Hawaii has no sales tax. The general excise tax is a tax on the business’s own gross income at 4% for retail, services and food, plus a 0.5% county surcharge on most islands, and most businesses pass it through to the customer at the register. Register on Hawaii Tax Online before the first sale; the license is issued in about a week and must be displayed. The same application opens the withholding, unemployment insurance and transient accommodations accounts.
Checked Oct 21, 2026 against the agency’s page.
Step 2 of 6: Register for tax
1Set up the business
2Register for tax
3Approve the space
4Get the permits for your kind of business
5Alcohol permits
6Before the first hire
Issued by Hawaii Department of Taxation.
Sources and dates
Department of Taxation general excise tax pages and licensing information; Basic Business Application (BB-1). Checked against the agency’s page on the date shown; cities add their own fees.
Questions about opening here.
Yes. Hawaii has no sales tax.
Yes. Hawaii has no sales tax.
Yes. Hawaii has no sales tax.
Yes. Hawaii has no sales tax.
Yes. Hawaii has no sales tax.
Yes. Hawaii has no sales tax.
Yes. Hawaii has no sales tax.
Yes. Hawaii has no sales tax.
Yes. Hawaii has no sales tax.
Yes. Hawaii has no sales tax.
Yes. Hawaii has no sales tax.
Yes. Hawaii has no sales tax.
Yes. Hawaii has no sales tax.
Yes. Hawaii has no sales tax.
Yes. Hawaii has no sales tax.
Yes. Hawaii has no sales tax.
Yes. Hawaii has no sales tax.
Yes. Hawaii has no sales tax.
Yes. Hawaii has no sales tax.
Yes. Hawaii has no sales tax.
Hawaii Department of Taxation.
Step 2 of 6, register for tax. The steps before it: set up the business.
Who needs a general excise tax license in Hawaii? | DoorWorthy
