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Thursday, July 4, 2019

By Harold Wagner


Blue waters, white sandy beaches, rugged landscapes, and warm temperatures are the hallmarks of any authentic paradise. Hawaii features all these factors, and much more, making it the go-to destination for anyone looking to relocate or to start afresh. But despite having everything you need to live a comfortable life, tax preparation Hawaii procedures are not as easy as many would assume.

The island happens to have one of the most complex tax systems in the United States. The fact that the system has a total of twelve income tax brackets further helps to compound the situation for any person looking to file their returns. Another factor to take into account is that the tax rates can run as high as eleven percent, depending on your prevailing tax bracket.

All taxes in the state are regulated by the Hawaii Department of Taxation. Its offices are located in Honolulu, but it has branches in each and every county in the state. As such, this is where you will go to file your property taxes, general excise tax, as well as your personal income tax. In case you have any questions pertaining to the filing process, consider checking the departmental FAQ page.

Compared to other states, Hawaii residents have some wiggle room when it comes to filing state returns. Once the Federal Tax Day has passed by, residents have until April 22 to ensure that they have submitted their tax returns. If for some reason a person is unable to file by this day, they can always contact the department and request for an extension.

If the department provides you with an extension, try and estimate the amount you owe in taxes by the April 20th deadline. Failure to pay taxes means that the department will penalize you and charge you and interest on the outstanding amount. It charges a 5% penalty for each additional month that you do not clear your balance.

Filing status tends to complicate the whole process of submitting the tax returns. Many are not sure what to expect when dealing with state and federal tax returns. But the good thing is that the statuses are the same for both state and federal income returns. You will encounter the same set of information on both forms. Information available on the forms pertains to marital status, whether you have kids, and whether you are filing alone or with a spouse.

As stated earlier, Hawaii uses a progressive tax system. Residents will, as such, fall into one of the 12 tax brackets defined by the state. The brackets are arrived at after calculating your taxable income and your filing status. If unsure about how to proceed, it is recommended that you seek the services of a tax expert, as these two factors can make the entire process more complicated.

E-filing services have been availed for any person who would like to file their returns electronically. The software is also available on the official taxation department website to guide you on how to go about submitting your returns. You may, however, be required to pay a small fee to use this software.




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