Hawaii Property Tax Rates
First Installment Due
*Nothing contained in this post is intended as tax advice, provided for informational purposes only. Consult your tax advisor for guidance.
Across Hawaii's four counties, the new property tax year and rates went into effect July 1, 2023, for the fiscal year running through June 30, 2024. Each Hawaii county has the same annual billing and installment due date schedule, with the first installment of property tax due by August 20, and the second installment due by February 20 or the next business day if either date falls on a weekend or holiday.
Across each Hawaii county, real property (real estate) is taxed based on zoning and use, however each county has its own rates and land-use categories. So, if you are involved in a move from one island to another, or you are considering a different use for your real estate it's a good idea to research the real property tax rates for the applicable county and use.
County of Hawaii
Rates range from $6.15 per $1,000 valuation for homeowners with a filed exemption up to $13.60 per $1,000 for residential properties valued over $2,000,000. The County of Hawaii has some of the highest rates when compared with the other counties, however median property and land values across Hawaii Island are typically much lower than the other counties - resulting in much lower property taxes for most residents.
County of Honolulu
City & County of Honolulu encompassing all of Oahu, has a reasonable residential rate at $3.50 per $1,000 of value however that rate applies to full time owner occupants with a filed exemption. If your property is an investment property or a second home, the rate starts at $4.00 per $1,000 up to $1,000,000 in value. For properties exceeding $1,000,0000 in value, the rate jumps to $11.40 per $1,000 value above the first $1,000,000.
Condo or single-family properties located in a resort zone used for short term vacation rental, the hotel & resort rate of $13.90 applies for each $1,000 of value.
County of Kauai
Kauai has 10 different property tax rate categories including among the lowest tax rate across the island counties for approved homeowner exemptions at $2.59 per $1,000 of assessed value. Conversely, Kauai also has one of the highest median prices points for homes and condos in the State with the lower homeowner exemption rate providing some relief to full-time Kauai residents. The highest rates per $1,000 value apply to properties used by the visitor industry, with $9.85 the current year rate for Vacation Rentals and $10.85 for Hotel and Resort properties.
County of Maui (Maui, Molokai & Lanai)
Compared with other Hawaii counties, Maui has the most categories and tiers of rates that seek to limit the financial burden for owner-occupants. Non-owner-occupied properties with valuations exceeding $1,000,000 will pay the highest rates especially if the property exceeds $3,000,000 in assessed value or is operated as a short-term or transient vacation rental regardless of assessed value.
Maui homeowners affected by the recent wildfires should contact the tax office at (808) 270-7697 for information about waived property taxes or refunds if the property tax has already been paid.
Home Exemptions & Assessment Appeals
One aspect that is consistent across each county is the ability for homeowners who occupy their homes for at least 271 days between October 1 and September 30 annually, to qualify for home exemption that lowers their property tax bill.
Each county has their own exemption filing process and there may be additional exemptions depending on a homeowner's circumstances. Filing deadlines are approaching soon for exemptions to apply to next tax year.
The appeal process is also specific to each island county, refer to a specific tax office for more information.
Have a Real Estate Question?
If you need help with real estate or curious about the worth of your home? Let's connect: teamhawaii@bhhshawaii.com