Taxes

...Hawaii has the broadest sales tax in the United States, but it taxes many products multiple times and, by one estimate, ultimately taxes 105 percent of the state’s personal income.  This base is far wider than the national median, where the sales tax applies to 34.25 percent of personal income....

...nobody pays more for less....

“...Taxes are the single most expensive ingredient in beer, costing more than the labor and raw materials combined....”

...Ige's COVID order suspends law requiring that people who want to do business with the State or municipal governments need to be current with their state and federal taxes....

...we struggled to determine the purposes of the provisions reviewed, and in some cases, were unable to even infer the purposes. Additionally, we had no objective means to assess whether provisions were achieving their purposes....

...and the highest Total Sales & Excise Tax Burden....

"...This will allow local shippers and businesses, especially those on the neighbor islands, to conduct business without worrying about a rate increase at this time....”

...another general excise tax exemption that the State Auditor has put under the microscope....

...Victorino said his proposed property tax rates would have provided relief for hotels, resorts and short-term rentals from the economic downturn....

...Start working now to adopt a meaningful spending cap....

...tinkering with the tax code to raise more money has the effect of putting the brakes on what little spin we have left on our economic engine....

...the State Auditor has been busy at work trying to find options for legislators to consider for getting the state budget back on track....

...One way policymakers can help expedite their state’s economic recovery is by protecting employers from facing higher UI tax rates at a time when they can least afford to pay them....

...Hawaii is 9th at 36.6%....

...state policymakers seem to believe that the answer to the worst economic crisis in decades is to borrow and spend — and very likely raise taxes....

...Keli'i Akina Challenges Lawmakers' Plan to Increase Borrowing and Spending....

... 22.2% of Hawaii State tax receipts come from individual income taxes ....

...the state deficit for fiscal year 2021 could grow to between $710 million and $1.8 billion....

...Grassroot testimony outlines the problem and suggests some reforms....

...Buried on the 19th page of a 68-page the document is a sentence suspending “Section 237D-6.5(b), distribution of the transient accommodations tax.”....

...if Hawaii’s lawmakers wish to save our state economy from its current freefall, they must not be afraid to reduce state spending....

... stopgap measures which could help prevent public employees from feeling the slightest suffering...for now....

...Stormwater: $100M Tax Hike After 36 Years of Lawyering and Foot-dragging....

...Hawaii doesn't have enough doctors and other medical providers. Could Hawaii's tax system be a reason for the shortage?....

...This is not a far-fetched scenario....

...Unless you like the idea of having doctors in rural areas being scarcer than toilet paper....

...Suspension, deferment of general excise tax collections....

...We have a 44% shortage of physicians on the Big Island....

...a 50-state study called “2020’s States with the Best & Worst Taxpayer ROI....”

... Chamber of Commerce Hawaii Launches Petition to Urge Governor Ige to Take Further Action to Help COVID-19 Impacted Local Businesses ....

... Now’s Not The Time To Raise Taxes And Fees....

...Mayor Victorino presents administration’s Fiscal Year 2021 budget proposal....

...This measure is one of several that the Chamber is proposing to provide relief to local businesses....

...Hawaii 2nd highest taxes paid per capita....

...When do Legislators know that enough is enough?  -- When somebody — or preferably LOTS of somebodies — tells them....

...How Much Does Your State Collect in Sales Taxes per Capita?....

...per visitor, per stay charges the money from which goes to protect and preserve the environment....

...How Much Does Your State Collect in Property Taxes per Capita?....

...It’s time to discard its big-spending plans and focus on ways to help the economy recover quickly....

... the "coronavirus recession" and what Hawaii can do financially to cope with it ....  

...Legislators propose to pile on the taxes....

...the Department of Taxation, is behind a few of them....

...Hawaii citizens can count on seeing a slew of bills introduced to raise taxes on somebody....

...Hawaii collects $103 per person....

...a 0.5% GE Tax hike to pay for 'climate change'....

...Hawaii has the lowest property tax rate, but high valuations make for high property tax bills....

...Hawaii Income Tax Take is 10th Highest in USA....

...if this bill passes, guess what is going to happen to your electric bill....

...We reviewed 99 House and Senate bills proposing 63 special and revolving funds during the 2020 legislative session. None satisfied the criteria....

...Hawaii annual per capita tax collections are $6,640....