Rhode Island General Laws Title 7. Corporations, Associations, and Partnerships § 7-6-31. Dividends prohibited

A corporation may issue shares to its members, but no dividend shall be paid on the shares and no part of the income or profit of a corporation shall be distributed to its members, directors, or officers, except that dividends may be paid and income or profit may be distributed to its members by a corporation all of the members of which are corporations to which this chapter applies. A corporation may pay compensation in a reasonable amount to its members, directors, or officers for services rendered; may confer benefits upon its members in conformity with its purposes; and upon dissolution or final liquidation, may make distributions to its members as permitted by this chapter; and no payment, benefit, or distribution is deemed to be a dividend or a distribution of income or profit.