Occupancy/use taxes

[Theresa681]

Hello,

I am wondering if someone in the forum can assist me.  I have been asked by the county in which I operate to provide "proof" that Airbnb is submitting occupancy/use taxes on my behalf.  The county employee says that they receive one large check and it does not identify for which properties the amount is being collected.

In the earnings section of the app, I am able to see the various fees for state and county taxes that are collected from each of my bookings.  The amounts are posted as a collective number for all four taxes - there is no breakdown.  Also, there is no summary or tax document provided to indicate that the funds have been distributed to the county and the state.

I have opened two tickets with Airbnb support over the past 18 days.  The experience has been, with out a doubt, the worst customer experience I have had.  The answers are not substantive, repetitive and robotic.  They say that the proof I have been asked to provide does not exist.  As a business person, I can not believe this to be true. Requests for escalation have been ignored.

Any thoughts on how to get what is needed?

[Lorna170 · Accepted solution]

@Theresa681   The proof does not exist.  

I update a spreadsheet prepared by my accountant that tallies all of the information that AirBnB provides me with when I accept a booking.  I don't even bother with the csv files except to validate bank deposits.  My spreadsheet includes a breakdown calculator for the AirBnB collected taxes.  I insert the gross amount of tax that AirBnB collected and the program shows me the different amounts (6%, 4.75% and 2.25%) that I will report to the three agencies that I have to submit tax reports to.  

Talk to an accountant and talk to the County tax office.  They should be able to instruct you on how to file a "zero tax due" return as AirBnB is collecting the taxes owed by you (and others) and sending them a big check. 

[Theresa681]

Thank you.  I appreciate your response.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Theresa681 further to @Lorna170 's reply I would also ask the county to provide to you the agreement THEY have made with Airbnb. This will either show that Airbnb/you do not have to provide further proof of what has been paid or it will show Airbnb is deficient in some way with its agreement. Either way it is really between Airbnb and the county.