Question: In a 2010 column — is.gd/ndhT1D — you stated, "You can buy a lottery ticket in another state and if you win, you can keep the prize even if you’re back home in Hawaii." In the Akamai Money column in the Star-Advertiser on March 23 — is.gd/serWbG — Maj. Jerry Inouye of the Honolulu Police Department’s Narcotics/Vice Division stated, "Because lotteries are illegal in Hawaii, a Hawaii resident who purchases a lottery ticket from another state or country may be violating state law." His answer was not as clear as yours. Is your answer still valid?
Answer: Actually, both statements about the legality of buying a lottery ticket in another state could stand to be clarified.
If any part of a gambling activity occurs in Hawaii — including accepting winnings from outside the state — it may be a violation of Hawaii’s gambling law, said HPD Capt. Jason Kawabata, also with narcotics/vice.
For example, it would be a violation if you are in Hawaii and buy a lottery ticket from another state or receive the proceeds from an out-of-state lottery, he said.
However, "If the entire activity occurs in a state where lotteries are legal, then it is not a violation of Hawaii’s gambling law," Kawabata said.
As an example, he said, if a Hawaii resident travels to another state, buys a lottery ticket there and collects any winnings there, then Hawaii’s gambling law would not apply: "The person would be able to bring the winnings back to Hawaii."
We asked if a person who bought a lottery ticket in another state, returned home and subsequently won a prize, could then have the winnings mailed to him/her.
The answer was — maybe. Better not chance it.
"If a person, while in Hawaii, collects winnings from a lottery of another state, the person may be in violation" of Section 712-1221 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes (is.gd/HziaI4) or other related sections,Kawabata said.
However, "If the person travels to that state to collect the winnings, the person should be able to bring the winnings back to Hawaii lawfully," he said.
Kawabata likened it to playing the slots, keno, poker, etc., in Las Vegas and winning.
"A person who wins while gambling in Las Vegas can bring the money back to Hawaii," he said. "The entire gambling activity (placing of the bet, playing the game of chance, winning the bet, collecting the bet) occurs in Las Vegas, where it’s legal. The same rules apply to out-of-state lotteries."
Question: Is it safe to report gross excise tax information on the state tax website? Was there any vulnerability to the Heartbleed bug?
Answer: The Heartbleed computer bug did not affect the security of the Department of Taxation’s e-filing system and you are encouraged to continuing filing online, said spokeswoman Mallory Fujitani.
The IRS earlier said it also was not affected by the bug, although the Canada Revenue Agency reported its data was breached and temporarily shut down its website. On Wednesday, a Canadian teenager was arrested for allegedly using the bug to hack into the agency’s computers.
Question: I have been looking everywhere on the state tax website for the deadline for filing state income taxes and only see April 20, which is Sunday. Usually, they extend it if that happens. Do I have to make sure that I file on the 19th?
Answer: The deadline is extended to Monday, April 21.
If the deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, state law says that the required tax documents are due on the next succeeding day that’s not a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, said Taxation Department spokeswoman Mallory Fujitani.
She said the department will try to post that fact online.
Mahalo
To the "breakfast angel" who paid my tab at Cinnamon’s restaurant last month. When I asked for the check after finishing breakfast, my waitress told me that it had already been taken care of.
I have no idea who you are, but your kind gesture made my day and I will continue to pay it forward. — Becky
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Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
