Hawaii sales tax for salons

Are haircuts and salon services taxable in Hawaii?

Yes. Hawaii's general excise tax is assessed on all business activities, salon services included, at 4% plus the county surcharge where a county has adopted one. Below: each kind of service, the products you sell, the rate and the permit a salon needs, each answered from the Hawaii Department of Taxation's own publications, rules or statutes, read on October 25, 2026.

Haircuts
Taxable
Nails
Taxable
Products you sell
Taxable
State rate
4%

Administered by Hawaii Department of Taxation.The agency's page The state's own words

Services

Which salon services are taxable in Hawaii?

Yes. Hawaii's general excise tax is assessed on all business activities, salon services included, at 4% plus the county surcharge where a county has adopted one.

Hair services
Taxable
Nail services
Taxable
Skin care and waxing
Taxable

Hair services: haircuts, color, styling, perms and shaves. Nail services: manicures, pedicures and enhancements. Skin care: facials, waxing and other hair removal, and makeup.

Products

Do salons charge sales tax on products in Hawaii?

Yes. Products a salon sells to clients are retail sales of tangible personal property, which are subject to the 4% General Excise Tax (plus any county surcharge). The state rate is 4% plus local tax.

The rate

What is the sales tax rate in Hawaii?

Statewide tax
General Excise Tax (GET)
State rate
4%
Local sales taxes
Yes, added by cities, counties or districts

The rate a client pays depends on the salon's address: look it up with the Hawaii Department of Taxation.

The permit

Does a salon need a sales tax permit in Hawaii?

GET license. Register for a General Excise Tax license through Hawaii Tax Online (BB-1 application) for a one-time $20 fee before you start collecting GET.

Registration
GET license
State fee
$20

Register with the Hawaii Department of Taxation

Good to know

What else Hawaii says about salons and sales tax

  • The GET is imposed on the business, not the customer; a salon may choose to show the tax visibly on the bill.
  • Honolulu adds a 0.5% county surcharge on top of the 4% state GET, through December 31, 2030.
  • A closed GET license cannot be reactivated; the salon must apply for a new one to keep doing business.

Sources

What Hawaii's official pages say

Each answer above, in the words of the Hawaii Department of Taxation's own publications, rules or statutes, read on October 25, 2026. This is not tax advice: rules and rates change, so confirm with the Hawaii Department of Taxation or an accountant.

Hair services
“Hawaii does not have a sales tax; instead, we have the GET, which is assessed on all business activities.”
tax.hawaii.gov
Products you sell
“Selling retail goods and services, renting,”
files.hawaii.gov
The tax and its rate
“The tax rate is 0.15% for Insurance Commission, 0.5% for Wholesaling, Manufacturing, Producing, Wholesale Services, and Use Tax on Imports For Resale, and 4% for all others.”
tax.hawaii.gov
“The Legislature also authorized county governments to adopt a county surcharge on state GET at the 4% rate.”
tax.hawaii.gov
The permit
“No. The registration fee for a GET license is a onetime fee of $20.”
tax.hawaii.gov
Also good to know
“The tax is on the business and not on the customer.”
tax.hawaii.gov
Also good to know
“City and County of Honolulu: 0.5% effective January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2030.”
tax.hawaii.gov
Also good to know
“Once a GET license has been closed, you will need to apply for a new GET license to continue doing business in the State of Hawaii.”
tax.hawaii.gov

Questions

Hawaii salon sales tax, answered

Are haircuts taxable in Hawaii?
Yes. On the Hawaii Department of Taxation's official pages, Hawaii's General Excise Tax (GET) applies to haircuts, color, styling, perms and shaves, at 4% plus local tax.
Do nail salons charge sales tax in Hawaii?
Yes. On the Hawaii Department of Taxation's official pages, Hawaii's General Excise Tax (GET) applies to manicures, pedicures and nail enhancements, at 4% plus local tax.
Are facials and waxing taxable in Hawaii?
Yes. On the Hawaii Department of Taxation's official pages, Hawaii's General Excise Tax (GET) applies to facials, waxing and other hair removal, and makeup, at 4% plus local tax.
Do salons charge sales tax on products in Hawaii?
Yes. Products a salon sells to clients are retail sales of tangible personal property, which are subject to the 4% General Excise Tax (plus any county surcharge). The state rate is 4% plus local tax.
Does a salon need a sales tax permit in Hawaii?
GET license. Register for a General Excise Tax license through Hawaii Tax Online (BB-1 application) for a one-time $20 fee before you start collecting GET.
What is the sales tax rate in Hawaii?
The statewide rate of Hawaii's General Excise Tax (GET) is 4%, and cities, counties or districts add their own, so the rate a client pays depends on the salon's address. Check the rate for your address with the Hawaii Department of Taxation.

Plan the rest

Opening or running a salon in Hawaii

Salon sales tax in other states

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Are Haircuts Taxable in Hawaii? Salon Sales Tax Rules | SalonAI