Hawaii Sales Tax Calculator 2026: 4.5% GET and 4.712% Pass-On

Hawaii Sales Tax Calculator 2026

Hawaii does not have a sales tax. It has a general excise tax (GET) on businesses, which most sellers pass on to customers. The retail rate is 4%, and all four counties (Honolulu, Kauai, Hawaii and Maui) add a 0.5% surcharge, for 4.5%. Because the tax is charged on the seller's gross receipts, including the tax they pass on, the most a seller can add to your bill is 4.712%. Groceries are taxed. Enter a price below; the local part is the 0.5% county surcharge.

By AwaisLast reviewed October 28, 2026

Hawaii sales tax at a glance

Hawaii sales tax rules
Type of tax	General excise tax (on the seller, usually passed on)
State rate	4%
Local rates	Average 0.50%, highest 0.50%
Average combined rate	4.50%
Groceries	Taxed (4.5% GET)Groceries are subject to GET like other goods. Only purchases made with SNAP or WIC benefits are exempt.
Prescription drugs	ExemptPrescription drugs sold by a licensed pharmacy or hospital are exempt from GET.
Clothing	TaxedClothing is subject to the 4% GET plus the county surcharge. Hawaii has no tax holiday.

Local averages are population-weighted figures from the Tax Foundation: State and Local Sales Tax Rates, Midyear 2026 (rates as of 1 July 2026). They are a guide, not the rate at any one address. For the exact rate where you buy, use the Hawaii Department of Taxation: County surcharge on general excise tax.

Worked examples

A $200 purchase in Honolulu at 4.5%

A $200 purchase in Honolulu at 4.5%
Rate	4% state + 0.5% local = 4.5%
Price before tax	$200.00
Sales tax	$9.00
Total	$209.00

Working: $200.00 × 4.5% = $9.00. This is the statutory 4.5% (4% GET plus the 0.5% county surcharge). Many sellers add the 4.712% maximum pass-on rate instead, which comes to a little more.

Working back from a $104.50 bill at 4.5%

Working back from a $104.50 bill at 4.5%
Rate	4% state + 0.5% local = 4.5%
Price before tax	$100.00
Sales tax	$4.50
Total	$104.50

Working back: $104.50 ÷ 1.045 = $100.00, so the tax was $4.50. If the seller passed on the statutory 4.5%, dividing by 1.045 gives the price before tax. At 4.712% you would divide by 1.04712 instead.

Why receipts show 4.712%

GET is levied on a business's total receipts, and the amount it passes on to you is itself part of those receipts. To end up with enough to pay 4.5% on everything it took in, a seller can add up to 4.712% to the price: 4.5% ÷ (1 − 4.5%) ≈ 4.712%. The Department of Taxation calls this the maximum pass-on rate, and it is now the same in every county. Sellers may also show 4.5% or build the tax into the price, but they cannot visibly charge more than the tax owed.

The county surcharge and what is exempt

The 0.5% county surcharge applies only to activities taxed at the 4% retail rate, not to wholesale sales (0.5%) or insurance commissions (0.15%). Honolulu has charged it since 2007, Kauai since 2019, Hawaii County since 2020 and Maui since 1 January 2024, and it runs through 2030. Hawaii has a very broad tax base: services and groceries are taxed, and only SNAP and WIC purchases of food are exempt. Prescription drugs from a licensed pharmacy are exempt, and from 2026 so are some Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE health care purchases.

Frequently asked questions

Does Hawaii have a sales tax?

Not technically. Hawaii has a general excise tax on businesses, 4% plus a 0.5% county surcharge, which sellers usually pass on to customers, so it works much like a sales tax.

Why is the tax 4.712% on my Hawaii receipt?

Because GET is charged on the seller's receipts, including the tax passed on. To cover 4.5% on everything, a seller can add up to 4.712%, the maximum pass-on rate.

Are groceries taxed in Hawaii?

Yes. Hawaii does not exempt groceries from the general excise tax. Only food bought with SNAP or WIC benefits is exempt.

Is the GET the same on every Hawaiian island?

Yes, since Maui added its 0.5% surcharge on 1 January 2024. All four counties now charge 4% plus 0.5%, with a 4.712% maximum pass-on rate.

What is the sales tax rate in Hawaii in 2026?

The statewide rate is 4%. Local taxes add 0.50% on average and up to 0.50%, so the average combined rate is 4.50% (Tax Foundation, rates as of 1 July 2026).

How do I calculate Hawaii sales tax on a purchase?

Add the state and local rates, then multiply the price by that rate as a decimal. At 4.5% (the state rate plus the average local rate), tax on $100 is 100 × 0.045 = $4.50, for a total of $104.50. To go back from a receipt total, divide it by 1 plus the rate.