Flouting excise tax means Net firms face penalties

By Nelson Daranciang

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Mar 20, 2013

~~<p>The state can penalize companies that sell Hawaii hotel rooms to travelers online for not filing state general excise tax returns and not paying the tax, a state judge ruled Monday.</p>
<p>Circuit Judge Gary W.B. Chang had previously ruled that the online travel companies, including Expedia, Hotwire, Hotels.com, Orbitz, Priceline and Travelocity, owe the state $158 million for general excise taxes due for 2000 through 2011, including interest.</p>
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The state can penalize companies that sell Hawaii hotel rooms to travelers online for not filing state general excise tax returns and not paying the tax, a state judge ruled Monday.

Circuit Judge Gary W.B. Chang had previously ruled that the online travel companies, including Expedia, Hotwire, Hotels.com, Orbitz, Priceline and Travelocity, owe the state $158 million for general excise taxes due for 2000 through 2011, including interest. Login for more...