Hawaii County is offering amnesty to property owners who incorrectly receive an agricultural use discount.
Hawaii County is offering amnesty to property owners who incorrectly receive an agricultural use discount.
The county Finance Department said Thursday it will begin Jan. 1 a review of taxpayers who claim property tax discounts through the program. Typically, those in violation will be charged the additional taxes for the current fiscal year. Those taxpayers who come forward by the end of the year won’t be charged the additional amount.
Currently 10,411 properties participate in this program, which applies to land in use for farming.
The review process will require property owners who receive the agricultural use discounts to provide documentation of their continuous and regular agricultural activities.
“This program is part of our ongoing effort to encourage agricultural activities in this county, but we need to ensure that the owners who receive these generous benefits are actually engaged in active, continuous agriculture,” Finance Director Nancy Crawford said.
For more information, contact the Real Property Tax Office at 961-8201, or visit www.hawaiipropertytax.com.