Bill Text: HI HB1871 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating To Taxation.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-22 - Referred to TOU, FIN, referral sheet 4 [HB1871 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2018-HB1871-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1871
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to taxation.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature notes that Hawaii is a highly desirable vacation destination and visitors are looking for a unique visitor experience.  The popularity of short-term vacation rentals has grown enormously in the last few years and jurisdictions across the country are dealing with how to handle this emerging enterprise.

     The legislature further finds that short-term vacation rental operators use online platforms to advertise or accept reservations for their short-term vacation rentals.  Current law requires that advertisements, including online advertisements, conspicuously provide the registration identification number or the link to the number of the operator or plan manager, however enforcement of compliance is difficult.

     The purpose of this Act is to specify that:

     (1)  A person authorized to collect rent for another person is not required to pay the general excise tax on behalf of the owner;

     (2)  Transient accommodations brokers are not required to collect the transient accommodations tax unless acting as an operator of transient accommodations; and

     (3)  Transient accommodations brokers include websites that facilitate a booking of transient accommodations and are subject to applicable advertising requirements.

     SECTION 2.  Section 237-30.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§237-30.5[]]  Collection of rental by third party; filing with department; statement required.  (a)  Every person authorized under an agreement by the owner of real property located within this State to collect rent on behalf of such owner shall be subject to this section.

     (b)  Every written rental collection agreement shall have on the first page of the agreement the name, address, social security number, and, if available, the general excise tax number of the owner of the real property being rented, the address of the property being rented, and the following statement which shall be set forth in bold print and in ten-point type size:

"HAWAII GENERAL EXCISE TAXES MUST BE PAID ON THE GROSS RENTS COLLECTED BY ANY PERSON RENTING REAL PROPERTY IN THE STATE OF HAWAII.  A COPY OF THE FIRST PAGE OF THIS AGREEMENT, OR OF FEDERAL INTERNAL REVENUE FORM 1099 STATING THE AMOUNT OF RENTS COLLECTED, SHALL BE FILED WITH THE HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION."

 

     Every person entering an oral rental collection agreement shall furnish the department of taxation the information required under this subsection and shall give the owner of the property a copy of the notice required by this subsection.

     (c)  Every person authorized to collect rent for another person shall file a copy of the first page of the rental collection agreement with the department of taxation within thirty days after entering into the agreement, or shall file a copy of federal Internal Revenue form 1099, the property owner's social security number, and, if available, the general excise tax license number of the owner of the property being rented with the department of taxation at the same time as such forms must be filed with the Internal Revenue Service.

     (d)  Every person authorized under an agreement by the owner of real property located within this State to collect rent on behalf of such owner within ninety days after the effective date of this section shall furnish the department of taxation with the information required in subsection (b) and in the case of federal form 1099 such form for the taxable year 1983.  The person also shall notify the owner that such information is being furnished and give the owner a copy of the notice required by subsection (b).

     (e)  Every person authorized to collect rent for another person shall not be required to pay the general excise tax on behalf of the owner of the real property being rented and shall not be held liable for the failure of the owner to pay the general excise tax on the gross rents collected."

     SECTION 3.  Section 237D-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definition of "transient accommodations broker" to read as follows:

     ""Transient accommodations broker" means any person or entity, including but not limited to persons who operate online websites, online travel agencies, or online booking agencies, that offers, lists, advertises, facilitates, or accepts reservations or collects whole or partial payment for transient accommodations or resort time share vacation interests, units, or plans."

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

     "(b)  Every operator shall pay to the State the tax imposed by subsection (a), as provided in this chapter.  Transient accommodations brokers shall not be subject to this section unless acting as an operator."

     SECTION 5.  Section 237D-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

     "(c)  Any advertisement, including an online advertisement[,] through a transient accommodations broker, for any transient accommodation or resort time share vacation interest, plan, or unit shall conspicuously provide:

     (1)  The registration identification number or an electronic link to the registration identification number of the operator or plan manager issued pursuant to this section; and

     (2)  The local contact's name, phone number, and electronic mail address, provided that this paragraph shall be considered satisfied if this information is provided to the transient or occupant prior to the furnishing of the transient accommodation or resort time share vacation unit."

     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:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Taxation; General Excise Tax; Transient Accommodations Tax

 

Description:

Specifies that a person authorized to collect rent for another person is not required to pay the general excise tax on behalf of the owner.  Specifies that transient accommodations brokers are not required to pay the transient accommodations tax unless acting as an operator.  Specifies that advertisements through transient accommodations brokers are subject to advertising requirements.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.