Being charged 19.3% Service Fee

[Kirsten465]

Hi all, 

I have just posted a listing for the first time in a year and I have noted that my service fee shows as 19.3%  

The nightly rate is €109 and the fee is €21, leaving me with €88. 

Is this correct? I did receive an email from Airbnb saying that they are moving to host model fees on Oct 13th 2026 (I am based in Ireland) but I am confused why I appear to be bearing all the (hefty!) costs already.  

The email mentioned 15.5% not 19.3%. I do not use any property management software. 

Thank you.

[Priyanka102]

@Kirsten465 

This doesn't look like the standard host-only service fee. Airbnb's host-only fee is generally around 15.5% in most cases, but the final percentage shown can be higher if VAT or other applicable taxes is included in the displayed fee. For example, a 15.5% host fee plus Irish VAT can bring the effective deduction close to what you're seeing.

Since your payout shows €109 - €88, Check Menu - Payments & payouts - Transaction history and opening that reservation. Airbnb will show a breakdown of the service fee and any taxes applied.

If the breakdown still doesn't explain the 19.3%, I would recommend contacting Airbnb Support, as they can verify whether the new host-only fee model has been applied correctly or if there's an issue with your account.

Hope that helps and please let me know what the breakdown shows.

[Shelley159]

It's because VAT in Ireland is 23% @Kirsten465 

You may not be registered to pay VAT on your accommodation fee, but Airbnb is registered and has to pay VAT on its service fees (this rate differs from country to country).

[Kirsten465]

Thank you @Shelley159 , the addition of vat at 23% explains it. 

Nearly 20% for service fees is quite the jump! 

[Shelley159]

@Kirsten465 just keep in mind that the single fee replaces the split service fee.

So don't compare the new Airbnb service fee to the previous 3% +VAT fee. That was just the host portion. The guest used to pay an additional 12% to 16% plus VAT.

Now it's just rolled into one single fee.

[Kirsten465]

Yes I am aware @Shelley159 , but its not that simple as hosts have to increase their prices to absorb these costs and guests are unlikely to know that 20% of their payment will go to Airbnb. All they see is high prices. 

Thank you. 

[Shelley159]

Guests still see the same price as before @Kirsten465 , so they don't regard the prices as "high" as the guest prices are virtually unchanged (apart from some small variations due to the fee structure change).

It's only the calendar prices that the host sees, that have to be higher now (to absorb the higher host-only fee). If you adjust them correctly (using the Airbnb tool), the host payout and the guest payment stay virtually the same as before.