Testing by $150M
- Raimondo Administration Changes RI Coronavirus Quarantine Policy From 14 to 24 Days
- Record Number of New Coronavirus Cases in RI — Watch Raimondo at 1 PM
- Raimondo Issues 7 New Coronavirus Restrictions
- Enough Is Enough, Raimondo Needs to Lead on Coronavirus - Nick Landekic
- RI Business Leaders React to Raimondo’s Coronavirus Announcement of Partial Shutdown
