Sales Tax Rates in Hawaii
The state sales tax rate in Hawaii is 4 percent. Counties can impose an extra 0.5 percent sales tax, for a total of 4.5 percent. Exemptions vary.
The average sales tax after surtaxes is 4.35 percent. Extra taxes go up to 0.5 percent, for a 4.5 percent maximum. Hawaii has special jurisdictions with local taxes added to the state tax.
Types of Hawaii Taxes
The state general sales tax rate is 4 percent. Some Hawaii tax types are consumers use, rental, sellers use, lodgings, and more. Sales tax rates range from 4 percent to 4.5 percent depending on location.
Businesses are exempt from paying this tax in Honolulu. The state collects 4 percent from businesses. Local jurisdictions may collect an extra 0.5 percent as county sales tax.
Sales Tax Calculations
You can use a calculator to determine owed sales tax. Enter the sales tax rate and purchase price. Hawaii’s base rate is 4 percent. Certain businesses are exempt from paying this tax in Honolulu. The state collects 4 percent from businesses. Local jurisdictions may collect an extra 0.5 percent as county sales tax.
Statewide Tax Rates
Hawaii has a statewide excise tax rate of 4%. Municipal governments can collect 0% to 0.5% local sales tax. The maximum local tax rate allowed is 0.5%. Total sales tax ranges from 4% to 4.5%.
2023 Sales Tax Information
The GET rate in Hawaii is 4% on retail sales, with an additional 0.5% local sales tax added in Oahu County, Kauai County, and Hawaii County in the form of a county surcharge. Wholesale transactions are taxed at a rate of 0.5% statewide.
The Hawaii sales tax rate is 4% as of 2024, with some cities and counties adding a local sales tax on top of the HI state sales tax. Combined with the state sales tax, the highest sales tax rate in Hawaii is 4.5% in Honolulu, Waipahu, Ewa Beach, Mililani and Kaneohe and other cities.
Additional Sales Tax Details
The Hawaii state sales tax rate is 4%. Counties and cities can charge an additional local sales tax of up to 0.5%, for a maximum possible combined sales tax of 4.5%. Hawaii has 69 special sales tax jurisdictions with local sales taxes in addition to the state sales tax.
If you include county taxes and local taxes the total sales tax rate is between 4.00% and 4.50%. The sales tax rate is determined by the location of the buyer when the transaction is completed. The county rate ranges from 0.00% to 0.50%, while the Hawaii cities don’t have a city sales tax.
Honolulu Sales Tax Rate
The State of Hawaii does not directly impose State sales tax on consumers. The minimum combined 2023 sales tax rate for Honolulu, Hawaii is 4.5%.
Excise Tax in Hawaii
Hawaii does not have a sales tax. Instead, the state collects a 4% general excise tax, which is assessed on all business activities, including retail sales. Oahu added a 0.5% surcharge to the general excise tax, effective Jan. 1, 2007, bringing that island’s excise tax rate to 4.5%.