Provides for a sliding conveyance tax rate scale on conveyances of realty by maintaining the 10 cents per $100 rate for property conveyed at up to $500,000; and adding the rates of 20 cents per $100 for property conveyed at $500,001 to $1,000,000; and 50 cents per $100 for property conveyed at over $1,000,000. Repeals Act (sliding scale) after 5 years.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. Section 247-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§247-2 Basis and rate of tax. The tax imposed by section 247-1 shall be based on the actual and full consideration (whether cash or otherwise, including any promise, act, forbearance, property interest, value, gain, advantage, benefit, or profit) paid or to be paid, which shall include any liens or encumbrances thereon at the time of sale, lease, sublease, assignment, transfer, or conveyance, and shall be at the rate of 10 cents per $100 of such actual and full consideration[;] up to $500,000; 20 cents per $100 of the actual and full consideration from $500,001 to $1,000,000; and 50 cents per $100 of the actual and full consideration that is over $1,000,000; provided that in the case of a lease or sublease, this chapter shall apply only to a lease or sublease whose full unexpired term is for a period of five years or more, and in those cases, including (where appropriate) those cases where the lease has been extended or amended, the tax in this chapter shall be based on the cash value of the lease rentals discounted to present day value and capitalized at the rate of six per cent, plus the actual and full consideration paid or to be paid for any and all improvements, if any, which shall include on-site as well as offsite improvements, applicable to the leased premises; and provided further that the tax imposed for each transaction shall be not less than $1."

SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2010; provided that section 247-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which it read on June 30, 2005.