Transient Occupancy tax

[Curt8]

This website is confusing. We have to collect a 12% Transient Occupancy Tax from any guests that stay 29 days or less. I can't find a place to add that fee. The only option is a cleaning fee. It says I have to send a "special offer". Why in the hell should I have to send a special offer to collect the tax? I have put it in the listing details that we have to charge and collect the tax for our city. However, in my experience with VRBO, most people don't read that and ask the question anyway, even though it is on a quote that is sent to them. And there is no place to contact Airbnb itself, to get an answer. 

[Donna443]

Yes I did that too, work well. But you can only have one resolution at a time. So if I request them tax, and they did not pay tax yet, I cannot request the other stuff like damage,  broken things, or other stuff. It will be blocked ubntil the first claim is clear out.

[Louis27]

You can make a request through the Resolution Center to as many guests as necessary. Just be sure you go through their reservation page where it says “Request money” at the top. I send it about 30 days before arrival. I send a note reminding them that the tax is due and I’ll be sending a request through the RC. You have to monitor your account to make sure it gets paid. Sometimes they don’t understand why you’re sending it and you have to explain it again. It’s pretty simple once you’ve done it. 

[Kathy1144]

I have learned to use that option but the guests resent having to pay a fee (tax) after they have already figured and booked on the price for the room. They say other hosts don't charge them. I'm in Hawaii and the tax is 17.5% with the General Excise Tax and the transient tax. Quite high in my opinion. 

[Laurie52]

I have received a letter of explanation about this tax from the Marin County Tax Collector office, and it seems pretty straight forward, and not unreasonable; however they ask for a AirBNB identification number. Can anyone direct me where to find this number? i don't see it on my profile and "Help" is no help...I can't seem to find any path to get an answer to this question. Any help will be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Laurie **

[Tseten1]

Hello can u help me how to pay the tot in Marin ?

[Judy41]

I have a different problem. What I am renting out are timeshares I own. The timeshare management company (Worldmark) automaticallly charges me the Transient Occupancy Tax every time I made a reservation. But, AirBnB is charged my guests the Transient Occupancy Tax, too. So, we are both paying the tax! And the tax is fairly steep, like up to $125 per week. Any suggestions on how I can fix this? I doubt the management company, Worldmark, will be willing to help at all. But I don't know who to even take it up with AirBnB. 

[Mikkie0]

Does anyone know if there is a Transient Occupation Tax in Massachusetts? I found one document/article from June 2016 alluding to the fact that MA was getting ready to institute a tax but I am uncertain as to the current laws. 

There seems to be a "room occupancy tax" in my city (Medford) but that only applies if you have 4 or more people staying in 3 or more rooms, which I don't.  Therefore I do not qualify as a lodging or a bed and breakkfast.

Clarifications would be most welcome.

[Andy2155]

Airbnb and VRBO now are not charging the proper tax rate and putting the burden on the owners. I just remitted $1500 out of my own pocket for back taxes I thought Airbnb had been collecting. They won't allow us to tack on an additrional tax and told me to go back and request the tax from previous renters and future ones. This is a scam to lower the rate on the renter and hit the owners with it. Sales tax is not an owner tax, it is a tax on the renter (purchaser). 

[Louis27]

Aloha Andy,

The tax issue varies from state to state. Some states have passed laws that rental platforms must collect tax, but it's the host's responsibility to figure out the correct amount and post it in their listing. In Hawaii, where I live, the state and Airbnb have been wrangling over this issue for years and still haven't come to an agreement. So, I have to collect it manually through the Resolution Center. It's not difficult, but you need to keep a running list of guests, how much the tax is, and if they've paid it. You also need to state four or five times in your listing that tax is NOT included in the initial booking, because most people assume that it is.

VRBO/ Homeaway will collect the tax for you, but you must post the correct percentage in the proper place in your listing for them to calculate it. 

Hope this helps.