Rhode Island General Laws Title 44. Taxation § 44-30-86. Overpayment

(a) General. The tax administrator within the applicable period of limitations may credit an overpayment against any liability of the taxpayer in respect of the Rhode Island personal income tax, and the balance shall be refunded by the general treasurer. A payment for a year of no liability shall be considered an overpayment. Any refund under this section shall be made only upon a certificate of the tax administrator approved by the director of administration. In no case shall the filing of a protest constitute a condition to a later credit or refund of Rhode Island personal income tax.

(b) Excessive withholding. If the amount allowable as a credit for tax withheld from the taxpayer exceeds his or her tax to which the credit relates, the excess shall be considered an overpayment and shall be adjusted or refunded in any manner and time that the tax administrator may prescribe.

(c) Credits against estimated tax. The tax administrator may promulgate regulations providing for the crediting against the Rhode Island personal income tax for any taxable year of the amount determined by the taxpayer or the tax administrator to be an overpayment of the income tax for a preceding taxable year. If any overpayment of the tax is so claimed as a credit against estimated tax for the succeeding taxable year, the amount shall be considered as a payment of the tax for the succeeding taxable year, whether or not claimed as a credit in the declaration of estimated tax for the succeeding taxable year, and no claim for credit or refund of the overpayment shall be allowed for the taxable year for which the overpayment arises.

(d) Assessment and collection after limitation period. If any amount of tax is assessed or collected after the expiration of the period of limitation properly applicable thereto, the amount shall be considered an overpayment.