RI officials shut down businesses over sales tax

Associated Press

PROVIDENCE - About 1,200 firms across Rhode Island are out of business unless they pay their overdue sales tax immediately.

Letters from the state Division of Taxation were hand-delivered by the hundreds this week to business owners warning they were operating without a permit to collect the state sales tax.

Tax Administrator David Sullivan and Department of Administration Director Gary Sasse said the firms were suspected of failing to pay to the state the sales tax they have collected from customers. Their permits expired June 30.

Mike Suriani, the owner of a Providence electrical supply company, said he paid his sales tax late. But he said customers have fallen behind on payments and hampered his ability to pay on time.