Enterprise Zones

Overview

The Enterprise Zone Program is designed to offer tax incentives to businesses that expand their workforce at facilities located in one of the ten state enterprise zones:

  • Cranston
  • Central Falls/Lincoln
  • East Providence
  • Pawtucket/Lincoln
  • Port of Providence
  • Portsmouth/Tiverton
  • Providence II
  • Warren/Bristol
  • West Warwick
  • Woonsocket/Cumberland

Tax Incentives Based on Growth

Any business located in a state enterprise zone that grows its employment base by 5% with full-time Rhode Island residents may be eligible for the Rhode Island Enterprise Zone Business Tax Credit. The tax credit is equal to 50% of the annual wages paid to new employees to a maximum of $2,500 per employee. If new employees reside in an enterprise zone then the tax credit is equal to 75% of the annual wages paid to those new employees to a maximum credit of $5,000 per employee. Earned but unused enterprise zone tax credits may be carried-forward for up to three years. Every year a company, located within an enterprise zone, may be eligible for the annual tax credits based on full-time employment levels increasing by 5% over that of the previous year.

  • The Establishment must be located in an enterprise zone
  • The new employee must be hired during the application year, a Rhode Island resident, employed full time (30 hours per week or more), and employed on December 31 of the application year
  • The employee must begin and end each work day in the zone
  • The establishment must meet the 5% growth requirements

Resident Business Owners Reduce Federally Adjusted Income by $50,000

If a business is eligible for the state’s Enterprise Zone Business Tax Credit, the owner(s) may elect to take the Enterprise Zone Resident Business Owner Modification instead of the Business tax credit. The modification is available only to business owners who reside within the same Enterprise Zone as their business. It is a 3-year, $50,000 modification of a taxpayer’s federal adjusted gross income tax liability. During the 4th and 5th year the modification decreases to $25,000.

  • The Establishment must be located in an enterprise zone
  • The owner of the business must reside (live in) in the Enterprise Zone
  • The establishment must meet the 5% growth requirements


Contact Information