Rhode Island
Closed to remote ordersLast checked September 29, 2026
Only for wine a Rhode Island resident orders in person at your winery: no shipper permit exists, and web, phone, mail and remote club orders cannot be shipped.
Rhode Island has its own chapter in the free book Direct to Consumer, State by State, and this page carries any change since it went to press. Get the whole book
Can you ship here?
- Permit
- No direct shipper permit exists; shipping is lawful only for an order the buyer places in person at your winery. Whether the state's certificate of compliance reaches these shipments is unconfirmed, so ask DBR.
- Volume limit
- No statutory limit on a qualifying shipment.
- Bond
- None.
What you'll file
| Return or report | Form | Agency | How Pinrates handles it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales and use tax return if registered (monthly by the 20th; quarterly if approved) | Division of Taxation, Sales and Use Tax | Not covered by Pinrates. You file it directly. |
When it's due
| Sales tax (monthly filers) | Every month, by the 20th |
| Sales tax (quarterly filers, if approved) | Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct, by the last day |
| Sales permit renewal | Feb 1 |
These rows apply only if you are registered for Rhode Island sales tax, and you file either the monthly or the quarterly row; otherwise these shipments carry no recurring filings.
Tax rates
No excise. 7% sales tax only if last calendar year you had $100,000 of Rhode Island sales or 200 separate Rhode Island transactions, or if you are already registered.
Other rules
- Label registration
- None under the direct shipping law; ask DBR whether the $40-per-brand certificate of compliance applies. Every carton needs the statutory adult-signature legend.
- Carrier
- No carrier permit; an adult 21 or older signs at delivery.
Changes since September 29, 2026
None recorded. The Rhode Island chapter of Direct to Consumer, State by State is current as of September 29, 2026; any change to Rhode Island's direct-shipping rules after that date is posted here.
Rhode Island is closed to remote orders
Pinrates checks every order against the rules of the state it is going to before it ships, and handles your returns in the states that are open.
Sources
Every source the Rhode Island chapter of Direct to Consumer, State by State cites, last checked September 29, 2026. Each key opens the same page as the short link printed in the book.
Statutes
| Key | What it is | Form / cite | Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| ri-01 | Shipping ban | R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-4-8 | |
| ri-02 | Certificate of compliance required before a person located in another state transports beverages into the state | R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-6-14 | |
| ri-03 | Remote sellers | R.I. Gen. Laws § 44-18.2-3(E) and (I) | |
| ri-15 | Advertising notice on Rhode Island sales tax | R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-4-1(b) | |
| ri-16 | Wine exemption limited to Class A licensees | R.I. Gen. Laws § 44-18-30(64) | |
| ri-18 | Sales permit | R.I. Gen. Laws § 44-19-1 | |
| ri-19 | Alcohol import tax rates | R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-10-1 |
Agency guidance and other sources
| Key | What it is | Form / cite | Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| ri-04 | 7% rate | Rhode Island Division of Taxation, Remote Sellers | Rhode Island Division of Taxation |
| ri-05 | Industry guidance, Feb. 13, 2026 | Sovos ShipCompliant, DTC wine shipping laws | |
| ri-06 | Arkansas HB 1476 | Free the Grapes, DTC shipping updates, August 2025 | |
| ri-07 | Industry report, Feb. 24, 2026 | Free the Grapes, "Rhode Island Wine Shipping Law" | |
| ri-08 | Industry guidance | Wine Institute, Rhode Island DTC page | |
| ri-09 | § 3-6-15 | Rhode Island DBR, Liquor Enforcement and Compliance FAQ | |
| ri-10 | Not enacted | R.I. H 7265 (2022), Wine Direct Shipper License bill | |
| ri-11 | Industry report, Mar. 4, 2026 | Free the Grapes, "DTC Wine Shipping in 2026" | |
| ri-12 | Rhode Island General Assembly, 2026 House bill text index | ||
| ri-13 | Contact DBR.LiquorInquiry@dbr.ri.gov | Rhode Island DBR, Liquor Enforcement and Compliance | Department of Business Regulation, Liquor Enforcement and Compliance |
| ri-14 | Rhode Island | FedEx, Direct-to-Consumer Wine Shipping State Reference Guide | |
| ri-17 | Filing frequency, zero returns, permit renewal, meals and beverage tax | Rhode Island Division of Taxation, Sales and Use Tax | Rhode Island Division of Taxation |
| ri-20 | Who pays | Rhode Island Division of Taxation, Alcohol Import Tax | Rhode Island Division of Taxation |
| ri-21 | Certificate of compliance appears only in the fee schedule | 230-RICR-30-10-1, Liquor Control Administration |
This page is a reference, not legal advice. Confirm requirements with the state before acting on them.
The Rhode Island chapter is one of 51 in Direct to Consumer, State by State. Get the free digital edition.