HONOLULU - The printing and mailing of general excise/use, transient accommodations, and rental motor vehicle and tour vehicle surcharge tax return forms booklets for certain Hawaii taxpayers who file their returns semiannually was inadvertently delayed. Affected taxpayers will begin receiving their forms booklets next week, and all taxpayers should have their booklets before the filing deadline for the first semiannual return, which for most taxpayers is July 31, 2003.

The delay resulted when the initial computer run to generate the booklet information for the vendor that prints and mails the booklets was interrupted.

The Department will automatically waive penalty and interest charges for failing to timely file semiannual tax returns due on July 31, 2003, provided that ALL of the following requirements are met:

• The taxpayer is on the Department's list of affected taxpayers;
• The taxpayer files the return on or before Thursday, August 21, 2003;
• The taxpayer makes full payment of the taxes due on the return on or before Thursday, August 21, 2003, AND
• The taxpayer otherwise complies with the tax laws.

Taxpayers who are not on the Department's list of affected taxpayers are not eligible for this waiver.

Taxpayers who would like to file their semiannual returns before receiving a forms booklet may download the general excise/use, transient accommodations, and rental motor vehicle and tour vehicle surcharge tax periodic returns (Forms G-45, TA-1, and RV-2, respectively) and the payment voucher (Form VP-1) from the Department's website at www.state.hi.us/tax. By using the form files with writable fields, taxpayers may type in their entries and print the completed forms.

The Department's website also contains a link for persons to find their Hawaii tax license number if needed.

Semiannual general excise and transient accommodations tax returns also may be e-filed via the State's Internet portal at www.ehawaiigov.org/efile. There is a $2.50 fee for transactions involving a payment; there is no fee if there is no payment. Payments can be made with an electronic check or by credit card. However, an additional processing fee imposed by the credit card companies will be passed on to taxpayers paying by credit card.

Taxpayers may also obtain blank forms at any district tax office or by calling the Department's Forms Request Line at 587-7572 (toll-free from the neighbor islands and continental U.S. at 1-800-222-7572) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Allow 2-3 days for mailing.

Persons who do not receive their forms booklet by July 24, 2003, or who need assistance finding their tax license number and obtaining the proper forms should call the Department's Taxpayer Services Branch during business hours at 587-4242, or toll-free at 1-800-222-3229.

Staff will look up the caller's license number, verify the caller's mailing address, change the address and request another booklet if the original booklet was mailed to an incorrect address, and mail blank forms to the taxpayer.

The Department apologizes for the inconvenience, and appreciates those who called and provided the Department with the information needed to identify, print, and mail the missing booklets in a timely manner.