Hello Airbnb Staff,
I'm reaching out to share a significant issue that affects hosts in Poland, particularly those subject to accrual-based accounting, mostly VAT-paying entities.
- Core Issue: It has come to my attention that Airbnb's approach to invoicing, tailored more towards cash-based accounting practices, does not align with Polish regulations for accrual-based accounting. Specifically, the current method does not accommodate the requirement to book invoices in the month following their issuance, as mandated by Polish law for accrual accounting entities. This discrepancy becomes especially problematic when there's a gap between the reservation date and a possible change of the reservation (like a cancellation).
- Impact of Cancellations: When a reservation is made and canceled in different months, the alteration of the invoice value by Airbnb (which then most likely already has been recorded by the accountant based on the accrual accounting requirement with the old value) results in discrepancies and potential legal conflicts.
Suggested Solutions:
- Adjusting Invoice Issuance Timing: Wait to issue the invoice until the check-in occurs and using the check-in date as the "issue date" or "service rendered" date could alleviate the issue, because no changes to that invoice will occur anymore (as far as I know)
- Creating New Invoices for Changes: Or instead of modifying the value of an existing invoice, issuing a new invoice to reflect any changes would also maintain compliance and accounting integrity.
Currently, I've been fortunate not to experience any cancellations or reservation alterations after my accountant recorded the invoices, though it was close already. However, as I manage more properties, the risk of encountering such issues increases. Additionally, the "Export -> Download VAT invoices" feature, which filters by "check-in" date, proves to be both ineffective and risky for those of us adhering to accrual-based accounting practices. This system might inadvertently lead to financial losses for hosts by causing them to overlook and thus fail to record certain invoices as expenses. This oversight can result in paying higher taxes due to unclaimed deductions, placing hosts at a disadvantage with the Polish tax authorities and unwittingly contributing to non-compliance. It's crucial for Airbnb to consider these implications to prevent hosts from unintentionally facing legal challenges.
I believe addressing this matter is crucial for ensuring compliance and minimizing accounting and legal challenges for Airbnb hosts in Poland.
I don't know how to reach the Airbnb Tax division but I think they must look into this and please Correct me if I'm wrong !
Additionally, any advice from Airbnb or insights into potential updates to address this mismatch would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your attention and looking forward to constructive discussions.
Best,
Sebastian
