Maui Real Property Tax Assessment Information: Fiscal Year July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021

Property owners in Maui County should be receiving their notices of their annual Real Property Tax Assessment, which were mailed on March 15, 2020.  The notices will include:

• Tax Rate Classification
• January 1st Assessment (market value as of last June 30th, 2019)
• Exemption and person receiving the exemption

The deadline to file an appeal is April 9, 2020.  Errors can occur, exemptions can be missed, so please check your notice carefully. If no action is taken the owner will be committed to the tax rate classification, assessment value and exemption information presented on the form for the entire year.  

It is important to keep in mind that the county is not valuing your property based on its value at the time of the mailing, rather the county bases the value on comparable sales that recorded between July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019.  As such, property tax valuations can be out of step with current market conditions.

It is also worth noting that property tax rates have yet to be determined by the Maui County Council, which is scheduled to occur on June 20, 2020.  Property is classified based upon its highest and best use. If a property is rented for more than one day, it is considered to be a short term vacation rental.  

Maui County Property Tax Classifications:

• Properties receiving homeowner exemptions, condominiums, permitted bed and breakfasts and permitted transient vacation rentals are exceptions.
• Properties which have been granted a homeowner exemption are classified as Homeowner.  To qualify for the home exemption, you must file an N-11 State of Hawaii Resident Income Tax return annually.  Refer to Maui County Code 3.48.450 for more details.
• Condominiums are classified upon consideration of their actual use by the owner (Apartment, Commercial, Hotel/Resort, Short Term Rental, Timeshare, Homeowner).  
• Properties that have been granted a bed and breakfast permit, a transient vacation rental permit, or a conditional permit to operate a transient vacation rental are classified as Commercialized Residential.

Helpful links

• File an Appeal
• Understanding Your Property Taxes
• Real Property Assessment Division
• Classification Rate for Tax Purposes

Feel free to contact me with questions about the Real Property Tax Assessment Notices or any other Real Estate inquires.