It is very frustrating and a lot of additional work to collect, track, and calculate correct local tax amounts because of Airbnb's refusal to add a non-taxable line item to be able to collect local Occupancy Taxes.
I am in Texas. Airbnb collects and I suppose remit the State 6% Occupancy Tax, but they DO NOT collect the 11% City and County Occupancy Tax which we are required to collect.
Scenario 1: I add the 11% tax to the rate.... bad idea, very bad idea. My rates now look inflated. The 6% State tax is also levied on the added 11% to the rates. Airbnb collects commission on the 11% tax now included in the rate.
Scenario 2. I collect the 11% through the resolution center. Besides being a lot of work, if the traveler chose split payments, the resolution center does NOT allow you to have a second pending payment request until the full balance of the reservation is paid. So you need to leave it in limbo until the second payment of the reservation is paid, and then you can submit the tax payment request through the resolution center. Once you are successful to do this, and the traveler pays the tax, the system does not reflect the payment in the travelers message thread or total quote for this traveler.
My questions is why, why not add a non-taxable line item for local taxes? (all major Airbnb competitors do it...)
It is really a lot more work to track and to be in compliance because of Airbnb's decision not to do this, thus not making our Airbnb experience a good one.
Is anyone else feeling this pain?