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HRS §231-36

Penalties for lying on tax documents or helping others lie

This law makes it a crime to sign a tax document you know is false, or to help someone else prepare a false tax document. The punishment depends on the type of tax document and whether you are a person or a corporation. Penalties can include fines, jail time, or probation.

everyone

The statute, as written — False and fraudulent statements; aiding and abetting

(a) Any person who wilfully makes and subscribes any return, statement, or other document required to be made under title 14, except chapter 238, which contains or is verified by a written declaration that it is true and correct as to every material matter, and which the person does not believe to be true and correct as to every material matter shall be guilty of a class C felony and, upon conviction, shall be subject to one or any combination of the following: (1) A fine of not more than $100,000; (2) Imprisonment of not more than three years; or (3) Probation; provided that a corporation shall be fined not more than $500,000; and provided further that, if the person wilfully makes and subscribes any return, statement, or other document required to be made under chapter 238, which contains or is verified by a written declaration that it is true and correct as to every material matter and which the person does not believe to be true and correct, then the person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be subject to one or any combination of the following: (1) A fine of not more than $2,000; (2) Imprisonment of not more than one year; or (3) Probation. (b) Any person who wilfully aids or assists in, or procures, counsels, or advises the preparation or presentation of any tax return, affidavit, claim, or other document required to be made under title 14, which is fraudulent or is false as to any material matter, regardless of whether the falsity or fraud is with the knowledge or consent of the person authorized or required to present the return, affidavit, claim, or document shall be guilty of a class C felony and, upon conviction, shall be subject to one or any combination of the following: (1) A fine of not more than $100,000; (2) Imprisonment of not more than three years; or (3) Probation; provided that a corporation shall be fined not more than $500,000.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.