Report Title:

Taxation; tax credits

Description:

Provides and income tax credit for food and medical services.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1964

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO TAXATION.

 

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 235, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§235- Food/excise tax credit. (a) Each resident individual taxpayer, who files an individual income tax return for a taxable year, and who is not claimed or is not otherwise eligible to be claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer for federal or Hawaii state individual income tax purposes, may claim a food/excise credit against the resident taxpayer's individual income tax liability for the taxable year for which the individual income tax return is being filed; provided that a resident individual who has no income or no income taxable under this chapter and who is not claimed or is not otherwise eligible to be claimed as a dependent by a taxpayer for federal or Hawaii state individual income tax purposes may claim this credit.

(b) Each resident individual taxpayer may claim tax credits in the amount indicated in this subsection:

(1) A tax credit of $______ multiplied by the number of qualified exemptions to which the taxpayer is entitled; provided that no additional tax credit shall be claimed because of age;

(2) In addition to the amount of the credit allowed under paragraph (1), the taxpayer may claim an additional tax credit for each adjusted gross income bracket as shown in the schedule 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 set forth in the following Tax Credit Schedule:

TAX CREDIT SCHEDULE

Adjusted Gross Income Tax Credit

Under $6,000 $

$ 6,000 to under $ 8,000 $

$ 8,000 to under $10,000 $

$10,000 to under $12,000 $

$12,000 to under $15,000 $

$15,000 to under $20,000 $

$20,000 to under $30,000 $

Over $30,000 $ 0;

provided that a husband and wife 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 under paragraph (2) had a joint return been filed and may each claim under paragraph (1).

(c) For the purposes of this section, a qualified exemption is defined to include 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 exemptions shall not be granted because of deficiencies in vision or hearing, or other disability. For purposes of claiming the credit only, a minor child receiving support from the department of human services of the State, social security survivor's benefits, and the like may be considered a dependent and a qualified exemption of the parent or guardian.

(d) The tax credit under this section shall not be available to:

(1) Any person who has been convicted of a felony and who has been committed to prison and has been physically confined for the full taxable year;

(2) Any person who would otherwise be eligible to be claimed as a dependent but who has been committed to a youth correctional facility and has resided at the facility for the full taxable year; or

(3) Any misdemeanant who has been committed to jail and has been physically confined for the full taxable year.

(e) The tax credits claimed by a resident taxpayer pursuant to this section shall be deductible from the resident taxpayer's individual income tax liability, if any, for the tax year in which they are properly claimed. If the tax credits claimed by a resident taxpayer exceed the amount of income tax payment due from the resident taxpayer, the excess of credits over payments due shall be refunded to the resident taxpayer; provided that tax credits properly claimed by a resident individual who has no income tax liability shall be paid to the resident individual; and provided further that no refunds or payment on account of the tax credits allowed by this section shall be made for amounts less than $1.

(f) All claims for tax credits under this section, including any amended claims, must be filed on or before the end of the twelfth month following the close of the taxable year for which the credits may be claimed. Failure to comply with the foregoing provision shall constitute a waiver of the right to claim the credit."

SECTION 2. Chapter 235, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§235-A Medical services excise tax credit. (a) Each resident individual taxpayer, who files an individual income tax return for a taxable year, and who is not claimed or is not otherwise eligible to be claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer for Hawaii state individual income tax purposes, may claim a medical services excise tax credit against the resident taxpayer's individual income tax liability for the taxable year for which the individual income tax return is being filed; provided that a resident individual who has no income or no income taxable under this chapter and who is not claimed or is not otherwise eligible to be claimed as a dependent by a taxpayer for Hawaii state individual income tax purposes may claim this credit.

(b) The medical services excise tax credit shall be four per cent of qualified medical expenses paid by or for the resident individual during the taxable year. The portion of the tax credit attributable to medical expenses claimed on each individual income tax return shall not exceed:

(1) $200;

(2) $400 for a resident individual sixty-five years of age or over; or

(3) $600 for a resident individual and spouse both sixty-five years of age or over.

(c) For the purposes of this section "qualified medical expenses" is defined to include those medical expenses paid for the taxpayer or the taxpayer's dependent allowable as deductions for income tax purposes under section 213 (with respect to medical, dental, etc., expenses) of the Internal Revenue Code; provided that the medical expense was subject to the imposition and payment of the general excise tax under chapter 237. "Qualified medical expenses" shall not include the following:

(1) Capital improvements; or

(2) Prescription drugs or prosthetic devices exempt under section 237-24.3(7).

The amount of medical expenses paid during the taxable year shall not be reduced by any insurance reimbursement.

(d) The tax credits claimed by a resident taxpayer pursuant to this section shall be deductible from the resident taxpayer's individual income tax liability, if any, for the tax year in which they are properly claimed. If the tax credits claimed by a resident taxpayer exceed the amount of income tax payment due from the resident taxpayer, the excess of credits over payments due shall be refunded to the resident taxpayer; provided that tax credits properly claimed by a resident individual who has no income tax liability shall be paid to the resident individual; and provided further that no refunds or payment on account of the tax credits allowed by this section shall be made for amounts less than $1.

(e) The director of taxation shall prepare such forms as may be necessary to claim a credit under this section. The director may also require the taxpayer to furnish reasonable information in order that the director may ascertain the validity of the claim for credit made under this section and the director may adopt rules necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section pursuant to chapter 91.

(f) All claims for tax credits under this section, including any amended claims, must be filed on or before the end of the twelfth month following the close of the taxable year for which the credits may be claimed. Failure to comply with the foregoing provision shall constitute a waiver of the right to claim the credit."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval and shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2004.

 

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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