HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
1213
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to taxation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Section 247-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§247-2 Basis and rate of tax. [Underlined: (a)] The tax imposed by section 247-1 shall be based on the actual and full consideration (whether cash or otherwise, including any promise, act, forbearance, property interest, value, gain, advantage, benefit, or profit), paid or to be paid for all transfers or conveyance of realty or any interest therein, that shall include any liens or encumbrances thereon at the time of sale, lease, sublease, assignment, transfer, or conveyance, and shall be at the following rates:
(1) Except as provided in [[Struck through: paragraph (2):]] [Underlined: paragraphs (2) and (3):]
(A) Ten cents per $100 for properties with a value of less than $600,000;
(B) Twenty cents per $100 for properties with a value of at least $600,000, but less than $1,000,000;
(C) Thirty cents per $100 for properties with a value of at least $1,000,000, but less than $2,000,000;
(D) Fifty cents per $100 for properties with a value of at least $2,000,000, but less than $4,000,000;
(E) Seventy cents per $100 for properties with a value of at least $4,000,000, but less than $6,000,000;
(F) Ninety cents per $100 for properties with a value of at least $6,000,000, but less than $10,000,000; and
(G) One dollar per $100 for properties with a value of $10,000,000 or greater; [[Struck through: and]]
(2) For the sale of a condominium or single family residence for which the purchaser is ineligible for a county homeowner's exemption on property tax:
(A) Fifteen cents per $100 for properties with a value of less than $600,000;
(B) Twenty-five cents per $100 for properties with a value of at least $600,000, but less than $1,000,000;
(C) Forty cents per $100 for properties with a value of at least $1,000,000, but less than $2,000,000;
(D) Sixty cents per $100 for properties with a value of at least $2,000,000, but less than $4,000,000;
(E) Eighty-five cents per $100 for properties with a value of at least $4,000,000, but less than $6,000,000;
(F) One dollar and ten cents per $100 for properties with a value of at least $6,000,000, but less than $10,000,000; and
(G) One dollar and twenty-five cents per $100 for properties with a value of $10,000,000 or greater[[Struck through: ,]][Underlined: ; and]
[Underlined: (3)] [Underlined: For the sale of residential real property in which the purchaser is a person who has not filed an income tax return in this State, pursuant to chapter 235, within the preceding four years: three hundred dollars per $100,]
of [[Struck through: such]] [Underlined: the] actual and full consideration; provided that in the case of a lease or sublease, this chapter shall apply only to a lease or sublease whose full unexpired term is for a period of five years or more, and in those cases, including (where appropriate) those cases where the lease has been extended or amended, the tax in this chapter shall be based on the cash value of the lease rentals discounted to present day value and capitalized at the rate of six per cent, plus the actual and full consideration paid or to be paid for any and all improvements, if any, that shall include on-site as well as off‑site improvements, applicable to the leased premises; and provided further that the tax imposed for each transaction shall be not less than $1.
[Underlined: (b) As used in this section, "residential real property" means fee simple or leasehold real property upon which is situated:]
[Underlined: (1)] [Underlined: From one to four dwelling units; or]
[Underlined: (2)] [Underlined: A residential condominium or cooperative apartment,]
[Underlined: the primary use of which is occupancy as a residence by any natural person or persons, regardless of whether the property owner resides on the property.]"
SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2026.
INTRODUCED BY:
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Report Title:
Conveyance Tax; Residential Real Property; Rates
Description:
Imposes a conveyance tax rate of 300% on sales of residential real property to persons who have not filed a Hawaii state income tax return within the preceding 4-year period.
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