Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

Hawaii House Bill HB179 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B. NO. 179 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to income tax. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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3	3	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B. NO. 179
4	4	THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
5	5	STATE OF HAWAII
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7	7	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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9	9	H.B. NO.
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11	11	179
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13	13	THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
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17	17	STATE OF HAWAII
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31	31	A BILL FOR AN ACT
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37	37	relating to income tax.
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43	43	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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47	47	SECTION 1. Section 235-55.7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows: "§235-55.7 Income tax credit for low-income household renters. (a) As used in this section: [(1)] "Adjusted gross income" is defined by section 235-1. [(2)] "Qualified exemption" includes those exemptions permitted under this chapter; provided that a person for whom exemption is claimed has physically resided in the State for more than nine months during the taxable year; [and] provided further that multiple exemption shall not be granted because of deficiencies in vision, hearing, or other disability. [(3)] "Rent" means the amount paid in cash in any taxable year for the occupancy of a dwelling place [which] that is used by a resident taxpayer or the resident taxpayer's immediate family as the principal residence in this State. Rent is limited to the amount paid for the occupancy of the dwelling place only, and is exclusive of charges for utilities, parking stalls, storage of goods, yard services, furniture, furnishings, and the like. Rent shall not include any rental claimed as a deduction from gross income or adjusted gross income for income tax purposes, any ground rental paid for use of land only, and any rent allowance or subsidies received. (b) Each resident taxpayer who occupies and pays rent for real property within the State as the resident taxpayer's residence or the residence of the resident taxpayer's immediate family [which] that is not partially or wholly exempted from real property tax, who is not eligible to be claimed as a dependent for federal or state income taxes by another, and who files an individual net income tax return for a taxable year, may claim a tax credit under this section against the resident taxpayer's Hawaii state individual net income tax. (c) Each taxpayer [with an adjusted gross income of less than $30,000] who has paid more than $1,000 in rent during the taxable year for which the credit is claimed may claim a tax credit [of $50] based on the taxpayer's adjusted gross income, in accordance with the table below, multiplied by the number of qualified exemptions to which the taxpayer is entitled; provided that each taxpayer sixty-five years of age or over may claim double the tax credit; [and] provided further that a resident individual who has no income or no income taxable under this chapter may also claim the tax credit as set forth in this section. (1) Taxpayer filing a single return or a married individual filing separately: Adjusted gross income Credit per exemption Under $20,000 $300 $20,000 under $30,000 $250 $30,000 under $50,000 $200 $50,000 and over $ 0. (2) Taxpayer filing as a head of household: Adjusted gross income Credit per exemption Under $30,000 $300 $30,000 under $45,000 $250 $45,000 under $70,000 $200 $70,000 and over $ 0. (3) Taxpayer filing a joint return or as a surviving spouse: Adjusted gross income Credit per exemption Under $40,000 $300 $40,000 under $60,000 $250 $60,000 under $100,000 $200 $100,000 and over $ 0. (d) If a rental unit is occupied by two or more individuals, and more than one individual is able to qualify as a claimant, the claim for credit shall be based upon a pro rata share of the rent paid. (e) The tax credits shall be deductible from the taxpayer's individual net income tax for the tax year in which the credits are properly claimed; provided that [a husband and wife] married individuals filing separate returns for a taxable year for which a joint return could have been made by them shall claim only the tax credits to which they would have been entitled had a joint return been filed. In the event the allowed tax credits exceed the amount of the income tax payments due from the taxpayer, the excess of credits over payments due shall be refunded to the taxpayer; provided that allowed tax credits properly claimed by an individual who has no income tax liability shall be paid to the individual; [and] provided further that no refunds or payments on account of the tax credits allowed by this section shall be made for amounts less than $1. (f) The director of taxation shall prepare and prescribe the appropriate form or forms to be used herein, may require proof of the claim for tax credits, and may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91. (g) All of the provisions relating to assessments and refunds under this chapter and under section 231-23(c)(1) shall apply to the tax credits hereunder. (h) Claims for tax credits under this section, including any amended claims thereof, shall be filed on or before the end of the twelfth month following the taxable year for which the credit may be claimed." SECTION 2. Section 235-55.75, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows: "(a) Each qualifying individual taxpayer may claim a refundable earned income tax credit. The tax credit, for the appropriate taxable year, shall be [forty] forty-five per cent of the federal earned income tax credit allowed and properly claimed under section 32 of the Internal Revenue Code and reported as such on the individual's federal income tax return." SECTION 3. Section 235-55.85, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows: "(b) Each individual taxpayer may claim a refundable food/excise tax credit, multiplied by the number of qualified exemptions to which the taxpayer is entitled in accordance with the table below; provided that spouses filing separate tax returns for a taxable year for which a joint return could have been filed by them shall claim only the tax credit to which they would have been entitled had a joint return been filed. Adjusted gross income Credit per exemption for taxpayers filing a single return Under $15,000 [$220] $320 $15,000 under $20,000 [$200] $300 $20,000 under $25,000 [$170] $270 $25,000 under $30,000 [$140] $240 $30,000 under [$40,000] $50,000 [$110] $220 [$40,000] $50,000 and over $ 0. Adjusted gross income Credit per exemption for heads of household, surviving spouses, spouses filing separate returns, and married couples filing joint returns Under $15,000 [$220] $320 $15,000 under $20,000 [$200] $300 $20,000 under $25,000 [$170] $270 $25,000 under $30,000 [$140] $240 $30,000 under $40,000 [$110] $210 $40,000 under $50,000 [$ 90] $190 $50,000 under [$60,000] $70,000 [$ 70] $170 [$60,000] $70,000 and over $ 0." SECTION 4. Act 163, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, is amended by amending section 5 to read as follows: "SECTION 5. This Act, upon its approval, shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022; provided that on December 31, 2027, section 1 of this Act shall be repealed and [sections] section 235-55.6(c), [235-55.75(a), and 235-55.85(b),] Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which [they] it read on the day prior to the effective date of this Act." SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 6. This Act, upon its approval, shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
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49	49	SECTION 1. Section 235-55.7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
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51	51	"§235-55.7 Income tax credit for low-income household renters. (a) As used in this section:
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53	53	[(1)] "Adjusted gross income" is defined by section 235-1.
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55	55	[(2)] "Qualified exemption" includes those exemptions permitted under this chapter; provided that a person for whom exemption is claimed has physically resided in the State for more than nine months during the taxable year; [and] provided further that multiple exemption shall not be granted because of deficiencies in vision, hearing, or other disability.
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57	57	[(3)] "Rent" means the amount paid in cash in any taxable year for the occupancy of a dwelling place [which] that is used by a resident taxpayer or the resident taxpayer's immediate family as the principal residence in this State. Rent is limited to the amount paid for the occupancy of the dwelling place only, and is exclusive of charges for utilities, parking stalls, storage of goods, yard services, furniture, furnishings, and the like. Rent shall not include any rental claimed as a deduction from gross income or adjusted gross income for income tax purposes, any ground rental paid for use of land only, and any rent allowance or subsidies received.
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59	59	(b) Each resident taxpayer who occupies and pays rent for real property within the State as the resident taxpayer's residence or the residence of the resident taxpayer's immediate family [which] that is not partially or wholly exempted from real property tax, who is not eligible to be claimed as a dependent for federal or state income taxes by another, and who files an individual net income tax return for a taxable year, may claim a tax credit under this section against the resident taxpayer's Hawaii state individual net income tax.
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61	61	(c) Each taxpayer [with an adjusted gross income of less than $30,000] who has paid more than $1,000 in rent during the taxable year for which the credit is claimed may claim a tax credit [of $50] based on the taxpayer's adjusted gross income, in accordance with the table below, multiplied by the number of qualified exemptions to which the taxpayer is entitled; provided that each taxpayer sixty-five years of age or over may claim double the tax credit; [and] provided further that a resident individual who has no income or no income taxable under this chapter may also claim the tax credit as set forth in this section.
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63	63	(1) Taxpayer filing a single return or a married individual filing separately:
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65	65	Adjusted gross income Credit per exemption
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67	67	Under $20,000 $300
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69	69	$20,000 under $30,000 $250
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71	71	$30,000 under $50,000 $200
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73	73	$50,000 and over $ 0.
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75	75	(2) Taxpayer filing as a head of household:
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77	77	Adjusted gross income Credit per exemption
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79	79	Under $30,000 $300
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81	81	$30,000 under $45,000 $250
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83	83	$45,000 under $70,000 $200
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85	85	$70,000 and over $ 0.
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87	87	(3) Taxpayer filing a joint return or as a surviving spouse:
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89	89	Adjusted gross income Credit per exemption
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91	91	Under $40,000 $300
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93	93	$40,000 under $60,000 $250
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95	95	$60,000 under $100,000 $200
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97	97	$100,000 and over $ 0.
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99	99	(d) If a rental unit is occupied by two or more individuals, and more than one individual is able to qualify as a claimant, the claim for credit shall be based upon a pro rata share of the rent paid.
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101	101	(e) The tax credits shall be deductible from the taxpayer's individual net income tax for the tax year in which the credits are properly claimed; provided that [a husband and wife] married individuals filing separate returns for a taxable year for which a joint return could have been made by them shall claim only the tax credits to which they would have been entitled had a joint return been filed. In the event the allowed tax credits exceed the amount of the income tax payments due from the taxpayer, the excess of credits over payments due shall be refunded to the taxpayer; provided that allowed tax credits properly claimed by an individual who has no income tax liability shall be paid to the individual; [and] provided further that no refunds or payments on account of the tax credits allowed by this section shall be made for amounts less than $1.
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103	103	(f) The director of taxation shall prepare and prescribe the appropriate form or forms to be used herein, may require proof of the claim for tax credits, and may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91.
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105	105	(g) All of the provisions relating to assessments and refunds under this chapter and under section 231-23(c)(1) shall apply to the tax credits hereunder.
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107	107	(h) Claims for tax credits under this section, including any amended claims thereof, shall be filed on or before the end of the twelfth month following the taxable year for which the credit may be claimed."
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109	109	SECTION 2. Section 235-55.75, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
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111	111	"(a) Each qualifying individual taxpayer may claim a refundable earned income tax credit. The tax credit, for the appropriate taxable year, shall be [forty] forty-five per cent of the federal earned income tax credit allowed and properly claimed under section 32 of the Internal Revenue Code and reported as such on the individual's federal income tax return."
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113	113	SECTION 3. Section 235-55.85, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
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115	115	"(b) Each individual taxpayer may claim a refundable food/excise tax credit, multiplied by the number of qualified exemptions to which the taxpayer is entitled in accordance with the table below; provided that spouses filing separate tax returns for a taxable year for which a joint return could have been filed by them shall claim only the tax credit to which they would have been entitled had a joint return been filed.
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117	117	Adjusted gross income Credit per exemption
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119	119	for taxpayers filing
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121	121	a single return
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123	123	Under $15,000 [$220] $320
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125	125	$15,000 under $20,000 [$200] $300
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127	127	$20,000 under $25,000 [$170] $270
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129	129	$25,000 under $30,000 [$140] $240
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131	131	$30,000 under [$40,000] $50,000 [$110] $220
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133	133	[$40,000] $50,000 and over $ 0.
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135	135	Adjusted gross income Credit per exemption
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137	137	for heads of household,
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139	139	surviving spouses,
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141	141	spouses filing
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143	143	separate returns, and
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145	145	married couples filing
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147	147	joint returns
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149	149	Under $15,000 [$220] $320
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151	151	$15,000 under $20,000 [$200] $300
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153	153	$20,000 under $25,000 [$170] $270
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155	155	$25,000 under $30,000 [$140] $240
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157	157	$30,000 under $40,000 [$110] $210
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159	159	$40,000 under $50,000 [$ 90] $190
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161	161	$50,000 under [$60,000] $70,000 [$ 70] $170
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163	163	[$60,000] $70,000 and over $ 0."
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165	165	SECTION 4. Act 163, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, is amended by amending section 5 to read as follows:
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167	167	"SECTION 5. This Act, upon its approval, shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022; provided that on December 31, 2027, section 1 of this Act shall be repealed and [sections] section 235-55.6(c), [235-55.75(a), and 235-55.85(b),] Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which [they] it read on the day prior to the effective date of this Act."
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169	169	SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
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171	171	SECTION 6. This Act, upon its approval, shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.
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175	175	INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
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177	177	INTRODUCED BY:
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185	185	Report Title: Low-income Household Renters; Earned Income Tax Credit; Refundable Food/excise Tax Credit; Adjustments Description: Makes permanent the amendments made by Act 163, SLH 2023, to the state earned income tax credit and refundable food/excise tax credit. Amends the income thresholds and credit amounts for the low-income household renters tax credit and refundable food/excise tax credit. Amends the state earned income tax credit. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2024. The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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191	191	Report Title:
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193	193	Low-income Household Renters; Earned Income Tax Credit; Refundable Food/excise Tax Credit; Adjustments
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197	197	Description:
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199	199	Makes permanent the amendments made by Act 163, SLH 2023, to the state earned income tax credit and refundable food/excise tax credit. Amends the income thresholds and credit amounts for the low-income household renters tax credit and refundable food/excise tax credit. Amends the state earned income tax credit. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2024.
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207	207	The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.