Taxes

... Hawaii continues to suffer anemic economic growth — the second slowest in the country ....

"...all of the negotiations and conversations take place behind closed doors...."

... 139,000+ small businesses in Hawaii could face significantly higher taxes if Congress does not make the 20% Small Business Tax Deduction permanent this year ....

... In addition to the TAT-related bills — HB504 and SB1396 — our state legislators also are considering a big tax increase — via HB202 — on all Hawaii businesses through a stealthy redefining of what is considered an adequate reserve fund of the state's unemployment insurance program ....

... you need a gross salary of roughly $145,000 in order to actually take home $100,000 in Hawaii.  This is the third-worst in USA ....

... If Auntie’s kids sell her house for a $500,000 gain to provide money for her to go to a nursing home, for example, the tax will fall on her the same as anyone who earns $500,000 in one year ....

... Hawaii residents pay nearly 14% of their income in taxes: 4.2% on income taxes, 2.6% on property taxes, and 7.2% in sales and excise taxes ....

... Hawaii significantly revised its individual income tax brackets under H.B. 2404, enacted in June 2024 ....

... Hawaii has increased its proportion of roadway spending furnished by road users from 78 percent to 97.2 percent--7th highest in the USA ....

... the bills replace the current 10.25% tax rate with a blank ....

... For the third year in a row, Hawaii policymakers are considering a bill that suggests they believe tourists are an endless source of funds ....

... Hawaii’s road usage charge will become mandatory starting July 1, 2028, at which point the $50 flat fee will be discontinued ....

... the State of Hawaii takes $7,070 per person in taxes ....

...Tax Day can be a painful reminder of how much we have to invest in federal, state and local governments, though many of us aren’t sure exactly what we get in return....

... in big bold type it screams ....

... The U.S. is considering trade sanctions against Chinese shipping that would negatively impact Hawaii ....

... March 6, marked the halfway point of the Hawaii's 2025 legislative session, which is when the bills that are still alive cross over from the House chamber to the Senate and vice versa ....

... a new assessment (a new tax) against health plans and health insurers ....

... SB1278 would exempt from the state general excise tax any federal grants that Hawaii restaurants received during the COVID-19 lockdowns ....

... Let’s steer clear of tax hikes, instead focus on lowering costs ....

... The Hawaii Legislature has reached its halfway point and many promising bills in the areas of housing, taxation and economic freedom are still alive ....

... TaxCutHawaii.org ....

... a nasty little device used by tax agencies ....

... March 11, 13, 20 ....

... 50 testimonies in the past two weeks ....

... multiplying the result by 150% ....

... a debt burden of $2.25 billion, translating to $17,400 per taxpayer ....

... The report says the fees are not needed, are likely unconstitutional, have never been spent, and are driving up Hawaii housing costs ....

... some lawmakers think the TAT fixes everything ....

... the Trump administration is reintroducing a 10% tariff on all imports from China ....

Tuesday, Feb. 18: Mānoa Valley District Park, 5:30–7 p.m., Old Gym

Thursday, Feb. 20: Ewa Mahiko District Park, 5:30–7 p.m., DP Multi-Purpose Room 1

... it’s being pushed very hard as a sweet deal, but it has the potential to really stomp our economy ....

... measures related to housing, healthcare, taxes and government accountability ....

... There.  Is.  No.  Such.  Thing.  As.  A.  Dedicated.  Funding.  Source!  ....

“...So, how many tax hikes are they trying to pass this time?”

... GE Tax: Audit Shows Tourists Pay 14.1%--not 30% ....

... here's how the City and County of Honolulu spends your money ....

... Honolulu, with its 10.25 percent tax rate and an average tourism tax of $51.70 per night, came out on top ....

... many of the usual losers are back, mainly the proposals to increase taxes or impose new so-called fees ....

... highlights and low lights on some of the shenanigans ....

... Few ideas are as tenacious as the myth that we can make tourists pay for major programs without affecting locals ....

... Federal Court Ruling: Sen. Karl Rhoads participated in Honolulu County Council Kickback scheme ....

... the governor’s state income tax cut — approved unanimously last year by the Legislature — will reduce our taxes by as much as 71% for some families ....

... Tax season is just around the corner, and there’s a good chance that many of the people reading this will be paying someone else to help file their taxes online ....

... This bill was the culmination of years of efforts from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, whose work on HB 2404 got them the “biggest win for freedom” award from the State Policy Network ....

... employees should already be seeing a bump in their paychecks thanks to the tax cuts ....

... Hawaii lawmakers might undermine some of the benefits of the tax cut by raising taxes elsewhere, “just kind of surreptitiously” ....

... You might have noticed something a little different about your most recent paycheck ....

... document that directed staff at the Department of Taxation to use the negligence penalty, a penalty of 25% of the tax due, against taxpayers who receive requests for documents from a tax auditor ....

... a modest but workable list of policy resolutions for 2025 ....