Sales Tax Calculator — Hawaii
Hawaii uses a 4% general excise tax rather than a conventional sales tax, applied broadly to nearly all business activity including services and rent. Counties add a small surcharge, keeping the combined rate at just 4.5% — one of the lowest headline figures despite an exceptionally wide base.
Sales tax and total price
Total with tax
$104.50
Breakdown
Hawaii's statewide base rate is 4% and its average combined state + local rate is 4.5% (pre-filled). The rate is editable because local rates vary by exact address and some items are exempt or taxed differently. Statewide rates are from the Tax Foundation, 2026. An estimate, not tax advice.
A low 4% headline on an unusually broad base
Hawaii's 4% general excise tax produces one of the lowest combined rates of any taxing state — county surcharges add only about half a point, for an average combined rate of 4.5%. The local add-on here is among the smallest in the nation.
The catch is breadth, not rate: the GET applies to nearly all business activity, including many services and rent that a conventional sales tax skips, so the low headline is taxed against a far wider base. Enter your county's combined rate; some items may be taxed differently. This is an estimate, not tax advice.
Questions
- What is Hawaii's 2026 general excise tax rate?
- Hawaii applies a 4% general excise tax, and county surcharges bring the average combined rate to 4.5% — one of the lowest headline figures in the country, though it covers a very broad base.
- Why is Hawaii's rate so low compared with other states?
- Hawaii's 4% general excise tax and small county surcharges keep the combined rate at just 4.5%, among the lowest of any taxing state. The trade-off is that the tax applies to far more activity, including services and rent.
More ways to use this calculator
Start with the main sales tax calculator or compare the other published scenarios.
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