Repeals pet care services from the services subject to sales tax as defined by §§ 44-18-7(19) and 44-18-7.3(b)(3).

Plain-English Summary

This bill would remove pet care services from Rhode Island's list of services that are subject to the state sales tax. Currently, pet care services — such as grooming, boarding, training, and similar services for animals — are taxed as part of Rhode Island's sales tax system. If this bill passes, those services would no longer be taxed.

The change would directly affect two groups of people. Pet owners would no longer pay sales tax on top of the cost of these services, meaning their out-of-pocket expenses for things like dog grooming or pet boarding would be slightly lower. Businesses that provide pet care services would also be affected, as they would no longer be required to collect and remit sales tax on those services, which could simplify their bookkeeping and administrative responsibilities.

The trade-off is that the state government would collect less tax revenue as a result of this change, since a previously taxable category of services would be removed from the tax base. The bill has been introduced in the Rhode Island House and referred to the House Finance Committee, which will review it before it can move further in the legislative process.