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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1226

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO SIMPLIFIED TAX ADMINISTRATION.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that a nationwide effort is being undertaken among the various states to join in multistate discussions to simplify sales and use tax administration in order to reduce the burden of tax compliance for all sellers and for all types of commerce. This "simplification" movement (known as the Streamlined Sales Tax Project (project)) arose from a recognition that traditional tax collection systems could not deal adequately with the rapid growth of the Internet and e-commerce. The inefficiency of existing methods arises from a multiplicity of tax rates, definitions, and layers of taxing jurisdictions -- states, counties, municipalities, authorities -- that makes it difficult for e-businesses to apply the proper sales and use taxes on e-sales to all corners of the country.

Among the goals of the project are a single state sales tax rate, uniform definitions of sales and use tax terms, requiring states to administer any local sales and use taxes, and a central electronic registration system to allow a seller to register to collect and remit sales and use taxes for all states. It is anticipated that technology will help cure problems of increased trans-state sales brought about by advanced technology.

The legislature further finds that this Act is substantively similar to model legislation drafted by the National Conference of State Legislatures. This model legislation directs the state revenue departments to join in multistate discussions to develop a simpler, uniform, and fairer system of state and use taxation, that removes the burden imposed on retailers, preserves state sovereignty, and enhances the ability of United States firms to compete in the global economy.

A key component of this model legislation further directs and commits the states to continuing discussions aimed at developing an interstate agreement to govern a streamlined sales tax administration system for the 21st century.

Although the State of Hawaii imposes a general excise tax on business, it is applied at different rates to gross receipts from business activities in Hawaii, including wholesale and retail sales of goods and services, as compared to a sales tax which is imposed on the customer and generally applies only to retail sales, the legislature finds that participation in the project will preserve Hawaii's voting rights on issues brought before the participating states, protect its tax base, and improve Hawaii's ability to collect tax revenues derived from e-commerce transactions.

The legislature finds that a simplified sales and use tax system, including the Hawaii general excise tax, will reduce and over time eliminate the burden and cost for all vendors to pay Hawaii's general excise and use taxes. The legislature further finds that Hawaii should participate in multistate discussions to simplify and modernize general excise, sales, and use tax administration in order to substantially reduce the burden of tax compliance for all sellers and for all types of commerce.

SECTION 2. The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"CHAPTER

HAWAII SIMPLIFIED SALES AND USE TAX ADMINISTRATION ACT

§ -1 Short title. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Hawaii Simplified Sales and Use Tax Administration Act".

§ -2 Definitions. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

"Agreement" means the streamlined sales and use tax agreement as adopted.

"Certified automated system" means software certified jointly by the states that are signatories to the agreement to calculate the tax imposed by each jurisdiction on a transaction, determine the amount of tax to remit to the appropriate state, and maintain a record of the transaction.

"Certified service provider" means an agent certified jointly by the states that are signatories to the agreement to perform all of the seller's sales tax functions.

"Department" means the department of taxation.

"Person" means an individual, trust, estate, fiduciary, partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, corporation, or any other legal entity.

"Sales tax" means the general excise tax levied under chapter 237.

"Seller" means any person making sales, leases, or rentals of personal property or services.

"State" means any state of the United States and the District of Columbia.

"Use tax" means the use tax levied under chapter 238.

§ -3 Authority to participate in multistate negotiations. (a) For the purposes of reviewing or amending the agreement embodying the simplification requirements in section -6, the State may enter into multistate discussions. For purposes of these discussions, the State shall be represented by the department. The department shall regularly consult with an advisory group regarding these discussions.

(b) The department shall regularly consult with the advisory group and use its best efforts to consult with the advisory group before any multistate discussions in which it is anticipated that amendments may be proposed to the agreement embodying the simplification requirements in section -6.

§ -4 Authority to enter agreement. The department may enter into the streamlined sales and use tax agreement with one or more states to simplify and modernize sales and use tax administration in order to substantially reduce the burden of tax compliance for all sellers and for all types of commerce. In furtherance of the agreement, the department may act jointly with other states that are members of the agreement to establish standards for certification of a certified service provider and certified automated system and establish performance standards for multistate sellers. The department may take other actions reasonably required to implement this section. Other actions authorized by this section include, but are not limited to, the adoption of rules not subject to chapter 91 and the joint procurement not subject to chapter 103D, with other member states, of goods and services in furtherance of the cooperative agreement. The department, or the department's designee, may represent this State before the other states that are signatories to the agreement.

§ -5 Relationship to state law. No provision of the agreement authorized by this chapter in whole or part invalidates or amends any provision of the law of this State. Adoption of the agreement by this State does not amend or modify any law of this State. Implementation of any condition of the agreement in this State, whether adopted before, at, or after membership of this State in the agreement, must be by the action of this State.

§ -6 Agreement requirements. The department shall not enter into the streamlined sales and use tax agreement unless the agreement requires each state to abide by the following requirements:

(1) The agreement must set restrictions to limit over time the number of state tax rates;

(2) The agreement must establish uniform standards for:

(A) The sourcing of transactions to taxing jurisdictions;

(B) The administration of exempt sales; and

(C) Sales and use tax returns and remittances;

(3) The agreement must provide a central, electronic registration system that allows a seller to register to collect and remit sales and use taxes for all signatory states;

(4) The agreement must provide that registration with the central registration system and the collection of sales and use taxes in the signatory states will not be used as a factor in determining whether the seller has nexus with a state for any tax;

(5) The agreement must provide for reduction of the burdens of complying with local sales and use taxes by:

(A) Restricting variances between the state and local tax bases;

(B) Requiring states to administer any sales and use taxes levied by local jurisdictions within the state so that sellers collecting and remitting these taxes will not have to register or file returns with, remit funds to, or be subject to independent audits from local taxing jurisdictions;

(C) Restricting the frequency of changes in the local sales and use tax rates and setting effective dates for the application of local jurisdictional boundary changes to local sales and use taxes; and

(D) Providing notice of changes in local sales and use tax rates and of changes in the boundaries of local taxing jurisdictions;

    1. The agreement must outline any monetary allowances that are to be provided by the states to sellers or certified service providers;
    2. The agreement must allow for a joint public and private sector study of the compliance cost on sellers and certified service providers to collect sales and use taxes for state and local governments under various levels of complexity to be completed by July 1, 2004;

(8) The agreement must require each state to certify compliance with the terms of the agreement before joining and to maintain compliance, under the laws of the member state, with all provisions of the agreement while a member;

(9) The agreement must require each state to adopt a uniform policy for certified service providers that protects the privacy of consumers and maintains the confidentiality of tax information; and

(10) The agreement must provide for the appointment of an advisory council of private sector representatives and an advisory council of nonmember state representatives to consult with in the administration of the agreement.

§ -7 Cooperating sovereigns. The agreement authorized by this chapter is an accord among individual cooperating sovereigns in furtherance of their governmental functions. The agreement provides a mechanism among the member states to establish and maintain a cooperative, simplified system for the application and administration of sales and use taxes under the duly adopted law of each member state.

§ -8 Limited binding and beneficial effect. (a) The agreement authorized by this chapter binds and inures only to the benefit of this State and the other member states. No person, other than a member state, is an intended beneficiary of the agreement. Any benefit to a person other than a state is established by the law of this State and the other member states and not by the terms of the agreement.

(b) Consistent with subsection (a), no person shall have any cause of action or defense under the agreement or by virtue of this State's approval of the agreement. No person may challenge, in any action brought under any provision of law, any action or inaction by any department, agency, other instrumentality of this State, or any political subdivision of this State on the ground that the action or inaction is inconsistent with the agreement.

(c) No law of this State, or the application thereof, shall be declared invalid as to any person or circumstance on the ground that the provision or application is inconsistent with the agreement.

§ -9 Seller and third party liability. (a) A certified service provider is the agent of a seller, with whom the certified service provider has contracted, for the collection and remittance of sales and use taxes. As the seller's agent, the certified service provider is liable for the sales and use taxes due each member state on all sales transactions it processes for the seller except as provided in this section.

(b) A seller that contracts with a certified service provider is not liable to the State for sales or use taxes due on transactions processed by the certified service provider unless the seller misrepresented the type of items it sells or committed fraud. In the absence of probable cause to believe that the seller has committed fraud or made a material misrepresentation, the seller is not subject to audit on the transactions processed by the certified service provider. A seller is subject to audit for transactions not processed by the certified service provider. The member states acting jointly may perform a system check of the seller and review the seller's procedures to determine if the certified service provider's system is functioning properly and the extent to which the seller's transactions are being processed by the certified service provider.

(c) A person that provides a certified automated system is responsible for the proper functioning of that system and is liable to the State for underpayments of tax attributable to errors in the functioning of the certified automated system. A seller that uses a certified automated system remains responsible and is liable to the State for reporting and remitting tax.

(d) A seller that has a proprietary system for determining the amount of tax due on transactions and has signed an agreement establishing a performance standard for that system is liable for the failure of the system to meet the performance standard."

SECTION 3. Upon becoming a member of the streamlined sales and use tax agreement, the department of taxation shall prepare legislation conforming state law as necessary and shall provide such legislation to the legislature before the appropriate legislative deadline for introducing legislation in any regular session.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003, except that section -9 of section 2 of this Act shall take effect when the State becomes a member of the streamlined sales and use tax agreement.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

BY REQUEST