Important Information On Tax Preparation Hawaii

By Harold Wagner


Imagine living in a paradise surrounded by rugged landscapes, blue waters, and white sands. Living in Hawaii is heavenly, but it may come at a steep price especially when you consider the tax preparation Hawaii processes. If you want to live in this veritable paradise, you will need to be prepared to file state income tax returns as well as federal tax returns.

The state has a complex income tax system that comprises of a total of twelve tax brackets. The brackets are by far the most in the country. When you take into account the fact that the rates can go as high as 11 percent each year, it becomes apparent that tax preparation in this state is not as easy as catching a wave out on the expansive sea.

Taxes within the state are regulated by a single department. The Hawaii Department of Taxation has offices spread out in different counties in the state to make it easier for residents to file their returns. All taxes, including but not limited to income tax, property tax, and general excise tax are filed with this particular department.

You will have to deal with the Federal returns before you can file the state returns. State returns have to be filed by April 22nd April. In the event a person is unable to do so for one reason or another, they can ask the state to provide them with an extension. Normally, the state will provide such residents with an extension of up to six months.

It is important to note that the extension is not without its downsides. Just because you have asked for an extension and been granted one is not to mean that the state will not charge you a penalty for being late. It will charge a penalty and charge an interest for the amount you owe. The interest is charged on a per month basis until the outstanding amount is cleared.

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 mentioned earlier, the state has a progressive tax in place. It currently has a total of twelve tax brackets which are based on your filing status and taxable income. The two combined can complicate the preparation process making it necessary to consult an expert in this area. The tax rates generally range from 1.4 percent to 11 percent. The latter is only applied for people in the highest tax bracket.

The taxation department provides e-filing services for those looking to file individual income tax via its e-portal. You can also use a tax professional to file your federal and income tax returns or via the use of a tax preparation software. The software to use has been listed on the official departmental website.




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