Hawaii does not use a traditional sales tax. Instead, the Hawaii Department of Taxation administers the General Excise Tax, usually called GET, which is imposed on gross income rather than on the final retail sale. That difference matters for ecommerce sellers and cross-border businesses because GET can apply more broadly than a typical sales tax, including many service transactions as well as sales of goods.
If you sell into Hawaii and you have a physical presence in the state, or you meet Hawaii’s economic nexus standard, you generally need to register for a Hawaii GET license through Hawaii Tax Online. Registration is handled by the Hawaii Department of Taxation, and the state charges a one-time registration fee. If you want a done-for-you compliance team to handle registration, filings, and ongoing support, Sales Tax Compliance USA can take that work off your plate and keep you focused on selling.
Because Hawaii’s rules are different from most states, the safest approach is to confirm your registration trigger, filing frequency, and taxable transaction mix before you start collecting or remitting. If your facts are unusual, the exact position depends on your circumstances — confirm it with the Hawaii Department of Taxation, or talk to us and we will check it for you.
Get done-for-you Hawaii sales tax compliance support
Sales Tax Compliance USA is a done-for-you service for ecommerce and cross-border sellers that need help with Hawaii GET and other US sales tax obligations. We are a people-led compliance service, not software. That means we handle the practical work of reviewing your facts, helping you register, tracking your filing obligations, and keeping your business current with the state’s requirements.
For Hawaii, that support is especially useful because GET does not behave like ordinary sales tax. We can help you evaluate whether you need a Hawaii GET license, understand the filing cadence you should be on, and manage the filings and deadlines that follow. If your business is growing or selling through multiple channels, having a dedicated compliance team can reduce the burden on your internal staff and lower the risk of missed filings.
If you want help with Hawaii registration or ongoing return work, reach out and we will review your situation. If the answer depends on your product mix, transaction counts, or filing history, we will tell you what needs to be checked and handle the process with you from there.
Hawaii GET compliance overview for business owners
| Topic | What matters in Hawaii |
|---|---|
| Tax type | General Excise Tax is imposed on gross income, not a true retail sales tax. |
| Taxable activity | Applies to goods and services; service revenue can be taxable. |
| Registration trigger | Register if you do business in Hawaii, have physical nexus, or meet economic nexus. |
| Economic nexus threshold | The exact position here depends on your own facts, so it is worth confirming with the state directly or talking to us about your situation. |
| Registration system | Hawaii Tax Online or Form BB-1 with the Hawaii Department of Taxation. |
| Registration fee | One-time $20 registration fee. |
| Periodic filing frequency | Hawaii generally requires monthly GET returns when expected annual GET liability exceeds $4,000, quarterly returns when liability exceeds $2,000 but does not exceed $4,000, and semiannual returns when liability does not exceed $2,000, with an annual reconciliation return required for all taxpayers. |
| Periodic return due date | 20th day of the month after the filing period ends. |
| Annual return due date | 20th day of the fourth month after the taxable year ends; April 20 for calendar-year filers. |
| Renewal | A GET license is not treated as an annual renewal license; ongoing filing remains required. |
Frequently asked questions
What is Hawaii’s general excise tax?
Hawaii’s general excise tax, or GET, is the state’s tax on gross income from doing business in Hawaii. It is different from a traditional sales tax because it is imposed on the business’s receipts rather than only on a retail sale to the end customer. The tax can apply to both goods and services, which makes it broader than many business owners expect.
Who needs to register for Hawaii GET?
Any business engaging in business activities in Hawaii, any business with physical nexus in the state, and any remote seller that meets Hawaii’s economic nexus threshold needs to register. The Hawaii Department of Taxation expects registration when the obligation exists, not only after you have filed a return. If you are not sure whether your activity crosses the line, you should confirm it before collecting or remitting.
What is the Hawaii economic nexus threshold?
Hawaii’s economic nexus threshold for GET is $100,000 in gross income or receipts, or 200 or more transactions, in the current or preceding calendar year. Hitting either threshold can create a registration and filing obligation for a remote seller. Businesses should monitor both value and transaction count because either one can trigger the rule.
How do you register for a Hawaii GET license?
You can register through Hawaii Tax Online or file Form BB-1 with the Hawaii Department of Taxation. The process requires your business information, selection of the tax type, and payment of the one-time registration fee. If you are registering because you crossed economic nexus, you should begin the process as soon as you confirm the obligation.
How much does Hawaii GET registration cost?
The Hawaii Department of Taxation charges a one-time $20 registration fee for the GET license application. That fee is paid when you register. If your facts require other tax registrations as well, additional filing obligations may apply, but the GET registration fee itself is one-time.
Not sure how this applies to your business? We handle US sales tax registration, filing and remittance for ecommerce sellers as a fully managed service, for one fee. Book a free consultation and we will review your own position with you.
How long does Hawaii GET registration take?
The Department of Taxation can process registration after you submit the application and fee, but the exact timing depends on the completeness of your filing and the state’s processing workload. Because the processing timeline can vary, it is safest to plan ahead and register before you need to file. If timing is critical, ask for help and we will check the current position with you.
Do you have to renew a Hawaii GET license?
Hawaii GET licensing is not generally treated like an annual renewal permit. The ongoing obligation is to keep filing the required periodic and annual returns on time. If your business details change, you should update your registration information with the Department of Taxation.
What are the Hawaii GET filing deadlines?
Periodic Form G-45 returns are due on the 20th day of the month following the close of the filing period. The annual Form G-49 reconciliation return is due on the 20th day of the fourth month following the end of the taxable year, which is April 20 for calendar-year filers. If the due date falls on a weekend or legal holiday, the deadline moves to the next regular workday.
How we handle this for you
The mechanics in Hawaii are manageable on their own; the cost is the time it takes every single filing period, in every state you are registered in. We are a managed service: our team registers you with the Hawaii Department of Taxation, prepares and files your returns, and keeps you compliant period after period. You get one point of contact and one invoice — you do not get another dashboard to learn.
See our sales tax compliance services, check where you have obligations with the nexus calculator, or talk to us about Hawaii.
Official sources
- https://tax.hawaii.gov/get/
- https://tax.hawaii.gov/geninfo/get/
- https://files.hawaii.gov/tax/forms/current/g45ins.pdf
- https://files.hawaii.gov/tax/legal/brochures/GE_brochure-23.pdf
- https://hitax.hawaii.gov
Reviewed by Paul le Roux, CA(SA). Sales Tax Compliance USA handles US sales tax registration, filing and remittance for cross-border and domestic ecommerce sellers as a fully managed service.
This page is general information for educational purposes and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Sales tax rules change and depend on your specific facts. Consult a qualified tax professional about your own position.
Related guides
Registration in nearby states: California · Washington
Selling into several states? Check where you have crossed a threshold with the free nexus diagnostic, see the full 51-state threshold table, or browse every state guide.