Victorian Short Stay Levy Exemption

[Anthony298]

Just received an email purportedly from airbnb.com telling to submit my application for an exemption from the levy.  The email sends you to a google document that looks as dodgy as hell, asking for hosting ID (can't find one), and listing ID (can't find that either).

Went to the SRO website to see what I had to do, and it says submit a form to the hosting platform.  Has anyone successfully done this?

Airbnb, could you send us real instructions on how to do this? Given the levy applies from 1 January 2025, why haven't we been informed about what needs to be done?

[Shelley159 · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anthony298 

For the Host ID, log on to the Airbnb website in host view. Click the profile icon to go to your host profile. Look at the browser address bar at the top, the ending is your host ID, indicated with x below:

/users/show/xxxxxxxxx

For the listing ID, log on to the Airbnb website in host view. Go to the listings tab and click the listing. In the same way as the host ID above, the listing ID will now display in the browser address bar.

[Anthony298]

Thank you so much for your help @Shelley159 .  Really appreciate it, especially given Airbnb's poor guidance.

[Sarah6385]

Hi Anthony

I spoke to Airbnb yesterday about this and they could not verify that the email was from them. She said to go to the SRO website but then I don't know how to upload the completed form to airbnb

Sarah

[Anthony298]

Thanks Sarah.  That doesn't give me confidence.

Having worked out the issue of the ID's, I went ahead and submitted the form.  No terrible ramifications yet, but who knows? It all seemed rather half-baked, but giving them the benefit of the doubt, maybe the state government gave airbnb little notice?

[Katia96]

great - what did you add for 'schedule listing" was it the listing ID and reasons for exempt? 

[Katia96]

I am stumped by this Q:

"If you are providing a declaration for multiple properties, please attach a schedule listing each of the properties and their exclusion details."... oh, i guess they mean a table listing both property id.. yes, it seems very ad hoc and half-cooked atm. 

[Robin1531]

Typical Airbnb making everything difficult.

The email we received has a link to a Google form login page. If you do not have a Google Account then you cannot access the form.

Organisations that are worth millions of dollars should be able to do better than that. Just have the form on your web site (with a link in the hosting area for each host pointing to the form).

Don't assume everyone has a Google Account.

[Sean1401]

The email that is supposed to be from Airbnb looks like a scam. The email address is not from airbnb.com. Do not give away any property details or personal information through a Google Form.

I'm still trying to get answers form Airbnb and other platforms on how to lodge our exemption form. It seems like the Vic Gov has not told them they have to collect the forms.

[Anthony298]

Thanks, Sean.  I should have been more skeptical.

This confusion, and potential fraud might be avoided if not for airbnb's pathological reluctance to talk to their hosts...  And the state government's incompetence.

[Sean1401]

For the exemption declaration form go here: https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/short-stay-levy/complete-declaration-premises-are-not-short-stay-accommod...

To lodge it with Airbnb I had no help from the support team so I simply emailed it to the Head of Airbnb Australia Susan Wheeldon. firstname dot surname @ company dot com

Note: if your property is listed on other platforms, none of them have any processes in place to collect the forms. I have spent the morning with each of the platforms support teams and had to email my form to the support person so they can forward it onto the right team within their organisation.

[Sean1401]

Update on email to Susan Wheeldon. One of her team replied very promptly and confirmed the Google Form is legitimate:

Thank you for reaching out to us. 

I apologise that our support team was unable to guide you in relation to declaring an exemption from the Victorian Short Stay Levy. 

I understand you have filled out the State Revenue Office (SRO) version of the form however in order for your listing/s on Airbnb to be exempted, you will need to fill out this declaration form. 

We have designed this streamlined process to make it easier for you to manage your listing on Airbnb and comply with the new rules. 

For more information and FAQs please visit our Help Centre.

Wishing you a wonderful day. 

Ann-Marie 

Ann-Marie Boumerhe

Senior Associate, Public Policy
Australia & New Zealand