Understanding Hawaii's General Excise Tax (GET)
Hawaii’s primary business tax is the General Excise Tax—often referred to simply as the GET. Hawaii's version of sales tax is imposed on business activities across virtually all industries in the state.
How does GET differ from a conventional sales tax?
Rather than charging customers sales tax at checkout, the GET is levied on companies’ gross income. The tax is included in the selling price of goods and services. Businesses collect GET from their customers, then file returns and remit taxes to the government.
GET functions similarly to a sales tax but is imposed earlier in the economic chain.
The tax rate varies between 4% to 4.712% depending on the island county. Businesses collect GET during transactions, then file periodic General Excise/Use tax returns to report and pay taxes owed.
What business activities are taxable under Hawaii’s GET?
Hawaii’s GET broadly applies to nearly all forms of gross business income, including:
- Retail sales of goods and services
- Rentals of real and personal property
- Professional services (legal, accounting, etc)
- Contracting and repairs
- Commissions
- Insurance sales
- Timeshare occupancy revenue
- Online businesses with Hawaii sales
A few specific business types exempt from GET include insurance companies, some real estate transactions, and credit unions.
Step-by-Step Guide to Filing Your Hawaii GET Return
Filing your periodic General Excise Tax return with the Hawaii Department of Taxation is crucial for legal compliance and smooth business operations.
Follow this walkthrough to complete the online filing process from start to finish:
Step 1: Register for a GET License
If you haven't already, you must first officially register for a Hawaii General Excise Tax license. This can be conveniently done online through the Hawaii Department of Taxation's website.
Click on the "File and Pay Your Taxes" option under the "How Can We Help?” section.
Look for the "Sign Up" link to create a new online filing account.
You will need to enter important details like your name, contact information, business identification numbers, and GET license information obtained during registration.
Step 2: Log In to Your Account
Once your account registration is complete, you will receive a login ID and password by email. Return to the tax department's website login page.
Enter these credentials to access your business' unique online account dashboard. This is where you will manage all future filings.
Step 3: Start a New Return
From the dashboard menu, find and select the "Make a Payment" or similarly named link under the Payment section on the left sidebar.
Choose the appropriate tax return form for your business and tax period. This will open up a blank GET return template to complete.
Step 4: Enter Tax Details
Working through the GET return sections, accurately enter your gross earnings amounts for the right business categories and income types. These may range from merchandise or service sales to rents, commissions, etc.
Next, claim any valid exemptions or deductions you qualify for to subtract from the gross amounts. Common examples include certain agricultural equipment, subcontractor deductions, etc.
Step 5: Calculate Taxes Owed
As you work through the return sections, you will need to accurately enter details like your gross earnings, deductions, exemptions, income category amounts, and taxes owed.
The system will auto-calculate amounts where applicable based on the figures you input. Closely review to ensure the appropriate 4-4.712% GET rate was applied to your taxable income.
Step 6: Finalize & Submit Payment
Lastly, choose your payment method—electronic check, ACH debit, or credit/debit card - and fill in the corresponding details. Carefully review all entries for correctness before submitting your completed return and payment to the tax department.
That’s it, you’ve filed your sales taxes in Hawaii. Just be sure to save a final PDF copy for your records.
But this can quickly get complicated when you’re dealing with multiple states. If you want someone to handle sales tax filing from you, end-to-end, with a 100% accuracy guarantee, book a demo with Numeral.
Hawaii GET rates
Frequently asked questions
What if I make a mistake or underpay on my Hawaii GET filing?
Amend your General Excise/Use tax return electronically to correct errors or add missing information from an original report. You can also amend previously filed paper returns by submitting a revised form. Pay any additional taxes owed as soon as possible to minimize late fees.
When are my Hawaii GET taxes due?
GET payment deadlines vary depending on your assigned filing frequency:
- Monthly returns: 20th of the following month
- Quarterly returns: 20th of January, April, July, October
- Semi-annual returns: 20th of January or July
What if I need help understanding Hawaii’s GET requirements?
Contact the Hawaii Department of Taxation at 808-587-4242 or taxation@hawaii.gov if you need help with GET registration, collections, filing, or payments, or have additional questions. Consult a tax professional for personalized guidance.
Where does Hawaii GET revenue go? How is it used?
As one of Hawaii's main sources of government income, GET funds various public services and programs statewide. In 2026, over $3 billion in GET went towards healthcare, education, infrastructure, tourism promotion, environmental management, and more taxpayer benefits.
Are SaaS products taxable in Hawaii?
Yes, SaaS products are generally subject to Hawaii's GET.
Leave Hawaii GET filing to the experts with Numeral
As a business selling into multiple Hawaii districts, managing the state's unique General Excise Tax licensing, collections, calculations, and quarterly filing can become extremely cumbersome.
Rates vary across islands. Filing frequencies depend on income. And the DOTAX imposes strict penalties for errors.
Instead of risking missed deadlines, underpayments, or lost hours tackling GET manually, benefit from Numeral's intelligent platform and white-glove service for guaranteed sales tax compliance and complete peace of mind.
Numeral seamlessly handles everything Hawaii GET:
- Automating license application & management based on sales volume
- Integrating with billing systems to collect exact GET owed
- Filing and paying your periodic returns with 100% accuracy
- Alerting on any changes to state or county GET rates
- Responding to all DOTAX notices so you can focus on growing
Numeral's automated solution ensures full legal and financial compliance at a fraction of the hassle and cost of managing yourself. Book a demo to see how Numeral can solve your sales tax troubles!
