Taxes in Hilo
Hilo's tax picture combines a genuinely low effective property tax rate with Hawaii's real, statewide graduated income tax and General Excise Tax structure.
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Learn moreA genuinely low property tax rate, with a real home exemption
Hawaii County's FY2026-27 owner-occupied rate is $5.75 per $1,000 of assessed value, with an age-tiered home exemption ($40,000-$100,000) reducing the taxable base -- this record's own calculation yields an approximate effective rate near 0.53% on a representative home.
Hawaii's real, graduated income tax
Hawaii taxes income across 12 brackets up to a real 11% top marginal rate for 2026, applying statewide including Hilo.
Hawaii County's GET surcharge started earlier than Maui's
Hawaii County's 0.5% GET surcharge (combined 4.5% rate) has been in effect since January 1, 2020 -- genuinely earlier than Maui County's own 0.5% surcharge (2024).
Key takeaways
- Hilo's effective property tax rate runs near 0.53% on a representative home after the home exemption -- genuinely below the national median.
- Hawaii's 12-bracket, 11%-top-rate income tax (2026) applies statewide including Hilo.
- Hawaii County's combined GET rate is 4.5%, in effect since 2020 -- earlier than Maui County's own surcharge start.
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