Report Title:

Taxes; MV

Description:

Changes motor vehicle taxes from weight tax system to vehicle class system.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2691

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO THE VEHICLE.

 

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 249, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the title of the first subdivision to read as follows:

"VEHICLE [WEIGHT] SIZE CLASSIFICATION TAX"

SECTION 2. Section 249-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

1. By adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted and to read:

""Vehicle class" means the type of vehicle based on its size, including but not limited to the following:

(1) Two-seater vehicles;

(2) Minicompact vehicles;

(3) Subcompact vehicles;

(4) Compact vehicles;

(5) Midsize vehicles;

(6) Large vehicles;

(7) Small station wagons;

(8) Midsize station wagons;

(9) Cargo vans;

(10) Minivans;

(11) Passenger vans;

(12) Sport utility vehicles; and

(13) Standard pickup trucks."

2. By repealing the definition of "net weight".

[""Net weight" of a vehicle means the actual weight of the vehicle, as determined on a standard scale, including all equipment and accessories ordinarily attached to and used on the vehicle and, in the case of a motor vehicle, the maximum fuel, oil, and water possible of being carried for its operation; provided that "net weight" of a new standard equipped vehicle, other than a motor vehicle, means the shipping weight thereof as established by its manufacturer, and "net weight" of a new standard equipped passenger vehicle means the shipping weight thereof as established by its manufacturer, plus one hundred pounds, and "net weight" of a new standard equipped motorcycle, motor scooter, or moped, means the shipping weight thereof as established by its manufacturer, plus thirty pounds, and "net weight" of a new standard equipped truck means the shipping weight thereof as established by its manufacturer, plus two hundred pounds. On initial registration of a standard equipped vehicle, other than a motor vehicle, for which the director of finance has the manufacturer's established weight, the director of finance, in lieu of requiring the vehicle to be weighed and in order to determine the "net weight" thereof, may use such established weight and may require the owner to furnish verification of the factory serial number of the vehicle. On initial registration of standard equipped passenger vehicles, motorcycles, motor scooters, mopeds, and trucks for which the director of finance has the manufacturer's established weights, the director of finance, in lieu of requiring such motor vehicles to be weighed and in order to determine the "net weight" thereof, may use such established weights, adding one hundred pounds in the case of standard equipped passenger vehicles, thirty pounds in the case of standard equipped motorcycles, motor scooters, and mopeds, and two hundred pounds in the case of standard equipped trucks, and may require the owners to furnish verification of factory serial and engine numbers of such motor vehicles. As to a vehicle for which the manufacturer's weight is not available or whose make and model cannot be determined with reasonable certainty or which has been so altered as to increase or diminish the weight thereof, "net weight" means the actual weight of such vehicle, as determined on a standard scale, including all equipment and accessories ordinarily attached to and used on the vehicle and, in the case of a motor vehicle, the maximum fuel, oil, and water possible of being carried for its operation. In all cases information shall be presented to and in the manner prescribed by the director of finance."]

SECTION 3. Section 249-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§249-2 Imposition of tax. Except as otherwise provided in sections 249-1 to 249-13, and except in the case of antique motor vehicles which shall be subject to an annual tax of $10 in lieu of the annual tax otherwise imposed by this section, all vehicles and motor vehicles as defined in section 249-1, shall be subject to an annual tax, computed, except for the minimum tax provided for in section 249-13 according to the [net weight] vehicle class of each vehicle at a rate determined as hereinafter provided in section 249-13. The tax shall become due and payable on January 1 and must be paid before April 1, in each year. The tax shall be paid by the owner of each vehicle in the county in which the vehicle is located at the time of registration, whether the original registration or any subsequent registration, and shall be collected by the director of finance of such county; provided that if any such vehicle is transported to another county after the payment of such tax, no additional tax shall be imposed on such vehicle for the remaining period of the year for which such tax has been paid."

SECTION 4. Section 249-13, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

"(b) The rate and minimum tax for a truck or noncommercial motor vehicle shall be the same as provided for a passenger vehicle if:

(1) The truck or noncommercial motor vehicle [has a net weight of six thousand five hundred pounds or less;] is in the same vehicle class as a passenger vehicle; and

(2) The owner submits proof to the director of finance that the truck or noncommercial motor vehicle is not being operated for compensation or commercial purposes."

SECTION 5. Section 249-33, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§249-33 State vehicle [weight] class tax, exemptions. (a) All vehicles and motor vehicles in the State as defined in section 249-1, including antique motor vehicles, except as otherwise provided in sections 249-3 to 249-6, in addition to all other fees and taxes levied by this chapter, shall be subject to an annual state vehicle [weight] class tax. The tax shall be levied by the county director of finance [at the rate of .75 cents a pound according to the net weight of each vehicle as the "net weight" is defined in section 249-1 up to and including four thousand pounds net weight; vehicles over four thousand pounds and up to and including seven thousand pounds net weight shall be taxed at the rate of 1.00 cent a pound; vehicles over seven thousand pounds and up to and including ten thousand pounds net weight shall be taxed at the rate of 1.25 cents a pound; vehicles over ten thousand pounds net weight shall be taxed at a flat rate of $150].

(b) The tax shall become due and payable on January 1 and shall be paid before April 1 in each year together with all other taxes and fees levied by this chapter; provided that should any county elect to renew motor vehicle registrations on a staggered basis as authorized by section 286-51, the state vehicle [weight] class tax shall likewise be staggered so that the state vehicle [weight] class tax is collected together with the county fee. The state vehicle [weight] class tax shall be deemed delinquent if not paid with the county registration fee. The tax shall be paid by the owner of each vehicle to the director of finance of the county in which the vehicle is registered and shall be collected by the director of finance of such county together with all other fees and taxes levied by this chapter from the owner of each vehicle and motor vehicle registered in the county.

By the fifteenth day of the month following the month in which taxes under this section are collected, the director of finance of each county shall transmit the taxes collected to the state director of finance for deposit into the state highway fund.

(c) The exemptions provided by sections 249-3 to 249-6 shall apply to this section. The provisions for refunds, and taxes for fraction of years for vehicles removed from or brought into the State and for junked vehicles, contained in sections 249-3 and 249-5 shall apply to the tax levied by this section.

(d) If it is shown to the satisfaction of the department of transportation of the State, based upon proper records and from such other evidence as the department of transportation may require, that any vehicle [with a net vehicle weight of six thousand pounds or over] that is part of a vehicle class larger than that of a standard pickup truck is used for agricultural purposes the owner thereof may obtain a refund of all taxes thereon imposed by this section. The department of transportation shall prescribe rules to administer such refunds.

(e) The counties shall be reimbursed the incremental costs incurred in the collection and administration of taxes and fees imposed under section 249-31 and this section; the amount of reimbursement shall be determined by the director of transportation."

SECTION 6. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________