Rhode Island Form TX-16 is the claim you file to recover Temporary Disability Insurance tax that was over-withheld when you worked for two or more Rhode Island employers in the same calendar year. Each employer withholds TDI as if it were your only job, so once your combined withholdings pass the annual cap, the excess is refundable. You complete the form, attach a copy of every W-2 for that year, and mail the packet to the Rhode Island Division of Taxation. The current form covers tax years 2023, 2024, and 2025, and processing takes up to 12 weeks.
Who Can Claim a Refund
You qualify if you had two or more Rhode Island employers in the same year and your combined TDI withholdings exceeded the maximum contribution for that year.1RI Department of Labor and Training. Temporary Disability Refunds The rate and taxable wage base change annually, so the ceiling depends on the year you’re claiming:
- 2024: 1.2% on the first $87,000 in wages, maximum contribution $1,044.002Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training. 2025 Tax Rates for Unemployment Insurance and Temporary Disability Insurance
- 2025: 1.3% on the first $89,200, maximum contribution $1,159.603Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training. 2026 Tax Rates for Unemployment Insurance and Temporary Disability Insurance
- 2026: 1.1% on the first $100,000, maximum contribution $1,100.003Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training. 2026 Tax Rates for Unemployment Insurance and Temporary Disability Insurance
A few situations the form does not cover. If a single employer over-withheld, that correction runs through that employer’s payroll department, not TX-16. Spouses cannot combine wages on one claim; each person files separately. And Rhode Island will not issue a refund of less than one dollar.1RI Department of Labor and Training. Temporary Disability Refunds
What to Gather First
Pull these together before you open the form:
- Your Social Security number.
- A copy of the W-2 from every Rhode Island employer for the year you’re claiming.4Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training. RI Form TX-16 TDI Refund
- Each employer’s Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), usually printed in Box B of the W-2.
The TDI amount withheld appears in Box 14 of the W-2, often labeled “TDI” or “RITDI.” Box 14 has no standard format, so abbreviations vary by employer. If you cannot identify the TDI line, ask that employer’s payroll department.
If a former employer never sent your W-2 or you cannot find it, request a copy from the employer. The TX-16 instructions require attaching actual W-2 copies, so if you truly cannot obtain one, contact the Division of Taxation before filing to ask how to proceed.4Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training. RI Form TX-16 TDI Refund
How to Fill Out the Form
Download the current form from the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training’s tax forms page.5Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training. Tax Forms There are two parts.
Personal Information
Enter your full legal name (first, middle initial, last) and your complete Social Security number. Both are required; the Division of Taxation will not process the form without them.4Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training. RI Form TX-16 TDI Refund
Employer and Wage Details
Write the calendar year you’re claiming. Then, for each Rhode Island employer you worked for that year, list:
- The employer’s full legal name
- The employer’s FEIN
- Wages paid to you by that employer, from Box 1 of the W-2
- TDI tax withheld by that employer, from Box 14 of the W-2
Only Rhode Island-registered employers who actually withheld TDI belong on the form. Leave out any out-of-state employer or any job where no RI TDI was taken.1RI Department of Labor and Training. Temporary Disability Refunds
Add up TDI withheld across every job, then subtract the maximum contribution for that year. The remainder is your refund. For a 2025 claim where two employers withheld a combined $1,400 in TDI, the math is $1,400 minus $1,159.60, which gives a refund of $240.40. Attach a copy of each W-2 you listed.
Where to Mail It
Send the completed TX-16 and all W-2 copies to:
Rhode Island Division of Taxation, Employer Tax Section
One Capitol Hill, Suite 36
Providence, RI 02908-58296Rhode Island Division of Taxation. Contact Us
There is no filing fee. Plan on paper; the form does not appear to be available for electronic filing. Keep a photocopy of everything you send, and if you want proof of delivery, use certified mail.
What Happens After You File
Tax examiners compare the figures on your W-2s to the wage data your employers already reported to the Department of Labor and Training. If they match, the state mails a refund check. Allow up to 12 weeks from the date you file.
If something doesn’t match, you may receive a notice asking for more documentation. When a claim is denied or the refund is adjusted, the Division sends a written explanation, and you have 15 days from receiving that notice to appeal to the Board of Review.7Rhode Island General Assembly. Rhode Island Code 28-40-7 – Appeals to Board of Review
Rhode Island does not pay interest on TDI refunds, regardless of how long processing takes.8Rhode Island General Assembly. Rhode Island Code Title 28 Chapter 28-40 Section 28-40-6 – Overpayments
Deadline to File
By statute, you must file by the later of one year from the date the payment was made, or three years from the last day of the period the payment covered.8Rhode Island General Assembly. Rhode Island Code Title 28 Chapter 28-40 Section 28-40-6 – Overpayments In practice, the current TX-16 limits claims to the three most recent calendar years: 2023, 2024, and 2025.4Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training. RI Form TX-16 TDI Refund If you have an older year still within the statutory window, file before the form is updated and that year rolls off.