New general excise tax filing deadlines are now in effect

The state Department of Taxation is reminding taxpayers new general excise tax filing and payment deadlines for periodic returns begin with returns filed for January 2010.

The deadline for island businesses to file and pay their monthly, quarterly or semiannual GET returns had been the last day of the calendar month following the close of the tax period. Under a law signed last year, however, the new deadline is the 20th day of the calendar month following the close of the tax period.

The change could have applied to returns and payments due after last May, but Tax Director Kurt Kawafuchi said implementation was postponed until this year to allow Hawaii taxpayers more time to transition to the new deadlines.