Rules regarding the application of the intermediary services rate in section 237-13(6), Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), have been adopted by the Department of Taxation ("Department") and signed by Governor Benjamin J. Cayetano. The rules took effect on January 22, 1999.

Pyramiding of the general excise tax is alleviated by the one-half percent intermediary services rate. The rules implementing section 237-13(6), HRS, were based upon case law strictly interpreting the application of the one-half percent intermediary services rate.¹

A taxpayer qualifies for the one-half percent intermediary services rate if the following conditions are satisfied:

1. The taxpayer must provide services;
2. Upon the request or order of another service business which acts as an intermediary between the taxpayer and the ultimate customer of the service;
3. Both the taxpayer and intermediary are licensed persons in the State;
4. There are at least three parties; and
5. The gross income received by a licensed seller from the ultimate customer is subject to the general excise tax at the four percent rate.

The intermediary must be a "mere conduit" for the taxpayer's services. In re Tax Appeal of Busk Enterprises, 53 Haw. 318 (1972). The rules specify that the intermediary must not alter, use, or otherwise consume the taxpayer's services. The taxpayer's services are altered, used, or consumed if the taxpayer's services constitute a portion of the total services performed by the intermediary for the customer, or the taxpayer's services are incorporated into services performed by other taxpayers for the customer. Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) Section 18-237-13(6)-06.

For example, the intermediary services rate may be applicable where a customer goes to an auto body shop (intermediary) and the auto body shop subcontracts the entire work to another auto body shop. The intermediary services rate, however, is not applicable where the auto body shop subcontracts only the painting to an auto paint shop and the auto body shop does the rest of the work.

A new Form G-16, relating to the certificate for the resale of services by a licensed intermediary, has been developed by the Department. A copy of Form G-16 is attached to this Announcement. If an intermediary executes Form G-16, it is applicable to every purchase of services from a taxpayer (Service Provider), unless it is specified in writing that the certificate does not apply or until the certificate is revoked by notice in writing. HAR Section 237-13(6)-09(b)(3).

The adopted rules also clarify that professionals qualify for intermediary services relief if they fulfill all five conditions discussed above.

A copy of the rule and other tax information may be downloaded from the Department's website at: http://www.state/hi.us/tax/tax.html. Alternatively, to request a written copy of the rule, please mail a request to the Department of Taxation, Attention: Rules Office, P. O. Box 259, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96809-0259. Please include your name and address, identify the rule ("intermediary services rule"), and a check for $14.00 (50 cents per copied page x 28 pages) payable to the "Director of Finance." The law requires that agencies, including the Department of Taxation, charge for copies of the rules. While several bills have been introduced in the 1999 Legislature to clarify the law, including bills which would reduce the copying fee, nothing has been enacted at the present time.

/s/
RAY K. KAMIKAWA
Director of Taxation

Attachment: Form G-16, Rev. 1999

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HRS Section Explained: HRS Section 237-13
 

• ^1. HRS Section 237-13(6) provides in pertinent part as follows:  Tax on service business.  Upon every person engaging or continuing within the State in any service business or calling not otherwise specifically taxed under this chapter, there is likewise hereby levied and shall be assessed and collected a tax equal to four per cent of the gross income of the business; provided that where any person engaging or continuing within the State in any service business or calling renders those services upon the order of or at the request of another taxpayer who is engaged in the service business and who, in fact, acts as or acts in the nature of an intermediary between the person rendering those services and the ultimate recipient of the benefits of those services, so much of the gross income as is received by the person rendering the services shall be subjected to the tax at the rate of one-half of one per cent and all of the gross income received by the intermediary from the principal shall be subjected to a tax at the rate of four per cent[.] <<BACK>>