Hawaii House of Representatives Passes SST Conformity Legislation

Hawaii’s House of Representatives has passed legislation that would conform the state’s general excise tax laws to the provisions of the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax (SST) Agreement, generally effective July 1, 2030, or on the date Hawaii becomes a party to the SST Agreement, whichever is later. To conform to the SST Agreement, Hawaii must adopt a single rate for its general excise tax. To achieve the single tax rate, the legislation would: move the 0.5% tax rate for wholesale transactions to a new chapter; add a new chapter on the taxation of imports of property, services, and contracting; move the 0.15% tax on insurance producers to a new chapter; and eliminate the tax on businesses owned by disabled persons. The legislation would also provide for destination-based sourcing and amnesty.(H.B. 2135, as passed by the Hawaii House of Representatives on March 4, 2014)

Posted on May 6, 2014