Report Title:

GET; Food and Drugs Exemption; Income Tax Reduction

Description:

Increases the General Excise Tax rate to 5-1/2%; Exempts food and drugs from the GET, and caps the income tax rate at 5%.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

464

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO TAX.

 

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

SECTION 1. Section 235-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) to read as follows:

"(a) There is hereby imposed on the taxable income of (1) every taxpayer who files a joint return under section 235-93; and (2) every surviving spouse a tax determined in accordance with the following table:

[In the case of any taxable year beginning after December 31, 1998:

If the taxable income is: The tax shall be:

Not over $4,000 1.60% of taxable income

Over $4,000 but $64.00 plus 3.90% of

not over $8,000 excess over $4,000

Over $8,000 but $220.00 plus 6.80% of

not over $16,000 excess over $8,000

Over $16,000 but $764.00 plus 7.20% of

not over $24,000 excess over $16,000

Over $24,000 but $1,340.00 plus 7.50% of

not over $32,000 excess over $24,000

Over $32,000 but $1,940.00 plus 7.80% of

not over $40,000 excess over $32,000

Over $40,000 but $2,564.00 plus 8.20% of

not over $60,000 excess over $40,000

Over $60,000 but $4,204.00 plus 8.50% of

not over $80,000 excess over $60,000

Over $80,000 $5,904.00 plus 8.75% of

excess over $80,000

In the case of any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2000:

If the taxable income is: The tax shall be:

Not over $4,000 1.50% of taxable income

Over $4,000 but $60.00 plus 3.70% of

not over $8,000 excess over $4,000

Over $8,000 but $208.00 plus 6.40% of

not over $16,000 excess over $8,000

Over $16,000 but $720.00 plus 6.90% of

not over $24,000 excess over $16,000

Over $24,000 but $1,272.00 plus 7.30% of

not over $32,000 excess over $24,000

Over $32,000 but $1,856.00 plus 7.60% of

not over $40,000 excess over $32,000

Over $40,000 but $2,464.00 plus 7.90% of

not over $60,000 excess over $40,000

Over $60,000 but $4,044.00 plus 8.20% of

not over $80,000 excess over $60,000

Over $80,000 $5,684.00 plus 8.50% of

excess over $80,000]

In the case of any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2001:

If the taxable income is: The tax shall be:

Not over $4,000 1.40% of taxable income

Over $4,000 but $56.00 plus 3.20% of

not over $8,000 excess over $4,000

Over $8,000 [but] $184.00 plus [5.50%] 5%

[not over $16,000] of excess over $8,000

[Over $16,000 but $624.00 plus 6.40% of

not over $24,000 excess over $16,000

Over $24,000 but $1,136.00 plus 6.80% of

not over $32,000 excess over $24,000

Over $32,000 but $1,680.00 plus 7.20% of

not over $40,000 excess over $32,000

Over $40,000 but $2,256.00 plus 7.60% of

not over $60,000 excess over $40,000

Over $60,000 but $3,776.00 plus 7.90% of

not over $80,000 excess over $60,000

Over $80,000 $5,356.00 plus 8.25% of

excess over $80,000]

(b) There is hereby imposed on the taxable income of every head of a household a tax determined in accordance with the following table:

[In the case of any taxable year beginning after December 31, 1998:

If the taxable income is: The tax shall be:

Not over $3,000 1.60% of taxable income

Over $3,000 but $48.00 plus 3.90% of

not over $6,000 excess over $3,000

Over $6,000 but $165.00 plus 6.80% of

not over $12,000 excess over $6,000

Over $12,000 but $573.00 plus 7.20% of

not over $18,000 excess over $12,000

Over $18,000 but $1,005.00 plus 7.50% of

not over $24,000 excess over $18,000

Over $24,000 but $1,455.00 plus 7.80% of

not over $30,000 excess over $24,000

Over $30,000 but $1,923.00 plus 8.20% of

not over $45,000 excess over $30,000

Over $45,000 but $3,153.00 plus 8.50% of

not over $60,000 excess over $45,000

Over $60,000 $4,428.00 plus 8.75% of

excess over $60,000

In the case of any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2000:

If the taxable income is: The tax shall be:

Not over $3,000 1.50% of taxable income

Over $3,000 but $45.00 plus 3.70% of

not over $6,000 excess over $3,000

Over $6,000 but $156.00 plus 6.40% of

not over $12,000 excess over $6,000

Over $12,000 but $540.00 plus 6.90% of

not over $18,000 excess over $12,000

Over $18,000 but $954.00 plus 7.30% of

not over $24,000 excess over $18,000

Over $24,000 but $1,392.00 plus 7.60% of

not over $30,000 excess over $24,000

Over $30,000 but $1,848.00 plus 7.90% of

not over $45,000 excess over $30,000

Over $45,000 but $3,033.00 plus 8.20% of

not over $60,000 excess over $45,000

Over $60,000 $4,263.00 plus 8.50% of

excess over $60,000]

In the case of any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2001:

If the taxable income is: The tax shall be:

Not over $3,000 1.40% of taxable income

Over $3,000 but $42.00 plus 3.20% of

not over $6,000 excess over $3,000

Over $6,000 [but] $138.00 plus [5.50%] 5%

[not over $12,000] of excess over $6,000

[Over $12,000 but $468.00 plus 6.40% of

not over $18,000 excess over $12,000

Over $18,000 but $852.00 plus 6.80% of

not over $24,000 excess over $18,000

Over $24,000 but $1,260.00 plus 7.20% of

not over $30,000 excess over $24,000

Over $30,000 but $1,692.00 plus 7.60% of

not over $45,000 excess over $30,000

Over $45,000 but $2,832.00 plus 7.90% of

not over $60,000 excess over $45,000

Over $60,000 $4,017.00 plus 8.25% of

excess over $60,000]

(c) There is hereby imposed on the taxable income of (1) every unmarried individual (other than a surviving spouse, or the head of a household) and (2) on the taxable income of every married individual who does not make a single return jointly with the individual's spouse under section 235-93 a tax determined in accordance with the following table:

[In the case of any taxable year beginning after December 31, 1998:

If the taxable income is: The tax shall be:

Not over $2,000 1.60% of taxable income

Over $2,000 but $32.00 plus 3.90% of

not over $4,000 excess over $2,000

Over $4,000 but $110.00 plus 6.80% of

not over $8,000 excess over $4,000

Over $8,000 but $382.00 plus 7.20% of

not over $12,000 excess over $8,000

Over $12,000 but $670.00 plus 7.50% of

not over $16,000 excess over $12,000

Over $16,000 but $970.00 plus 7.80% of

not over $20,000 excess over $16,000

Over $20,000 but $1,282.00 plus 8.20% of

not over $30,000 excess over $20,000

Over $30,000 but $2,102.00 plus 8.50% of

not over $40,000 excess over $30,000

Over $40,000 $2,952.00 plus 8.75% of

excess over $40,000

In the case of any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2000:

If the taxable income is: The tax shall be:

Not over $2,000 1.50% of taxable income

Over $2,000 but $30.00 plus 3.70% of

not over $4,000 excess over $2,000

Over $4,000 but $104.00 plus 6.40% of

not over $8,000 excess over $4,000

Over $8,000 but $360.00 plus 6.90% of

not over $12,000 excess over $8,000

Over $12,000 but $636.00 plus 7.30% of

not over $16,000 excess over $12,000

Over $16,000 but $928.00 plus 7.60% of

not over $20,000 excess over $16,000

Over $20,000 but $1,232.00 plus 7.90% of

not over $30,000 excess over $20,000

Over $30,000 but $2,022.00 plus 8.20% of

not over $40,000 excess over $30,000

Over $40,000 $2,842.00 plus 8.50% of

excess over $40,000]

In the case of any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2001:

If the taxable income is: The tax shall be:

Not over $2,000 1.40% of taxable income

Over $2,000 but $28.00 plus 3.20% of

not over $4,000 excess over $2,000

Over $4,000 [but] $92.00 plus [5.50%] 5%

[not over $8,000] of excess over $4,000

[Over $8,000 but $312.00 plus 6.40% of

not over $12,000 excess over $8,000

Over $12,000 but $568.00 plus 6.80% of

not over $16,000 excess over $12,000

Over $16,000 but $840.00 plus 7.20% of

not over $20,000 excess over $16,000

Over $20,000 but $1,128.00 plus 7.60% of

not over $30,000 excess over $20,000

Over $30,000 but $1,888.00 plus 7.90% of

not over $40,000 excess over $30,000

Over $40,000 $2,678.00 plus 8.25% of

excess over $40,000]

(d) The tax imposed by section 235-2.45 on estates and trusts shall be determined in accordance with the following table:

[In the case of any taxable year beginning after December 31, 1998:

If the taxable income is: The tax shall be:

Not over $2,000 1.60% of taxable income

Over $2,000 but $32.00 plus 3.90% of

not over $4,000 excess over $2,000

Over $4,000 but $110.00 plus 6.80% of

not over $8,000 excess over $4,000

Over $8,000 but $382.00 plus 7.20% of

not over $12,000 excess over $8,000

Over $12,000 but $670.00 plus 7.50% of

not over $16,000 excess over $12,000

Over $16,000 but $970.00 plus 7.80% of

not over $20,000 excess over $16,000

Over $20,000 but $1,282.00 plus 8.20% of

not over $30,000 excess over $20,000

Over $30,000 but $2,102.00 plus 8.50% of

not over $40,000 excess over $30,000

Over $40,000 $2,952.00 plus 8.75% of

excess over $40,000

In the case of any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2000:

If the taxable income is: The tax shall be:

Not over $2,000 1.50% of taxable income

Over $2,000 but $30.00 plus 3.70% of

not over $4,000 excess over $2,000

Over $4,000 but $104.00 plus 6.40% of

not over $8,000 excess over $4,000

Over $8,000 but $360.00 plus 6.90% of

not over $12,000 excess over $8,000

Over $12,000 but $636.00 plus 7.30% of

not over $16,000 excess over $12,000

Over $16,000 but $928.00 plus 7.60% of

not over $20,000 excess over $16,000

Over $20,000 but $1,232.00 plus 7.90% of

not over $30,000 excess over $20,000

Over $30,000 but $2,022.00 plus 8.20% of

not over $40,000 excess over $30,000

Over $40,000 $2,842.00 plus 8.50% of

excess over $40,000]

In the case of any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2001:

If the taxable income is: The tax shall be:

Not over $2,000 1.40% of taxable income

Over $2,000 but $28.00 plus 3.20% of

not over $4,000 excess over $2,000

Over $4,000 [but] $92.00 plus [5.50%] 5%

[not over $8,000] of excess over $4,000

[Over $8,000 but $312.00 plus 6.40% of

not over $12,000 excess over $8,000

Over $12,000 but $568.00 plus 6.80% of

not over $16,000 excess over $12,000

Over $16,000 but $840.00 plus 7.20% of

not over $20,000 excess over $16,000

Over $20,000 but $1,128.00 plus 7.60% of

not over $30,000 excess over $20,000

Over $30,000 but $1,888.00 plus 7.90% of

not over $40,000 excess over $30,000

Over $40,000 $2,678.00 plus 8.25% of

excess over $40,000]"

SECTION 2. Section 237-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) "Wholesaler" or "jobber" applies only to a person making sales at wholesale. Only the following are sales at wholesale:

(1) Sales to a licensed retail merchant, jobber, or other licensed seller for purposes of resale;

(2) Sales to a licensed manufacturer of materials or commodities that are to be incorporated by the manufacturer into a finished or saleable product (including the container or package in which the product is contained) during the course of its preservation, manufacture, or processing, including preparation for market, and that will remain in such finished or saleable product in such form as to be perceptible to the senses, which finished or saleable product is to be sold and not otherwise used by the manufacturer;

(3) Sales to a licensed producer or cooperative association of materials or commodities that are to be incorporated by the producer or by the cooperative association into a finished or saleable product that is to be sold and not otherwise used by the producer or cooperative association, including specifically materials or commodities expended as essential to the planting, growth, nurturing, and production of commodities that are sold by the producer or by the cooperative association;

(4) Sales to a licensed contractor, of materials or commodities that are to be incorporated by the contractor into the finished work or project required by the contract and that will remain in such finished work or project in such form as to be perceptible to the senses;

(5) Sales to a licensed producer, or to a cooperative association described in section 237-23(a)(7) for sale to a licensed producer, or to a licensed person operating a feed lot, of poultry or animal feed, hatching eggs, semen, replacement stock, breeding services for the purpose of raising or producing animal or poultry products for disposition as described in section 237-5 or for incorporation into a manufactured product as described in paragraph (2) or for the purpose of breeding, hatching, milking, or egg laying other than for the customer's own consumption of the meat, poultry, eggs, or milk so produced; provided that in the case of a feed lot operator, only the segregated cost of the feed furnished by the feed lot operator as part of the feed lot operator's service to a licensed producer of poultry or animals to be butchered or to a cooperative association described in section 237-23(a)(7) of such licensed producers shall be deemed to be a sale at wholesale; and provided further that any amount derived from the furnishing of feed lot services, other than the segregated cost of feed, shall be deemed taxable at the service business rate. This paragraph shall not apply to the sale of feed for poultry or animals to be used for hauling, transportation, or sports purposes;

(6) Sales to a licensed producer, or to a cooperative association described in section 237-23(a)(7) for sale to the producer, of seed or seedstock for producing agricultural and aquacultural products, or bait for catching fish (including the catching of bait for catching fish), which agricultural and aquacultural products or fish are to be disposed of as described in section 237-5 or to be incorporated in a manufactured product as described in paragraph (2);

(7) Sales to a licensed producer, or to a cooperative association described in section 237-23(a)(7) for sale to such producer; of polypropylene shade cloth; of polyfilm; of polyethylene film; of cartons and such other containers, wrappers, and sacks, and binders to be used for packaging eggs, vegetables, fruits, and other agricultural and aquacultural products; of seedlings and cuttings for producing nursery plants or aquacultural products; or of chick containers; which cartons and such other containers, wrappers, and sacks, binders, seedlings, cuttings, and containers are to be used as described in section 237-5, or to be incorporated in a manufactured product as described in paragraph (2);

(8) Sales of tangible personal property[:

(A) To] to a licensed seller engaged in a service business or calling; provided that[:

(i) The] the property is not consumed or incidental to the performance of the services[;

(ii) There], there is a resale of the article at the retail rate of [four] five and one-half per cent[;], and

[(iii) The] the resale of the article is separately charged or billed by the person rendering the services[;

(B) Where:

(i) Tangible personal property is sold upon the order or request of a licensed seller for the purpose of rendering a service in the course of the person's service business or calling, or upon the order or request of a person subject to tax under section 237D-2 for the purpose of furnishing transient accommodations;

(ii) The tangible personal property becomes or is used as an identifiable element of the service rendered; and

(iii) The cost of the tangible personal property does not constitute overhead to the licensed seller;

the sale shall be subject to section 237-13.3; or

(C) Where the taxpayer is subject to both subparagraphs (A) and (B), then the taxpayer shall be taxed under subparagraph (A). Subparagraphs (A) and (C) shall be repealed on January 1, 2006;].

(9) Sales to a licensed leasing company of capital goods that have a depreciable life, are purchased by the leasing company for lease to its customers, and are thereafter leased as a service to others;

(10) Sales of services to a licensed seller engaging in a business or calling whenever:

(A) Either:

(i) In the context of a service-to-service transaction, a service is rendered upon the order or request of a licensed seller for the purpose of rendering another service in the course of the seller's service business or calling;

(ii) In the context of a service-to-tangible personal property transaction, a service is rendered upon the order or request of a licensed seller for the purpose of manufacturing, producing, or preparing tangible personal property to be sold;

(iii) In the context of a services-to-contracting transaction, a service is rendered upon the order or request of a licensed contractor as defined in section 237-6 for the purpose of assisting that licensed contractor; or

(iv) In the context of a services-to-transient accommodations rental transaction, a service is rendered upon the order or request of a person subject to tax under section 237D-2 for the purpose of furnishing transient accommodations;

(B) The benefit of the service passes to the customer of the licensed seller, licensed contractor, or person furnishing transient accommodations as an identifiable element of the other service or property to be sold, the contracting, or the furnishing of transient accommodations;

(C) The cost of the service does not constitute overhead to the licensed seller, licensed contractor, or person furnishing transient accommodations;

(D) The gross income of the licensed seller is not divided between the licensed seller and another licensed seller, contractor, or person furnishing transient accommodations for imposition of the tax under this chapter;

(E) The gross income of the licensed seller is not subject to a deduction under this chapter or chapter 237D; and

(F) The resale of the service, tangible personal property, contracting, or transient accommodations is subject to the tax imposed under this chapter at the highest tax rate[.

Sales subject to this paragraph shall be subject to section 237-13.3];

(11) Sales to a licensed retail merchant, jobber, or other licensed seller of bulk condiments or prepackaged single-serving packets of condiments that are provided to customers by the licensed retail merchant, jobber, or other licensed seller;

(12) Sales to a licensed retail merchant, jobber, or other licensed seller of tangible personal property that will be incorporated or processed by the licensed retail merchant, jobber, or other licensed seller into a finished or saleable product during the course of its preparation for market (including disposable, nonreturnable containers, packages, or wrappers, in which the product is contained and that are generally known and most commonly used to contain food or beverage for transfer or delivery), and which finished or saleable product is to be sold and not otherwise used by the licensed retail merchant, jobber, or other licensed seller;

(13) Sales of amusements subject to taxation under section 237-13(4) to a licensed seller engaging in a business or calling whenever:

(A) Either:

(i) In the context of an amusement-to-service transaction, an amusement is rendered upon the order or request of a licensed seller for the purpose of rendering another service in the course of the seller's service business or calling;

(ii) In the context of an amusement-to-tangible personal property transaction, an amusement is rendered upon the order or request of a licensed seller for the purpose of selling tangible personal property; or

(iii) In the context of an amusement-to-amusement transaction, an amusement is rendered upon the order or request of a licensed seller for the purpose of rendering another amusement in the course of the person's amusement business;

(B) The benefit of the amusement passes to the customer of the licensed seller as an identifiable element of the other service, tangible personal property to be sold, or amusement;

(C) The cost of the amusement does not constitute overhead to the licensed seller;

(D) The gross income of the licensed seller is not divided between the licensed seller and another licensed seller, person furnishing transient accommodations, or person rendering an amusement for imposition of the tax under chapter 237;

(E) The gross income of the licensed seller is not subject to a deduction under this chapter; and

(F) The resale of the service, tangible personal property, or amusement is subject to the tax imposed under this chapter at the highest rate.

As used in this paragraph, "amusement" means entertainment provided as part of a show for which there is an admission charge[. Sales subject to this paragraph shall be subject to section 237-13.3]; and

(14) Sales by a printer to a publisher of magazines or similar printed materials containing advertisements, when the publisher is under contract with the advertisers to distribute a minimum number of magazines or similar printed materials to the public or defined segment of the public, whether or not there is a charge to the persons who actually receive the magazines or similar printed materials.

(b) If the use tax law is finally held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or invalid insofar as it purports to tax the use or consumption of tangible personal property imported into the State in interstate or foreign commerce or both, wholesalers and jobbers shall be taxed thereafter under this chapter in accordance with the following definition (which shall supersede the preceding paragraph otherwise defining "wholesaler" or "jobber"): "Wholesaler" or "jobber" means a person, or a definitely organized division thereof, definitely organized to render and rendering a general distribution service that buys and maintains at the person's place of business a stock or lines of merchandise that the person distributes; and that the person, through salespersons, advertising, or sales promotion devices, sells to licensed retailers, to institutional or licensed commercial or industrial users, in wholesale quantities and at wholesale rates. A corporation deemed not to be carrying on a trade or business in this State under section 235-6 shall nevertheless be deemed to be a wholesaler and shall be subject to the tax imposed by this chapter."

SECTION 3. Section 237-13, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§237-13 Imposition of tax. There is hereby levied and shall be assessed and collected annually privilege taxes against persons on account of their business and other activities in the State measured by the application of rates against values of products, gross proceeds of sales, or gross income, whichever is specified, as follows:

(1) Tax on manufacturers.

(A) Upon every person engaging or continuing within the State in the business of manufacturing, including compounding, canning, preserving, packing, printing, publishing, milling, processing, refining, or preparing for sale, profit, or commercial use, either directly or through the activity of others, in whole or in part, any article or articles, substance or substances, commodity or commodities, the amount of the tax to be equal to the value of the articles, substances, or commodities, manufactured, compounded, canned, preserved, packed, printed, milled, processed, refined, or prepared for sale, as shown by the gross proceeds derived from the sale thereof by the manufacturer or person compounding, preparing, or printing them, multiplied by one-half of one per cent.

(B) The measure of the tax on manufacturers is the value of the entire product for sale, regardless of the place of sale or the fact that deliveries may be made to points outside the State.

(C) If any person liable for the tax on manufacturers ships or transports the person's product, or any part thereof, out of the State, whether in a finished or unfinished condition, or sells the same for delivery to points outside the State (for example, consigned to a mainland purchaser via common carrier f.o.b. Honolulu), the value of the products in the condition or form in which they exist immediately before entering interstate or foreign commerce, determined as hereinafter provided, shall be the basis for the assessment of the tax imposed by this paragraph. This tax shall be due and payable as of the date of entry of the products into interstate or foreign commerce, whether the products are then sold or not. The department shall determine the basis for assessment, as provided by this paragraph, as follows:

(i) If the products at the time of their entry into interstate or foreign commerce already have been sold, the gross proceeds of sale, less the transportation expenses, if any, incurred in realizing the gross proceeds for transportation from the time of entry of the products into interstate or foreign commerce, including insurance and storage in transit, shall be the measure of the value of the products;

(ii) If the products have not been sold at the time of their entry into interstate or foreign commerce, and in cases governed by clause (i) in which the products are sold under circumstances such that the gross proceeds of sale are not indicative of the true value of the products, the value of the products constituting the basis for assessment shall correspond as nearly as possible to the gross proceeds of sales for delivery outside the State, adjusted as provided in clause (i), or if sufficient data are not available, sales in the State, of similar products of like quality and character and in similar quantities, made by the taxpayer (unless not indicative of the true value) or by others. Sales outside the State, adjusted as provided in clause (i), may be considered when they constitute the best available data. The department shall prescribe uniform and equitable rules for ascertaining the values;

(iii) At the election of the taxpayer and with the approval of the department, the taxpayer may make the taxpayer's returns under clause (i) even though the products have not been sold at the time of their entry into interstate or foreign commerce; and

(iv) In all cases in which products leave the State in an unfinished condition, the basis for assessment shall be adjusted so as to deduct the portion of the value as is attributable to the finishing of the goods outside the State.

(2) Tax on business of selling tangible personal property; producing.

(A) Upon every person engaging or continuing in the business of selling any tangible personal property whatsoever (not including, however, bonds or other evidence of indebtedness, or stocks), there is likewise hereby levied, and shall be assessed and collected, a tax equivalent to [four] five and one-half per cent of the gross proceeds of sales of the business; provided that insofar as certain retailing is taxed by section 237-16, the tax shall be that levied by section 237-16, and in the case of a wholesaler, the tax shall be equal to one-half of one per cent of the gross proceeds of sales of the business[; provided that insofar as the sale of tangible personal property is a wholesale sale under section 237-4(a)(8)(B), the sale shall be subject to section 237-13.3]. Upon every person engaging or continuing within this State in the business of a producer, the tax shall be equal to one-half of one per cent of the gross proceeds of sales of the business, or the value of the products, for sale, if sold for delivery outside the State or shipped or transported out of the State, and the value of the products shall be determined in the same manner as the value of manufactured products covered in the cases under paragraph (1)(C).

(B) Gross proceeds of sales of tangible property in interstate and foreign commerce shall constitute a part of the measure of the tax imposed on persons in the business of selling tangible personal property, to the extent, under the conditions, and in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the United States and the Acts of the Congress of the United States which may be now in force or may be hereafter adopted, and whenever there occurs in the State an activity to which, under the Constitution and Acts of Congress, there may be attributed gross proceeds of sales, the gross proceeds shall be so attributed.

(C) No manufacturer or producer, engaged in such business in the State and selling the manufacturer's or producer's products for delivery outside of the State (for example, consigned to a mainland purchaser via common carrier f.o.b. Honolulu), shall be required to pay the tax imposed in this chapter for the privilege of so selling the products, and the value or gross proceeds of sales of the products shall be included only in determining the measure of the tax imposed upon the manufacturer or producer.

(D) When a manufacturer or producer, engaged in such business in the State, also is engaged in selling the manufacturer's or producer's products in the State at wholesale, retail, or in any other manner, the tax for the privilege of engaging in the business of selling the products in the State shall apply to the manufacturer or producer as well as the tax for the privilege of manufacturing or producing in the State, and the manufacturer or producer shall make the returns of the gross proceeds of the wholesale, retail, or other sales required for the privilege of selling in the State, as well as making the returns of the value or gross proceeds of sales of the products required for the privilege of manufacturing or producing in the State. The manufacturer or producer shall pay the tax imposed in this chapter for the privilege of selling its products in the State, and the value or gross proceeds of sales of the products, thus subjected to tax, may be deducted insofar as duplicated as to the same products by the measure of the tax upon the manufacturer or producer for the privilege of manufacturing or producing in the State; provided that no producer of agricultural products who sells the products to a purchaser who will process the products outside the State shall be required to pay the tax imposed in this chapter for the privilege of producing or selling those products.

(E) A taxpayer selling to a federal cost-plus contractor may make the election provided for by paragraph (3)(C), and in that case the tax shall be computed pursuant to the election, notwithstanding this paragraph or paragraph (1) to the contrary.

(F) The department, by rule, may require that a seller take from the purchaser of tangible personal property a certificate, in a form prescribed by the department, certifying that the sale is a sale at wholesale; provided that:

(i) Any purchaser who furnishes a certificate shall be obligated to pay to the seller, upon demand, the amount of the additional tax that is imposed upon the seller whenever the sale in fact is not at wholesale; and

(ii) The absence of a certificate in itself shall give rise to the presumption that the sale is not at wholesale unless the sales of the business are exclusively at wholesale.

(3) Tax upon contractors.

(A) Upon every person engaging or continuing within the State in the business of contracting, the tax shall be equal to [four] five and one-half per cent of the gross income of the business; provided that insofar as the business of contracting is taxed by section 237-16, which relates to certain retailing, the tax shall be that levied by section 237-16.

(B) In computing the tax levied under this paragraph or section 237-16, there shall be deducted from the gross income of the taxpayer so much thereof as has been included in the measure of the tax levied under subparagraph (A) or section 237-16, on:

(i) Another taxpayer who is a contractor, as defined in section 237-6;

(ii) A specialty contractor, duly licensed by the department of commerce and consumer affairs pursuant to section 444-9, in respect of the specialty contractor's business; or

(iii) A specialty contractor who is not licensed by the department of commerce and consumer affairs pursuant to section 444-9, but who performs contracting activities on federal military installations and nowhere else in this State;

provided that any person claiming a deduction under this paragraph shall be required to show in the person's return the name and general excise number of the person paying the tax on the amount deducted by the person.

(C) In computing the tax levied under this paragraph against any federal cost-plus contractor, there shall be excluded from the gross income of the contractor so much thereof as fulfills the following requirements:

(i) The gross income exempted shall constitute reimbursement of costs incurred for materials, plant, or equipment purchased from a taxpayer licensed under this chapter, not exceeding the gross proceeds of sale of the taxpayer on account of the transaction; and

(ii) The taxpayer making the sale shall have certified to the department that the taxpayer is taxable with respect to the gross proceeds of the sale, and that the taxpayer elects to have the tax on gross income computed the same as upon a sale to the state government.

(D) A person who, as a business or as a part of a business in which the person is engaged, erects, constructs, or improves any building or structure, of any kind or description, or makes, constructs, or improves any road, street, sidewalk, sewer, or water system, or other improvements on land held by the person (whether held as a leasehold, fee simple, or otherwise), upon the sale or other disposition of the land or improvements, even if the work was not done pursuant to a contract, shall be liable to the same tax as if engaged in the business of contracting, unless the person shows that at the time the person was engaged in making the improvements the person intended, and for the period of at least one year after completion of the building, structure, or other improvements the person continued to intend to hold and not sell or otherwise dispose of the land or improvements. The tax in respect of the improvements shall be measured by the amount of the proceeds of the sale or other disposition that is attributable to the erection, construction, or improvement of such building or structure, or the making, constructing, or improving of the road, street, sidewalk, sewer, or water system, or other improvements. The measure of tax in respect of the improvements shall not exceed the amount which would have been taxable had the work been performed by another, subject as in other cases to the deductions allowed by subparagraph (B). Upon the election of the taxpayer, this paragraph may be applied notwithstanding that the improvements were not made by the taxpayer, or were not made as a business or as a part of a business, or were made with the intention of holding the same. However, this paragraph shall not apply in respect of any proceeds that constitute or are in the nature of rent; all such gross income shall be taxable under paragraph (9)[; provided that insofar as the business of renting or leasing real property under a lease is taxed under section 237-16.5, the tax shall be levied by section 237-16.5].

(4) Tax upon theaters, amusements, radio broadcasting stations, etc.

(A) Upon every person engaging or continuing within the State in the business of operating a theater, opera house, moving picture show, vaudeville, amusement park, dance hall, skating rink, radio broadcasting station, or any other place at which amusements are offered to the public, the tax shall be equal to [four] five and one-half per cent of the gross income of the business[, and in the case of a sale of an amusement at wholesale under section 237-4(a)(13), the tax shall be subject to section 237-13.3].

(B) The department may require that the person rendering an amusement at wholesale take from the licensed seller a certificate, in a form prescribed by the department, certifying that the sale is a sale at wholesale; provided that:

(i) Any licensed seller who furnishes a certificate shall be obligated to pay to the person rendering the amusement, upon demand, the amount of additional tax that is imposed upon the seller whenever the sale is not at wholesale; and

(ii) The absence of a certificate in itself shall give rise to the presumption that the sale is not at wholesale unless the person rendering the sale is exclusively rendering the amusement at wholesale.

(5) Tax upon sales representatives, etc. Upon every person classified as a representative or purchasing agent under section 237-1, engaging or continuing within the State in the business of performing services for another, other than as an employee, there is likewise hereby levied and shall be assessed and collected a tax equal to [four] five and one-half per cent of the commissions and other compensation attributable to the services so rendered by the person.

(6) Tax on service business.

(A) Upon every person engaging or continuing within the State in any service business or calling including professional services not otherwise specifically taxed under this chapter, there is likewise hereby levied and shall be assessed and collected a tax equal to [four] five and one-half per cent of the gross income of the business, and in the case of a wholesaler under section 237-4(a)(10), the tax shall be equal to one-half of one per cent of the gross income of the business. [Notwithstanding the foregoing, a wholesaler under section 237-4(a)(10) shall be subject to section 237-13.3.]

(B) The department may require that the person rendering a service at wholesale take from the licensed seller a certificate, in a form prescribed by the department, certifying that the sale is a sale at wholesale; provided that:

(i) Any licensed seller who furnishes a certificate shall be obligated to pay to the person rendering the service, upon demand, the amount of additional tax that is imposed upon the seller whenever the sale is not at wholesale; and

(ii) The absence of a certificate in itself shall give rise to the presumption that the sale is not at wholesale unless the person rendering the sale is exclusively rendering services at wholesale.

(C) Where any person engaging or continuing within the State in any service business or calling renders those services upon the order of or at the request of another taxpayer who is engaged in the service business and who, in fact, acts as or acts in the nature of an intermediary between the person rendering those services and the ultimate recipient of the benefits of those services, so much of the gross income as is received by the person rendering the services shall be subjected to the tax at the rate of one-half of one per cent and all of the gross income received by the intermediary from the principal shall be subjected to a tax at the rate of [four] five and one-half per cent. Where the taxpayer is subject to both this subparagraph and to the lowest tax rate under subparagraph (A), the taxpayer shall be taxed under this subparagraph. This subparagraph shall be repealed on January 1, 2006.

(D) Where any person is engaged in the business of selling interstate or foreign common carrier telecommunication services within and without the State, other than as a home service provider, the tax shall be imposed on that portion of gross income received by a person from service which is originated or terminated in this State and is charged to a telephone number, customer, or account in this State notwithstanding any other state law (except for the exemption under section 237-23(a)(1)) to the contrary. If, under the Constitution and laws of the United States, the entire gross income as determined under this paragraph of a business selling interstate or foreign common carrier telecommunication services cannot be included in the measure of the tax, the gross income shall be apportioned as provided in section 237-21; provided that the apportionment factor and formula shall be the same for all persons providing those services in the State.

(E) Where any person is engaged in the business of a home service provider, the tax shall be imposed on the gross income received or derived from providing interstate or foreign mobile telecommunications services to a customer with a place of primary use in this State when such services originate in one state and terminate in another state, territory, or foreign country; provided that all charges for mobile telecommunications services which are billed by or for the home service provider are deemed to be provided by the home service provider at the customer's place of primary use, regardless of where the mobile telecommunications originate, terminate, or pass through; provided further that the income from charges specifically derived from interstate or foreign mobile telecommunications services, as determined by books and records that are kept in the regular course of business by the home service provider in accordance with section 239-24, shall be apportioned under any apportionment factor or formula adopted under section 237-13(6)(D). Gross income shall not include:

(i) Gross receipts from mobile telecommunications services provided to a customer with a place of primary use outside this State;

(ii) Gross receipts from mobile telecommunications services that are subject to the tax imposed by chapter 239;

(iii) Gross receipts from mobile telecommunications services taxed under section 237-13.8; and

(iv) Gross receipts of a home service provider acting as a serving carrier providing mobile telecommunications services to another home service provider's customer.

For the purposes of this paragraph, "charges for mobile telecommunications services", "customer", "home service provider", "mobile telecommunications services", "place of primary use", and "serving carrier" have the same meaning as in section 239-22.

(7) Tax on insurance solicitors and agents. Upon every person engaged as a licensed solicitor, general agent, or subagent pursuant to chapter 431, there is hereby levied and shall be assessed and collected a tax equal to .15 per cent of the commissions due to that activity.

(8) Tax on receipts of sugar benefit payments. Upon the amounts received from the United States government by any producer of sugar (or the producer's legal representative or heirs), as defined under and by virtue of the Sugar Act of 1948, as amended, or other Acts of the Congress of the United States relating thereto, there is hereby levied a tax of one-half of one per cent of the gross amount received; provided that the tax levied hereunder on any amount so received and actually disbursed to another by a producer in the form of a benefit payment shall be paid by the person or persons to whom the amount is actually disbursed, and the producer actually making a benefit payment to another shall be entitled to claim on the producer's return a deduction from the gross amount taxable hereunder in the sum of the amount so disbursed. The amounts taxed under this paragraph shall not be taxable under any other paragraph, subsection, or section of this chapter.

(9) Tax on other business. Upon every person engaging or continuing within the State in any business, trade, activity, occupation, or calling not included in the preceding paragraphs or any other provisions of this chapter, there is likewise hereby levied and shall be assessed and collected, a tax equal to [four] five and one-half per cent of the gross income thereof. In addition, the rate prescribed by this paragraph shall apply to a business taxable under one or more of the preceding paragraphs or other provisions of this chapter, as to any gross income thereof not taxed thereunder as gross income or gross proceeds of sales or by taxing an equivalent value of products, unless specifically exempted."

SECTION 4. Section 237-15, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§237-15 Technicians. When technicians supply dentists or physicians with dentures, orthodontic devices, braces, and similar items which have been prepared by the technician in accordance with specifications furnished by the dentist or physician, and such items are to be used by the dentist or physician in the dentist's or physician's professional practice for a particular patient who is to pay the dentist or physician for the same as a part of the dentist's or physician's professional services, the technician shall be taxed as though the technician were a manufacturer selling a product to a licensed retailer, rather than at the rate of [four] five and one-half per cent which is generally applied to professions and services."

SECTION 5. Section 237-16, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended:

1. By amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

"(b) There is hereby levied, and shall be assessed and collected annually, a privilege tax against persons engaging or continuing within the State in the retailing to which this section relates, on account of such retailing activities, as set forth in subsection (a), equal to [four] five and one-half per cent of the gross proceeds of sale or gross income received or derived from such retailing. Persons on whom a tax is imposed by this section hereinafter are called "retailers"."

2. By amending subsection (d) to read as follows:

"(d) This section shall not cause the tax upon a taxpayer, with respect to any item of the taxpayer's gross income, to exceed [four] five and one half per cent."

SECTION 6. Section 237-18, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:

"(f) Where tourism related services are furnished through arrangements made by a travel agency or tour packager and the gross income is divided between the provider of the services and the travel agency or tour packager, the tax imposed by this chapter shall apply to each such person with respect to such person's respective portion of the proceeds, and no more.

As used in this subsection "tourism related services" means catamaran cruises, canoe rides, dinner cruises, lei greetings, transportation included in a tour package, sightseeing tours not subject to chapter 239, admissions to luaus, dinner shows, extravaganzas, cultural and educational facilities, and other services rendered directly to the customer or tourist, but only if the providers of the services other than air transportation are subject to a [four] five and one-half per cent tax under this chapter or chapter 239."

SECTION 7. Section 237-24.3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§237-24.3 Additional amounts not taxable. In addition to the amounts not taxable under section 237-24, this chapter shall not apply to:

(1) Amounts received from the loading, transportation, and unloading of agricultural commodities shipped for a producer or produce dealer on one island of this State to a person, firm, or organization on another island of this State. The terms "agricultural commodity", "producer", and "produce dealer" shall be defined in the same manner as they are defined in section 147-1; provided that agricultural commodities need not have been produced in the State;

(2) Amounts received from sales of:

(A) Intoxicating liquor as the term "liquor" is defined in chapter 244D;

(B) Cigarettes and tobacco products as defined in chapter 245; and

(C) Agricultural, meat, or fish products grown, raised, or caught in Hawaii, to any person or common carrier in interstate or foreign commerce, or both, whether ocean-going or air, for consumption out-of-state on the shipper's vessels or airplanes;

(3) Amounts received by the manager or board of directors of:

(A) An association of apartment owners of a condominium property regime established in accordance with chapter 514A; or

(B) A nonprofit homeowners or community association incorporated in accordance with chapter 414D or any predecessor thereto and existing pursuant to covenants running with the land,

in reimbursement of sums paid for common expenses;

(4) Amounts received or accrued from:

(A) The loading or unloading of cargo from ships, barges, vessels, or aircraft, whether or not the ships, barges, vessels, or aircraft travel between the State and other states or countries or between the islands of the State;

(B) Tugboat services including pilotage fees performed within the State, and the towage of ships, barges, or vessels in and out of state harbors, or from one pier to another; and

(C) The transportation of pilots or governmental officials to ships, barges, or vessels offshore; rigging gear; checking freight and similar services; standby charges; and use of moorings and running mooring lines;

(5) Amounts received by an employee benefit plan by way of contributions, dividends, interest, and other income; and amounts received by a nonprofit organization or office, as payments for costs and expenses incurred for the administration of an employee benefit plan; provided that this exemption shall not apply to any gross rental income or gross rental proceeds received after June 30, 1994, as income from investments in real property in this State; and provided further that gross rental income or gross rental proceeds from investments in real property received by an employee benefit plan after June 30, 1994, under written contracts executed prior to July 1, 1994, shall not be taxed until the contracts are renegotiated, renewed, or extended, or until after December 31, 1998, whichever is earlier. For the purposes of this paragraph, "employee benefit plan" means any plan as defined in section 1002(3) of title 29 of the United States Code, as amended;

(6) Amounts received for purchases [made with United States Department of Agriculture food coupons under the federal food stamp program, and amounts received for purchases made with United States Department of Agriculture food vouchers under the Special Supplemental Foods Program for Women, Infants and Children;] of food.

"Food" means the same as defined in 7 United States Code section 2012(g), as amended, and includes:

(A) Any food or food product for home consumption except alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption other than those authorized;

(B) Seeds and plants for use in gardens to produce food for the personal household consumption;

(C) In the case of those persons who are sixty years of age or over or who receive Supplemental Security Income benefits or disability or blindness payments under title I, II, X, XIV, or XVI, of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. §301 et seq., 401 et seq., 1201 et seq., 1351 et seq., or 1381 et seq.), and their spouses, meals prepared by and served in senior citizens' centers, apartment buildings occupied primarily by such persons, public or private nonprofit establishments (eating or otherwise) that feed such persons, private establishments that contract with the appropriate agency of the State to offer meals for such persons at concessional prices, and meals prepared for and served to residents of federally subsidized housing for the elderly;

(D) In the case of persons sixty years of age or over and persons who are physically or mentally handicapped or otherwise so disabled that they are unable adequately to prepare all of their meals, meals prepared for and delivered to them (and their spouses) at their home by a public or private nonprofit organization or by a private establishment that contracts with the appropriate state agency to perform such services at concessional prices;

(E) In the case of narcotics addicts or alcoholics, and their children, served by drug addiction or alcoholic treatment and rehabilitation programs, meals prepared and served under such programs;

(F) In the case of disabled or blind recipients of benefits under title I, II, X, XIV, or XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. §301 et seq., 401 et seq., 1201 et seq., 1351 et seq., or 1381 et seq.), or residents in a public or private nonprofit group living arrangement that serves no more than sixteen residents and is certified by the appropriate state agency meals prepared and served under such arrangement;

(G) In the case of women and children temporarily residing in public or private nonprofit shelters for battered women and children, meals prepared and served, by such shelters; and

(H) In the case of households that do not reside in permanent dwellings and households that have no fixed mailing addresses, meals prepared for and served by a public or private nonprofit establishment (approved by an appropriate state agency) that feeds such individuals and by private establishments that contract with the appropriate agency of the State to offer meals for such individuals at concessional prices;

(7) Amounts received by a hospital, infirmary, medical clinic, health care facility, pharmacy, or a practitioner licensed to administer the drug to an individual for selling prescription drugs or prosthetic devices to an individual; provided that this paragraph shall not apply to any amounts received for services provided in selling prescription drugs or prosthetic devices. As used in this paragraph:

(A) "Prescription drugs" are those drugs defined under section 328-1 and dispensed by filling or refilling a written or oral prescription by a practitioner licensed under law to administer the drug and sold by a licensed pharmacist under section 328-16 or practitioners licensed to administer drugs; and

(B) "Prosthetic device" means any artificial device or appliance, instrument, apparatus, or contrivance, including their components, parts, accessories, and replacements thereof, used to replace a missing or surgically removed part of the human body, which is prescribed by a licensed practitioner of medicine, osteopathy, or podiatry and which is sold by the practitioner or which is dispensed and sold by a dealer of prosthetic devices; provided that "prosthetic device" shall not mean any auditory, ophthalmic, dental, or ocular device or appliance, instrument, apparatus, or contrivance;

(8) Amounts received for the purchases of drugs. For the purposes of this section, "drugs" means the same as defined by title 21 United States Code section 321(g), as amended, and includes:

(A) Articles recognized in the official United States Pharmacopoeia, official Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States, or official National Formulary, or any supplement to any of them;

(B) Articles intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in humans or other animals;

(C) Articles (other than food) intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of humans or other animals;

(D) Articles intended for use as a component of any article specified in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C). A food or dietary supplement is not a drug solely because the label or the labeling contains such a claim. A food, dietary ingredient, or dietary supplement for which a truthful and not misleading statement is made is not a drug under subparagraph (C) solely because the label or the labeling contains such a statement;

[(8)] (9) Taxes on transient accommodations imposed by chapter 237D and passed on and collected by operators holding certificates of registration under that chapter;

[(9)] (10) Amounts received as dues by an unincorporated merchants association from its membership for advertising media, promotional, and advertising costs for the promotion of the association for the benefit of its members as a whole and not for the benefit of an individual member or group of members less than the entire membership;

[(10)] (11) Amounts received by a labor organization for real property leased to:

(A) A labor organization; or

(B) A trust fund established by a labor organization for the benefit of its members, families, and dependents for medical or hospital care, pensions on retirement or death of employees, apprenticeship and training, and other membership service programs.

As used in this paragraph, "labor organization" means a labor organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended;

[(11)] (12) Amounts received from foreign diplomats and consular officials who are holding cards issued or authorized by the United States Department of State granting them an exemption from state taxes; and

[(12)] (13) Amounts received as rent for the rental or leasing of aircraft or aircraft engines used by the lessees or renters for interstate air transportation of passengers and goods. For purposes of this paragraph, payments made pursuant to a lease shall be considered rent regardless of whether the lease is an operating lease or a financing lease. The definition of "interstate air transportation" is the same as in 49 U.S.C. 40102."

SECTION 8. Section 238-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§238-3 Application of tax, etc. (a) The tax imposed by this chapter shall not apply to any property, services, or contracting or to any use of the property, services, or contracting that cannot legally be so taxed under the Constitution or laws of the United States, but only so long as, and only to the extent to which the State is without power to impose the tax.

To the extent that any exemption, exclusion, or apportionment is necessary to comply with the preceding sentence, the director of taxation shall:

(1) Exempt or exclude from the tax under this chapter, property, services, or contracting or the use of property, services, or contracting exempted under chapter 237; or

(2) Apportion the gross value of services or contracting sold to customers within the State by persons engaged in business both within and without the State to determine the value of that portion of the services or contracting that is subject to taxation under chapter 237 for the purposes of section 237-21.

Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, exemptions or exclusions from tax under this chapter allowed on or before April 1, 1978, under the provisions of the Constitution of the United States or an act of the Congress of the United States to persons or common carriers engaged in interstate or foreign commerce, or both, whether ocean-going or air, shall continue undiminished and be available thereafter.

(b) The tax imposed by this chapter shall not apply to any use of property, services, or contracting the transfer of which property, services, or contracting to, or the acquisition of which by, the person so using the same, has actually been or actually is taxed under chapter 237.

(c) The tax imposed by this chapter shall be paid only once upon or in respect of the same property, services, or contracting; provided that nothing in this chapter contained shall be construed to exempt any property, services, or contracting, or the use thereof from taxation under any other law of the State.

(d) The tax imposed by this chapter shall be in addition to any other taxes imposed by any other laws of the State, except as otherwise specifically provided herein; provided that if it be finally held by any court of competent jurisdiction, that the tax imposed by this chapter may not legally be imposed in addition to any other tax or taxes imposed by any other law or laws with respect to the same property, services, or contracting, or the use thereof, then this chapter shall be deemed not to apply to the property, services, or contracting, or the use thereof under such specific circumstances, but such other laws shall be given full effect with respect to the property, services, or contracting, or use.

(e) The tax imposed by this chapter shall not apply to any use of property exempted by section 238-4.

(f) The tax imposed by this chapter shall not apply to any use or consumption of aircraft and vessels, the transfer of which aircraft or vessel to, or the acquisition of which by, the person so using or consuming the same, or the rental for the use of the aircraft or vessel, has actually been or actually is taxed under chapter 237.

(g) The tax imposed by this chapter shall not apply to any intoxicating liquor as defined in chapter 244D and cigarettes and tobacco products as defined in chapter 245, imported into the State and sold to any person or common carrier in interstate commerce, whether ocean-going or air, for consumption out-of- state by the person, crew, or passengers on the shipper's vessels or airplanes.

(h) The tax imposed by this chapter shall not apply to any use of vessels constructed under section 189-25 prior to July 1, 1969.

(i) Each taxpayer liable for the tax imposed by this chapter on tangible personal property, services, or contracting shall be entitled to full credit for the combined amount or amounts of legally imposed sales or use taxes paid by the taxpayer with respect to the same transaction and property, services, or contracting to another state and any subdivision thereof, but such credit shall not exceed the amount of the use tax imposed under this chapter on account of the transaction and property, services, or contracting. The director of taxation may require the taxpayer to produce the necessary receipts or vouchers indicating the payment of the sales or use tax to another state or subdivision as a condition for the allowance of the credit.

(j) The tax imposed by this chapter shall not apply to any use of property, services, or contracting exempted by section 237-26 or section 237-29.

(k) The tax imposed by this chapter shall not apply to any use of air pollution control facility exempted by section 237-27.5.

(l) The tax imposed by this chapter shall not apply to food and medicine exempt from the general excise tax under paragraphs 237-24.3(6) and (8)."

SECTION 9. Section 237-13.3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.

["§237-13.3 Application of sections 237-4(a)(8), 237-4(a)(10), 237-4(a)(13), 237-13(2)(A), 237-13(4)(A), and 237-13(6)(A). (a) Sections 237-4(a)(8), 237-4(a)(10), 237-4(a)(13), 237-13(2)(A), 237-13(4)(A), and 237-13(6)(A) to the contrary notwithstanding, instead of the tax levied under section 237-13(2)(A) on wholesale sales subject to section 237-4(a)(8)(B), under section 237-13(4)(A) on a wholesaler subject to section 237-4(a)(13), and under section 237-13(6)(A) on a wholesaler subject to section 237-4(a)(10) at one-half of one per cent, during the period January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2005, the tax shall be as follows:

(1) In calendar year 2000, 3.5 per cent;

(2) In calendar year 2001, 3.0 per cent;

(3) In calendar year 2002, 2.5 per cent;

(4) In calendar year 2003, 2.0 per cent;

(5) In calendar year 2004, 1.5 per cent;

(6) In calendar year 2005, 1.0 per cent; and

(7) In calendar year 2006 and thereafter, the tax shall be 0.5 per cent.

(b) The department shall have the authority to implement the tax rate changes in subsection (a) by prescribing tax forms and instructions that require tax reporting and payment by deduction, allocation, or any other method to determine tax liability with due regard to the tax rate changes."]

SECTION 10. Section 237-16.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.

["§237-16.5 Tax on written real property leases; deduction allowed. (a) This section relates to the leasing of real property by a lessor to a lessee. There is hereby levied, and shall be assessed and collected annually, a privilege tax against persons engaging or continuing within the State in the business of leasing real property to another, equal to four per cent of the gross proceeds or gross income received or derived from the leasing; provided that where real property is subleased by a lessee to a sublessee, the lessee, as provided in this section, shall be allowed a deduction from the amount of gross proceeds or gross income received from its sublease of the real property. The deduction shall be in the amount allowed under this section.

All deductions under this section and the name and general excise tax number of the lessee's lessor shall be reported on the general excise tax return. Any deduction allowed under this section shall only be allowed with respect to leases and subleases in writing and relating to the same real property.

(b) The lessee shall obtain from its lessor a certificate, in the form as the department shall prescribe, certifying that the lessor is subject to tax under this chapter on the gross proceeds or gross income received from the lessee. The absence of the certificate in itself shall give rise to the presumption that the lessee is not allowed the deduction under this section.

(c) If various real property or space leased to the lessee have different rental values, then the total monetary gross proceeds or gross income paid to a lessor for all real property or space shall first be allocated to the fair rental value for each real property or space. If the lessee leases less than one hundred per cent of real property or space that was leased from the lessor to a sublessee, then the total monetary gross proceeds or gross income paid by the lessee for that real property or space to its lessor shall be allocated. The percentage of real property or space subleased shall be multiplied by the monetary gross proceeds or gross income paid for the real property or space by the lessee to its lessor. The product of the preceding multiplication shall be deducted from the monetary gross proceeds or gross income received for real property or space by the lessee.

Once the allocations are made, the appropriate deduction under subsection (g) shall be made.

(d) The lessor shall make allocations under this section at the time the sublease is entered into and the allocations shall not be changed during the term of the sublease. There shall be a reasonable basis for the allocations, taking into consideration the size, quality, and location of the real property or space subleased. In no event shall the total amount allocated to all subleases exceed the total monetary gross proceeds paid by the lessee to its lessor. The director may redetermine the amount of the deduction under this section if the director finds that the basis for allocation is not reasonable or that redetermination is necessary to prevent the avoidance of taxes.

(e) As used in this section:

"Lease" means the rental of real property under an instrument in writing by which one conveys real property for a specified term and for a specified consideration, and includes the written extension or renegotiation of a lease, and any holdover tenancy.

"Lessee" means one who holds real property under lease, and includes a sublessee.

"Lessor" means one who conveys real property by lease, and includes a sublessor.

"Real property or space" means the area actually rented and used by the lessee, and includes common elements as defined in section 514A-3.

"Sublease" includes the rental of real property which is held under a lease and is made in a written document by which one conveys real property for a specified term and for a specified consideration. Sublease includes the written extension or renegotiation of a sublease and any holdover tenancy under the written sublease.

"Sublessee" means one who holds real property under a sublease.

"Sublessor" means one who conveys real property by sublease.

(f) This section shall not cause the tax upon a lessor, with respect to any item of the lessor's gross proceeds or gross income, to exceed four per cent.

(g) After allocation under subsection (c), if necessary, the deduction under this section shall be allowed from the gross proceeds or gross income of the lessee received from its sublease in an amount calculated by multiplying the gross proceeds or gross income paid by the lessee to its lessor for the lease of the real property by the following amount:

(1) In calendar year 1998, .125;

(2) In calendar year 1999, .25;

(3) In calendar year 2000, .375;

(4) In calendar year 2001, .50;

(5) In calendar year 2002, .625;

(6) In calendar year 2003, .75; and

(7) In calendar year 2004, and thereafter, .875.

The amount calculated under paragraphs (1) to (7) shall be deducted by the lessee from the lessee's total reported gross proceeds or gross income. The deduction allowed by this subsection may be taken by the fiscal and calendar year lessees."]

SECTION 11. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 12. This Act shall take effect upon its approval and shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2002.

INTRODUCED BY:

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