Rhode Island New Employer Information

• Apply for an EIN (Employer Identification Number) with the IRS online.
• The IRS will assign you a unique nine-digit number to identify your business.
• To read more about applying for an EIN, read our help article, “Your Step-by-step Guide on How to Apply for EIN.”

• Although it is not required, we recommend you enroll in the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS). You can easily register online for the EFTPS.
• The Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) is an easy way to pay your federal taxes online or view any tax filings made on your behalf by Patriot.
• To find out more about EFTPS, please read our article, “What Is EFTPS?”

• Rhode Island new employers will need to register their business with the state of Rhode Island to obtain a state income tax (SIT) account with the Department of Taxation, and a state unemployment insurance (SUI) account with the Department of Labor and Training, as well as other business taxes.
• You can register online through the Rhode Island Division of Taxation Combined Online Registration System. For existing businesses wanting to update or make changes to existing accounts, please call 401-574-8700 (Option 1).

• The Rhode Island new employer SUTA rate for 2024 is 1.00%, which includes the 0.21% Job Development Assessment rate. The Rhode Island Job Development Fund Assessment of 0.21% is automatically calculated in our software. For more information, please visit the Rhode Island Division of Taxation – Employer Tax Section.
• Employers in Rhode Island will receive a new State Unemployment Tax Assessment (SUTA) rate every year and will be notified of their individual tax rate.
• To learn more about SUTA, please read our article, “What Is SUTA Tax?”

• You must have workers’ comp insurance if you have at least 1 employee in Rhode Island. You can sign up for workers’ comp insurance through a private provider or state-operated fund. Learn more about workers’ comp requirements in Rhode Island here.
• Patriot’s online payroll offers free pay as you go (PAYG) workers’ comp integration with our partner, NEXT Insurance. You can get a free quote with NEXT here.

• Rhode Island requires most employers to have temporary disability insurance and temporary caregiver insurance.
• Insurance policies must be obtained through the state and is funded by payroll deductions. Visit the state’s website for more information.

• In September 2024, Rhode Island signed legislation creating the Rhode Island Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program, which will require employers with 5 or more employees to enroll or offer a qualifying plan alternative.
• Patriot has partnered with Vestwell to offer affordable retirement plans for small businesses that integrate with our payroll software. Learn more here.

• Fill out the required Form I-9 for employee verification for working in the USA.
• This is a two-part form. The first section is to be completed by the employee and the second half is to be completed by the employer. Check out our article, “Form I-9 In a Nutshell” for more information.
• You must retain each employee’s completed Form I-9 as long as the individual works for you. For more information, please read “What Should Be in an Employee File?”

• Employees need to fill out the federal Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate for federal income taxes.
• For more information, read our help article, “What Is a W-4 Form, and What Is it Used for?”

Form RI-W4 is Rhode Island’s Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate for state income taxes.

• Employers need to report new hires online within 14 days of hire or rehire with the Rhode Island New Hire Reporting Directory.
• For more information, please read our article, “What Is New Hire Reporting?”

• Rhode Island’s 2024 minimum wage is $14.00 per hour.
• By law, you are required to post the minimum wage poster for your employees where they can read it.

• Get annual posters and all federal, state, county, and city labor law updates with Patriot’s labor law poster store, powered by PosterElite!