Your total sales tax and total cost will appear here.
Understanding Hawaii's General Excise Tax (GET) and Use Tax
Hawaii does not have a traditional "sales tax" that consumers directly pay at the point of purchase on most goods and services. Instead, it has a General Excise Tax (GET), which is levied on the gross receipts of businesses operating in Hawaii. Businesses are legally allowed to pass this tax burden onto their customers by increasing their prices. This means that while you don't see a separate line item for GET on most receipts, the cost of goods and services is inherently higher due to this tax.
However, for certain transactions, especially those involving goods purchased from out-of-state retailers who do not collect GET, Hawaii imposes a Use Tax. The Use Tax is designed to be equivalent to the GET and is paid directly by the consumer when they bring taxable goods or services into Hawaii for use or consumption. This prevents an unfair advantage for out-of-state sellers over local businesses.
How the Calculator Works
This calculator helps you estimate the Use Tax you might owe on an out-of-state purchase, or it can help you understand the approximate embedded tax in a local Hawaii purchase if you know the applicable county's tax rate. The calculation is straightforward:
Purchase Amount: This is the base price of the item or service you are purchasing.
County Tax Rate: Hawaii's GET rates vary by county. This calculator uses a single input for the county rate. The standard GET rate for most counties is 4.0%. However, some counties have higher rates for specific business activities or for certain types of businesses (e.g.,.$1.50 per barrel of **petroleum product**) which are not covered by this simplified calculator. For general goods and services, 4.0% is the most common rate across the state. Use this field to input the relevant county's standard GET rate as a percentage (e.g., enter 4.0 for 4%).
Estimating Use Tax: If you're buying something online from an out-of-state vendor who doesn't collect Hawaii's GET/Use Tax, this calculator can give you a good estimate of the tax you'll need to remit to the state.
Understanding Local Pricing: While businesses often incorporate GET into their prices, this calculator can help you break down the approximate tax component of a purchase made within Hawaii if you know the county's standard rate.
Budgeting: Use it to budget for purchases where you know Use Tax will apply.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides an estimate based on standard rates. Actual tax liabilities can vary based on specific business classifications, county ordinances, and the nature of the transaction. For precise tax advice, consult with a qualified tax professional or the Hawaii Department of Taxation.
function calculateSalesTax() {
var purchaseAmountInput = document.getElementById("purchaseAmount");
var countyTaxRateInput = document.getElementById("countyTaxRate");
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
var purchaseAmount = parseFloat(purchaseAmountInput.value);
var countyTaxRate = parseFloat(countyTaxRateInput.value);
if (isNaN(purchaseAmount) || purchaseAmount < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid purchase amount.";
return;
}
if (isNaN(countyTaxRate) || countyTaxRate 100) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid county tax rate between 0 and 100%.";
return;
}
var salesTaxAmount = purchaseAmount * (countyTaxRate / 100);
var totalCost = purchaseAmount + salesTaxAmount;
// Format currency nicely
var formattedSalesTax = salesTaxAmount.toFixed(2);
var formattedTotalCost = totalCost.toFixed(2);
var formattedPurchaseAmount = purchaseAmount.toFixed(2);
var formattedCountyTaxRate = countyTaxRate.toFixed(2);
resultDiv.innerHTML =
"Purchase Amount: $" + formattedPurchaseAmount + "" +
"County Tax Rate: " + formattedCountyTaxRate + "%" +
"Estimated Tax: $" + formattedSalesTax + "" +
"Total Estimated Cost: $" + formattedTotalCost + "";
}