How To Get A Hawaii Tax ID Number For LLCs (Apr. 2026)

With its prime access to a multicultural, high-tourism market, Hawaii is a great place to form your Limited Liability Company (LLC). Furthermore, the state provides strong support for small businesses via its grants and incubators. This makes it an attractive option for first-time business owners and seasoned professionals.

You must first submit your Articles of Organization to the Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs (DCCA). This officially creates your LLC and means that it is recognized as a separate legal entity.

Once formed, you must register with the Department of Taxation (DOT) and obtain the Hawaii Tax ID Number before operating. Under state rules, all businesses operating in the state must obtain a General Excise Tax (GET) License. This is a part of your tax registration process. 

In this guide, I will outline everything you need to know about the Hawaii Tax ID Number. You’ll learn the required steps needed to complete your Hawaii tax registration.

Hawaii Tax ID Number Registration Overview

Every LLC conducting business in Hawaii needs to file Form BB-1 (Business Application) with the Hawaii DOT. You must complete this registration if you want to legally operate in the state. It enrolls your LLC in Hawaii’s tax system and ensures that you comply with necessary state tax laws.

Form BB-1 is a multi-purpose application that allows you to obtain your Hawaii Tax Identification Number (TIN) and register for necessary state tax accounts. This includes the GET, which applies to nearly all LLCs operating in the state.

You can choose between three main filing methods:

1. Online: Use the Hawaii Tax Online portal. Your application takes around 5 business days to process.
2. By mail: Complete the BB-1 paper form. Your form should be processed in approximately 3-4 weeks.
3. In person: File your completed form in person at the DOT. You should receive your Hawaii Tax ID Number immediately.

You should only register for your tax ID once your LLC has been officially approved by the state, and you’ve obtained your Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). You’ll need to provide your EIN when completing your registration form.

While the tax registration process is free ($0), obtaining a GET License costs $20. There may be additional fees if you register for other application tax licenses during your registration process.

How To Get A Hawaii Tax ID Number Online

To begin your registration process, access the Hawaii Tax Online portal. Then, click “Register New Business License.”

1. Start The Form

Click “BB-1 Business Application” to access your filing form.

2. Registration Type

Next, you need to state your registration type. I’ve discussed how to complete each part in the sections below.

a. Application Type

First, choose to register for a multi-member LLC or a single-member LLC.

a1. Multi-Member LLCs

Pick “Limited Liability Company” from the dropdown list.

After this, you’ll be asked to provide your EIN. Enter your EIN in the applicable box if you already have one.

If not, you won’t be able to continue your application process if you’ve chosen “Limited Liability Company” as your application type.

a2. Single-Member LLCs

Click the dropdown list and choose “Single-member LLC.”

Following this, an LLC questionnaire will pop up. Note that single-member LLCs have an option to continue the application process if they haven’t been issued an EIN.

The next steps are the same regardless of whether you’re a single-member LLC or a multi-member LLC.

b. State Your Business Name

State your legal business name. This must be exactly as it appears on your Articles of Organization.

c. Add Your Mailing Address

Next, enter your business mailing address. This must include the following: 

• Street address.
• State.
• ZIP code.
• City / County.
• Country.

Your address can be a P.O. box or an address outside of Hawaii.

Click “Verify address” once everything is complete.

Next, choose the correct option from the pop-up list.

Click “Save” then “Next”. 

3. Complete Your Contact Information

In this section, you need to work through the different parts and fill in your contact information.

a. Contact Name

First, enter your LLC contact’s full name and email address.

b. Contact Phone Number

Then, choose their phone type from the dropdown menu. Enter their phone details.

Click “Next” to continue. 

4. Complete The Additional Attributes Section

After completing the contact information section, the system will take you to the additional attributes section underneath.

a. LLC Organization

Provide your LLC organization information as follows:

• Date activity began in Hawaii: Provide the date that your LLC first started or will start conducting business activities in the state
• Type of Ownership: Choose from the dropdown list: “Limited Liability Company” or “Single-member LLC.”
• Date of Incorporation: This date is the same as the state’s approval date on your Articles of Organization formation documents.
• State of Incorporation: Choose a different state from the dropdown list and check the “Foreign” box if you’re a foreign LLC.
• Is this a Joint Venture?: Answer Yes/No. A joint venture LLC is a temporary business formed by two or more parties who work together on a specific project.
• Enter a short description of your business: Enter 1-2 short sentences about your business purpose/activities. This needs to be specific. 

b. Accounting Information

Next, answer some accounting questions: 

• Accounting method: Choose either “Cash” or “Accrual.” Your choice determines if you report your income and expenses when received or paid (cash) or when they’re earned or incurred (accrual).
• Accounting Period: Choose either “Calendar” or “Fiscal.” A Calendar year is the standard January to December year, while a Fiscal year is a custom 12-month period ending on your selected month.
• Do you have a trade or DBA name?: Answer “Yes” or “No.” If you answered “Yes,” provide your DBA name.

c. Activity Code

Click “Find my Activity Code.”

Enter a keyword and click “Search.”

Click the code itself to choose the best answer. You may also use arrows at the top right of the screen to navigate between pages. Click “Yes” once you’ve chosen your code, then click “Next” to continue.

5. Choose Your Representative

a. Relationship Type

First, choose a representative title from the dropdown list:

• Your entity type will automatically be “Individual Taxpayer” if you choose a title such as “Member”, “Manager”, or “Owner.”
• Choosing an entity title (“Member”, “General partner”, or “Parent/Subsidiary Corporation”) gives you more options to choose from for entity type. Examples include “Business Taxpayer” or “Limited Liability Company.”
• Your title will be fixed as “Disregarded LLC Member” if you’re registering for a single-member LLC. Then, you can choose between different entity types such as “Business Taxpayer”, “Individual Taxpayer”, or “Limited Liability Company.”

a1. If Your Representative Is An Individual

Provide the following information if your LLC representative is an individual:

• Entity Type: Individual taxpayer.
• Commence: The date that the individual began their role/involvement with your LLC. Click the calendar icon to choose a date.
• Cease (optional): The date that the individual stopped serving in that role (if applicable). You can leave this part blank.
• ID Type: Choose either “ITIN” (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) or “SSN” (Social Security Number).
• ID: Enter your ID number.
• FEIN (Federal Employer Identification Number): This part is optional. You can leave it blank.

a2. If Your Representative Is An Entity

Enter the following information if your LLC representative is an entity:

• Entity Type: Choose between “Business Taxpayer” or “Limited Liability Company.” A business taxpayer is any separate business entity, such as a corporation or a partnership. Choosing “Limited Liability Company” means that your representative is an LLC.
• Commence: This is the date that the entity began its role/involvement with your LLC. Click the calendar icon to choose a date.
• Cease (optional): The date that the entity stopped serving in that role. This section can be left blank.
• ID Type: Provide their EIN.
• ID: Enter their ID number.

b. State Your Representative’s Name

Provide your individual representative’s first name and last name. The middle name field is optional.

If your representative is an entity, enter their company name. 

c. Provide Your Representative’s Address

State your representative’s mailing address. You can use a P.O. box or a foreign address for this section.

• Your individual representative can use their home/office address (as long as the DOT can contact them).
• Your entity representative can use their business address or mailing address.

Click “Verify Address” once you’ve entered the required information.

Choose the most suitable option and click “Save.”

d. Add Their Contact Name

• Your representative is an individual: Enter their name, email, address, and phone number, then click “Next.”
• Your representative is an entity: Enter the contact name, email address, and phone number of an individual from the company. Then, click “Next.”

e. Add Another Representative (If Applicable)

Click “Yes” if you need to add another LLC representative. Then, complete the same steps to add another representative. Otherwise, click “No” and continue to the next section.

6. Tax Account Selection Section

In this section, select the tax types that you want to pay when operating your LLC. Choose “Yes” for each tax type. You must choose at least one tax type to continue your application process.

GET is mandatory for all businesses operating in Hawaii, so you must select “Yes” for this one. This guide will take you through the application process when registering for this tax type. You must also pay a $20 GET fee.

Click “Next” to continue once you’ve made your choices.

7. General Excise (GE) & Use Tax Information Section

a. GE Information

First, choose the date that your business activities began in Hawaii. Use the calendar icon to choose the correct date.

Then, choose your filing frequency depending on your estimated tax:

• Semi-Annually: Annual tax does not exceed $2000.
• Quarterly: Annual tax does not exceed $4000.
• Monthly: Annual tax exceeds $4000.

Then, click “Next” to continue.

b. GE Location

Click “Yes” then click “Next” to continue if your location address is the same as your mailing address.

Click “No” and enter your business address if your location address is different from your mailing address. Then, click “Verify Address.”

Choose the right option. Then, click “Save” and “Next.”

8. Create Your Web Logon Details

a. Create Your Username And Password

This section requires you to create your web logon details. Create your account so you can sign in and file your applicable tax returns.

First, create a username that complies with the following requirements:

• Includes at least 1 letter.
• Does NOT include spaces or special characters.
• Has a minimum of 6 characters.
• Is unique in the DOT system.
• Does NOT use an SSN or FEIN.

Then, create your password: 

• Has at least 8 characters.
• Includes at least one capital letter.
• Has at least one lowercase letter.
• Includes at least one number.
• Includes at least one special character.

b. Add Your Recovery Questions (In Case You Forget Your Password)

Pick one question from the dropdown list and provide a short answer. This should be kept short so you can remember it.

c. Personal Details

Provide your full name (first name and last name), email address, and phone number. Then, click “Verify Email.”

Following this, check your email inbox. You should see an email with a verification code. Copy and paste the verification code into the applicable box. Click “Confirm,” then click “Next.”

9. Check Your Filing Summary

This section requires you to check your filing information. Click on a section name in the left column if you need to make any edits. Click “Next” to continue if everything is correct.

10. Provide Payment

a. Choose A Payment Option

To begin your payment, choose a suitable payment method (bank account or card). Then, click “Next” twice.

I’ve discussed how your card payment process works in the sections below.

b. Confirm Your Submission

State your email address and check the captcha box. Then, click “Pay.”

c. Enter Your Card And Billing Information

You need to pay a $1.50 service fee when paying by card. Your total filing fee is $12.50.

Add your card number and billing information, then click “Next” once everything is complete.

Click “Pay Now”. Congratulations! You’ve completed your registration process. 

11. The Approval Process

Once complete, your application should be processed and approved within around 5 business days.

You will receive the following once your application has been processed:

• Hawaii Tax ID Number.
• GE License.
• Filing instructions.

Once you have these, you need to:

1. File your periodic GE tax returns.
2. Pay your GE tax on your gross business income.

How To Register For Your Hawaii Business Tax ID Number By Mail

You can also register for your Hawaii Tax ID using a physical paper form if you don’t want to file online. However, this filing method takes much longer due to the manual handling and delivery times.

Before mailing your form, you must make sure you have your printed and completed application form with an addressed envelope on hand.

You can use one of these methods:

• Use the BB-1 paper form to type in using your computer. Click the download button on the right-hand side of the screen to get your blank form.
• Complete the hand-written form manually: BB-1 hand-written form. 

Make sure you prepare your $20 GET License payment using a check or money order. You must add the relevant fees if you plan to register for other tax types.

Read about the different fees using this resource: DOT Licensing Information. 

1. Purpose Of Application (Line 1)

Check “New” under Purpose of Application on page one of Form BB-1. Do NOT choose “Add,” “Delete,” or “Change.”

2. Federal Identification Number (Line 2)

Next, enter your LLC’s EIN. If you’re a single-member LLC without employees, you don’t always need an EIN, but it’s recommended. However, you can use an SSN or ITIN instead.

3. Hawaii Tax ID Number (Line 3)

This is for new applicants. Therefore, you can leave this line blank.

4. Legal Name (Line 4)

Provide your legal LLC name. This must be exactly as it appears on your Articles of Organization documents approved by the Hawaii DCCA.

5. Trade Name (Line 5)

Next, enter your DBA (Doing Business As) name if applicable. Leave this section blank if not.

6. Mailing Address (Line 6)

Provide your official mailing address. This is the address where you want to receive important correspondence from the State of Hawaii DOT.

Add the following details:

• You only need to complete the “Mailing Care Of” field if your business mail will be sent to another person or company on your behalf. This could be an accountant or CPA (Certified Public Accountant), attorney, Registered Agent, virtual office provider, or another authorized individual.
• Leave the “Mailing Care Of” line blank if you receive mail directly at your business or home address. Then, enter your mailing street address, city, state, and ZIP code.

7. Physical Business Address (Line 7)

In this section, enter your physical business address in Hawaii:

• Your name.
• Your address.
• The phone number of the person performing services in Hawaii.

Leave this field blank if your physical location is the same as your mailing address.

8. Type Of Legal Organization (Line 8)

Check “LLC” or “Single-Member LLC” (if applicable).

9. Disability Exemption (Line 9)

Most Hawaii LLCs will check “No” for this section. This applies to qualifying disabled individuals filing Form N-172.

10. Business Dates (Lines 10–12)

Next, add your business dates. Provide the following information:

• Date your business began in Hawaii.
• Your date of organization (from your Articles of Organization).
• The state code for your State of Organization. For example, enter “HI” if your LLC is in Hawaii.

11. Accounting Period (Line 13)

For the accounting period section, choose either “Calendar” or “Fiscal.”

• Calendar: The standard January through December year.
• Fiscal: A custom 12-month period ending in a selected month.

Most small businesses choose a calendar accounting period for easier tax filing. 

Then, enter your effective date. Your date format must be in the format “01 01 2030.” Make sure there is a space between numbers with no “/” or “-” included.

12. Accounting Method (Line 14)

In the accounting method section, choose either “Cash” or “Accrual.” Your choice determines if you report your income and expenses when money is received or paid (cash) or when money is earned or incurred (accrual).

After this, add your effective date. Again, this must be in the exact format shown (01 01 2030).

13. NAICS Code & Business Activity (Line 15)

After the accounting sections, enter your 6-digit NAICS code and a short description of your business activities.

Use the NAICS Lookup Website to find your NAICS code.

14. Business Contact Information (Line 16)

In the next section, provide your business contact information.

Enter the following details:

• Business phone number.
• Email address.
• Alternative phone number and fax number (optional).

15. Parent Corporation Information (Lines 17–19)

You only need to complete lines 17-19 if your LLC is owned by a parent corporation. If so, complete the following:

• The parent corporation’s FEIN (Line 17).
• Legal name (Line 18).
• Mailing address (Line 19).

Leave lines 17-19 blank if your Hawaii LLC does NOT have a corporate parent.

16. LLC Members / Managers (Line 20)

Below, list your LLC members or managers. You must include the following information:

• Name.
• SSN or FEIN.
• Title (Member / Manager).
• Residential address.
• Contact phone number.

You can attach an additional sheet if you need to list more.

17. Total Fee And Signature Section

In the next section, you should see your total filing fee. This will be automatically populated after you’ve entered your fees on the next page.

Your authorized person must sign this section. This can be an:

• LLC member.
• Manager.
• Authorized agent.

Make sure that you include the following:

• Printed name.
• Title.
• Date.

18. Select Your Tax Type (Line 22)

In this section, you can select the tax types that your LLC needs to register for. Every LLC conducting business in Hawaii must register for the GET. Therefore, you must select this option.

If you need to register for other tax types, follow the same process outlined for the GET below.

a. Choose GET 

1. Check the “GET/ Use Tax” box. 
2. Enter the date your LLC began or will begin business in Hawaii. The date format must be exactly: 01 01 2030. Make sure there are no spaces between the numbers and that you don’t use“/” or “-.”

b. Filing Period Selection

Next, choose your filing frequency. This is based on your estimated tax: 

• Semi-Annually: Your annual tax does not exceed $2000.
• Quarterly: Your annual tax does not exceed $4000.
• Monthly: Your annual tax exceeds $4000.

19. Business Location Listing (Line 24)

Next, provide your GE business location. Make sure you check the box under “GE” for GET. Check any other applicable boxes if you’re registering for other tax types.

Provide the following information:

• Business address.
• Location name (if applicable).

Attach an additional sheet if you have multiple business locations.

20. Where To File Your Completed Registration Form

a. File By Mail

Once complete, mail your form and payment (check or money order) to the following address:

Hawaii DOT
P.O. Box 1425
Honolulu, HI 96806-1425

b. File In-Person

Visit your relevant Hawaii DOT district office. Use the addresses below to find your closest one:

• Honolulu district office: 830 Punchbowl St, Honolulu, HI 96813.
• Maui district office: 2264 Aupuni St, Wailuku, HI 96793.
• Hilo district office: 75 Aupuni St, Hilo, HI 96720.
• Kona district office: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy, Bldg C, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740.
• Kauai district office: 3060 Eiwa St, Lihue, HI 96766.

21. The Approval Process

If you file by mail, your application will be approved in approximately 3-4 weeks. If you file in person, your application will be processed immediately. However, it may take a little time to receive your license number.

You’ll receive the following once your application has been processed and approved:

• Hawaii Tax ID Number.
• GE License.
• Filing instructions.

Hawaii DOT Contact Information

I recommend contacting the Hawaii DOT if you have any issues or questions regarding your Tax Registration process.

• Phone: (808) 587-4242 or Toll-Free: 1-800-222-3229.
• Email: [email protected] (Note: For security, specific account questions will only be answered via phone or mail).
• Fax: (808) 587-1488.
• Hours: Monday – Friday, 7:45 A.M. – 4:30 P.M. (Neighbor Island hours may vary).

The Importance Of Registering For Your Hawaii TIN

Your Hawaii LLC may face serious fines, criminal penalties, and potential legal issues if you can’t complete your required registration and or comply with the mandatory state requirements.

1. Monetary Penalties

You can NOT file your required tax returns and pay tax if you don’t register with the Hawaii DOT. If this happens, the state may impose certain penalties and interest charges under HRS §231-39.

• Failure to file a tax return: You’ll be charged 5% of the unpaid tax per month (up to 25%). This is imposed unless you have reasonable cause.
• Failure to pay tax (fraud): Up to 50% of your unpaid amount.
• Failure to pay tax (negligence): Up to 25% of your unpaid amount.
• Late payment after filing: Up to 20% of your unpaid tax (if not paid within 60 days).
• Interest: This is charged monthly on unpaid taxes until fully paid.

2. Criminal Penalties For Willful Failure To File Tax Return

If you willfully fail to file your required tax returns, provide any required information, maintain business records, or obtain a mandatory license, you may face criminal penalties under HRS §231-35. These include:

• A fine of up to $25,000.
• Up to one year in jail.
• Probation.

3. Penalties For Not Registering For GET

Under HRS §237-9, your LLC may face the following fines when operating without your mandatory GET License:

• A fine of up to $500.
• A fine of $500 to $2,000. This applies to cash-based businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions