Teachers may claim tax break on expenses
Advertiser Staff
Elementary and secondary school teachers will now be able to claim a tax deduction of up to $250 on certain expenses tied to the classroom, under one of the key changes to state tax laws for the 2003 tax year.
Tax forms and informational resources are available to Hawai'i taxpayers through: • The Web site for the state Department of Taxation: www.state.hi.us/tax. Available starting late January will be forms for the 2003 tax year with writable fields that allow users to type in their entries before printing. A search feature helps taxpayers find specific information. • Fax or mail. Call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to request Hawai'i tax forms and publications, although only selected forms are available by fax. On O'ahu, call 587-7572. Neighbor Islanders and taxpayers on the U.S. Mainland and Canada can call toll-free at (800) 222-7572. You may also order by phone for a $10 compact disc with tax forms with writable fields, tax information releases, announcements, brochures and more. • District tax offices. Tax forms and publications are available during standard business hours at district tax offices on O'ahu, Maui, the Big Island and Kaua'i. The O'ahu office is in the Princess Ruth Ke'elikolani Building at 830 Punchbowl St. The three Neighbor Island offices are located in the state office buildings of each county. O'ahu residents can also get the most commonly requested forms after hours on shelves located outside the Punchbowl Street entrance of the Ke'elikolani building.
The provision is similar to one that went into effect at the federal level for 2002, according to Cathleen Tokishi of the tax department. Eligible expenses include books, supplies and some equipment, she said.
Where taxpayers can get their forms
Also new this year is that Hawai'i residents will have the option of getting their state income tax refunds by direct deposit.
In order to get a refund by direct deposit, a taxpayer must use Form N-11, the standard residential individual income tax return used by most people who file a federal tax return. Direct deposit of refunds is expected to be available to other types of filers in future years.
A new tax credit is available for renewable energy technology systems installed and placed into service after June 30, 2003.
The energy conservation income tax credit and the residential construction and remodeling income tax credit expired on June 30, 2003.
The state Department of Taxation will mail out income tax forms and instruction packages for the 2003 tax year in late January.
Resident taxpayers will receive the package for the same form that they filed for the 2002 tax year unless they had checked a box on their form requesting only a mailing label. Nonresident taxpayers will receive a nonresident form and instruction package only if one was requested on their 2002 returns.
The deadline to file state income tax returns is April 20.
The state offers free tax preparation services to those filing the Hawai'i resident short form, Form N-13, at all district tax offices through April 20. The limited service will be available on a first-come, first-served basis weekdays from 8 a.m. to noon.
Additionally, the Taxpayer Services Branch on O'ahu handles requests for information. They can be reached, on O'ahu, at 587-4242, or call (800) 887-8974.
