§ 44-19-34 - Service of process – Director of business regulation as agent of nonresident seller.
SECTION 44-19-34
§ 44-19-34 Service of process –Director of business regulation as agent of nonresident seller. – Any person not a resident of this state who engages in business in this state,as defined in § 44-18-23, shall, as a condition precedent to engaging inbusiness in this state, and by engaging in business in this state, consent thatany process issued in the enforcement of the provisions of chapters 18 and 19of this title may be served upon the director of the department of businessregulation as agent of that person. The process may be served by leaving a copyof the process in the hands of the director of the department of businessregulation or in the director's office with someone in charge of the office.The service is sufficient service upon the person; provided, that notice of theservice and a copy of the process, at least fifteen (15) days before the returnday of the process, is sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid,by the tax administrator or the administrator's attorney of record, to theperson's last known address, and the sender's registered or certified mailreceipt of sending and the tax administrator's or the administrator'sattorney's affidavit of compliance are appended to the process and entered withthe declaration. Service of process in the manner provided for in this section,under the circumstances specified in this section, is of the same force andvalidity as if served upon the taxpayer personally within this state. Nothingin this section limits or affects the right to serve process upon a person nota resident of this state within this state in any other manner now or hereafterpermitted by law.