THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	55
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO TAX CREDITS.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that homelessness is a serious problem in Hawaii, due in part to the high cost of housing in the State. Since 1977, the State has made tax credits available to assist eligible renters. The legislature finds that this tax credit is the third most commonly used among Hawaii residents. The income eligibility threshold was last adjusted in 1989 and the credit amount allowed was last adjusted in 1981. Since 1989, the cost of housing has increased by three hundred ninety per cent. Therefore, it is appropriate to adjust the eligibility requirements for the income tax credit for low‑income household renters.

The purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Adjust the eligibility requirements for the income tax credit for low-income household renters;

(2) More sharply target the tax credit toward lower-income taxpayers by creating tax brackets that will phase out the tax credit as the taxpayer's income rises; and

(3) Annually adjust the income thresholds and credit amounts for inflation, based on the Consumer Price Index.

SECTION 2. Section 235-55.7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§235-55.7 Income tax credit for low-income household renters. (a) As used in this section:

[(1)] "Adjusted gross income" [is defined by section 235‑1.] shall have the same meaning as the term is defined and determined under the Internal Revenue Code.

[(2)] "Qualified exemption" includes those exemptions permitted under this chapter; provided that a person for whom exemption is claimed has physically resided in the State for more than nine months during the taxable year; [and] provided further that multiple [exemption] exemptions shall not be granted because of deficiencies in vision, hearing, or other disability.

[(3)] "Rent" means the amount paid in cash in any taxable year for the occupancy of a dwelling place [which] that is used by a resident taxpayer or the resident taxpayer's immediate family as the principal residence in this State. Rent is limited to the amount paid for the occupancy of the dwelling place only, and is exclusive of charges for utilities, parking stalls, storage of goods, yard services, furniture, furnishings, and the like. Rent shall not include any rental claimed as a deduction from gross income or adjusted gross income for income tax purposes, any ground rental paid for use of land only, [and] or any rent allowance or subsidies received.

(b) Each resident taxpayer who occupies and pays rent for real property within the State as the resident taxpayer's residence or the residence of the resident taxpayer's immediate family [which] that is not partially or wholly exempted from real property tax, who is not eligible to be claimed as a dependent for federal or state income taxes by another, and who files an individual net income tax return for a taxable year, may claim a tax credit under this section against the resident taxpayer's Hawaii state individual net income tax.

(c) Each taxpayer [with an adjusted gross income of less than $30,000] who has paid more than $1,000 in rent during the taxable year for which the credit is claimed may claim a tax credit [of $50] based on the taxpayer's adjusted gross income, in accordance with the table below, multiplied by the number of qualified exemptions to which the taxpayer is entitled; provided that each taxpayer sixty-five years of age or over may claim double the tax credit; [and] provided further that a resident individual who has no income or no income taxable under this chapter may also claim the tax credit as set forth in this section.

(1) Taxpayer filing a single return or a married individual filing separately:

Adjusted gross income Credit per exemption

Under $20,000 $200

$20,000 under $30,000 $150

$30,000 under $40,000 $100

$40,000 and over $ 0.

(2) Taxpayer filing as a head of household:

Adjusted gross income Credit per exemption

Under $30,000 $200

$30,000 under $45,000 $150

$45,000 under $60,000 $100

$60,000 and over $ 0.

(3) Taxpayer filing a joint return under section 235-93 or as a surviving spouse:

Adjusted gross income Credit per exemption

Under $40,000 $200

$40,000 under $60,000 $150

$60,000 under $80,000 $100

$80,000 and over $ 0.

(d) For each taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2025, the director, no later than December 15 of the preceding calendar year, shall recompute the amounts of the adjusted gross income bracket thresholds and the credit per exemption contained in the tables in subsection (c) by multiplying the dollar amount for the preceding taxable year by the cost-of-living adjustment factor, if the cost-of-living adjustment factor is greater than zero, and rounding off the resulting product to the nearest $1; provided that if the cost-of-living adjustment factor is less than or equal to zero in a given year, no adjustment shall occur in the following year.

For purposes of this subsection, the cost-of-living adjustment factor is calculated by adding 1.0 to the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, as published by the United States Department of Labor, from July of the preceding calendar year to July of the current calendar year. If the Consumer Price Index is discontinued, the Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, as published by the United States Department of Labor, shall be used to calculate the cost-of-living adjustment factor.

[(d)] (e) If a rental unit is occupied by two or more individuals, and more than one individual is able to qualify as a claimant, the claim for credit shall be based upon a pro rata share of the rent paid.

[(e)] (f) The tax credits shall be deductible from the taxpayer's individual net income tax for the tax year in which the credits are properly claimed; provided that [a husband and wife] married individuals filing separate returns for a taxable year for which a joint return could have been made by them shall claim only the tax credits to which they would have been entitled had a joint return been filed. In the event the allowed tax credits exceed the amount of the income tax payments due from the taxpayer, the excess of credits over payments due shall be refunded to the taxpayer; provided that allowed tax credits properly claimed by an individual who has no income tax liability shall be paid to the individual; [and] provided further that no refunds or payments on account of the tax credits allowed by this section shall be made for amounts less than $1.

[(f)] (g) The director of taxation shall prepare and prescribe the appropriate form or forms to be used herein, may require proof of the claim for tax credits, and may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91.

[(g)] (h) All of the provisions relating to assessments and refunds under this chapter and under section 231-23(c)(1) shall apply to the tax credits hereunder.

[(h)] (i) Claims for tax credits under this section, including any amended claims [thereof], shall be filed on or before the end of the twelfth month following the taxable year for which the credit may be claimed."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050, and shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022.

Report Title:

Income Tax Credit for Low-Income Household Renters; Adjustments

Description:

Increases the income thresholds and credit amounts of the income tax credit for low-income household renters by using tax brackets for individuals and different categories of households. Annually adjusts the income thresholds and credit amounts for inflation, based on the consumer price index. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

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