HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1187

TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE LIQUOR TAX.

 

 

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

 


PART I

     SECTION 1.  The purpose of this part is to increase the various liquor tax rates and provide a general excise tax exemption for gross income or gross proceeds received by wholesalers from the sale of liquor subject to the liquor tax.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 237, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§237-    Exemption; wholesaler; liquor.  (a)  Gross income or gross proceeds received by a wholesaler from the sale of liquor subject to the gallonage tax under section 244D-4 shall be exempt from the taxes imposed by this chapter."

     SECTION 3.  Section 244D-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  Every person who sells or uses any liquor in the State not taxable under this chapter, in respect of the transaction by which the person or the person's vendor acquired the liquor, shall pay a gallonage tax which is hereby imposed at the following rates for the various liquor categories defined in section 244D-1:

     [For the period July 1, 1997, to June 30, 1998, the tax rate shall be:

     (1)  $5.92 per wine gallon on distilled spirits;

     (2)  $2.09 per wine gallon on sparkling wine;

     (3)  $1.36 per wine gallon on still wine;

     (4)  $0.84 per wine gallon on cooler beverages;

     (5)  $0.92 per wine gallon on beer other than draft beer;

     (6)  $0.53 per wine gallon on draft beer;

     On] From July 1, [1998,] 2011, and thereafter, the tax rate shall be:

     (1)  [$5.98] $     per wine gallon on distilled spirits;

     (2)  [$2.12] $     per wine gallon on sparkling wine;

     (3)  [$1.38] $     per wine gallon on still wine;

     (4)  [$0.85] $     per wine gallon on cooler beverages;

     (5)  [$0.93] $     per wine gallon on beer other than draft beer;

     (6)  [$0.54] $     per wine gallon on draft beer;

and at a proportionate rate for any other quantity so sold or used."


PART II

     SECTION 4.  Chapter 244D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§244D-     Small breweries and brewpubs; tax.  Every small brewery or brewpub that brews or produces beer in the State shall pay a gallonage tax of 23 cents per gallon of beer on the first sixty thousand barrels of beer brewed or produced during the taxable year.  Beer produced after the first sixty thousand barrels during a taxable year shall be taxed under section 244D-4(a)."

     SECTION 5.  Section 244D-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new definitions to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:

     ""Barrel" means a barrel containing not more that thirty-one gallons or wine gallons of liquor.

     "Small brewery or brewpub" means a brewery or brewpub that brews or produces not more than two million barrels of beer per taxable year."

     SECTION 6.  Section 244D-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  The tax levied pursuant to subsection (a) shall be paid only once upon the same liquor; provided further that the tax shall not apply to:

     (1)  Liquor held for sale by a permittee but not yet sold;

     (2)  Liquor sold by one permittee to another permittee;

     (3)  Liquor which under the Constitution and laws of the United States cannot be legally subjected to the tax imposed by this chapter so long as and to the extent to which the State is without power to impose the tax;

     (4)  Liquor sold for sacramental purposes or the use of liquor for sacramental purposes, or any liquor imported pursuant to section 281-33;

     (5)  Alcohol sold pursuant to section 281-37 to a person holding a purchase permit or prescription therefor, or any sale or use of alcohol, so purchased, for other than beverage purposes[.]; or

     (6)  Beer or draft beer that is brewed or produced in the State by a small brewery or brewpub, except as provided under section 244D-   ."

     SECTION 7.  Section 244D-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§244D-6  Return, form, contents.  Every taxpayer shall, on or before the twentieth day of each month, file with the department of taxation in the taxation district in which the taxpayer's business premises are located, or with the department in Honolulu, a return showing all sales of liquor by gallonage and dollar volume in each liquor category defined in section 244D-1 and taxed under section 244D-4(a) or 244D-    made by the taxpayer during the preceding month, showing separately the amount of the nontaxable sales, and the amount of the taxable sales, and the tax payable thereon.  The return shall also show the amount of liquor by gallonage and dollar volume in each liquor category defined in section 244D-1 and taxed under section 244D-4(a) or 244D-    used during the preceding month which is subject to tax, and the tax payable thereon.  The form of return shall be prescribed by the department and shall contain such information as it may deem necessary for the proper administration of this chapter."

     SECTION 8.  Section 244D-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  Every dealer shall keep a record of all sales of liquor by gallonage and dollar volume in each liquor category defined in section 244D-1 and taxed under section 244D-4(a) or 244D-    made by the dealer, in such form as the department of taxation may prescribe.  Every person holding a license under the liquor law, other than a manufacturer's or wholesaler's license, shall keep a record of all purchases by the person of liquor by gallonage and dollar volume in each liquor category defined in section 244D-1 and taxed under section 244D-4(a) or 244D-   , in such form as the department may prescribe.  All such records shall be offered for inspection and examination at any time upon demand by the department or commission and shall be preserved for a period of five years, except that the department may in writing consent to their destruction within such period or may require that they be kept longer.

     The department may by rule require the dealer to keep such other records as it may deem necessary for the proper enforcement of this chapter."

PART III

     SECTION 9.  If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the Act, which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are severable.

     SECTION 10.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 11.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2112.


 


 

Report Title:

Liquor Tax

 

Description:

Increases the liquor tax rates.  Establishes a general excise tax exemption for wholesalers on the sale of liquor subject to the liquor tax.  Reduces the liquor tax rate on beer for small breweries or brewpubs.  Effective July 1, 2112.  (HB1187 HD1)

 

 

 

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