The Alachua County Tax Collector’s Office has begun a County-wide education campaign to notify and inform short-term rental hosts (who are listing their properties on rental booking platforms) about their responsibility regarding Tourist Development Taxes.

It is required that all short-term rental (six months or less) providers collect Tourist Development Tax and file a return with the Tax Collector’s office every month. In addition to hotel and motel rooms, short-term rentals can include an entire single-family home, room(s) within the home, mother-in-law suites, and campgrounds.

Overnight guests pay Tourist Development Taxes which are remitted locally by the lodging provider. While AirBNB and other online booking platforms collect and remit both the 6% Florida state sales tax and the 1% local option tax, these online booking platforms neither collect nor remit, the required 5% Tourist Development Tax in Alachua County.

“It is the responsibility of the lodging provider, host or homeowner to collect and file Tourist Development Taxes on all paid overnight stays,” said Executive Director of Tax Matt Geiger. Over the past few months, the Tax Collector’s office has located and identified virtually every online rental host in Alachua County.

Homeowners and other short-term rental providers can create an account and remit tourist development taxes through the Tax Collector’s online portal. The Tax Collector’s Office has an informational website that offers video tutorials, a Frequently Asked Questions section, and a sample letter that is being sent to short-term rental providers.

Over the next few weeks, the Tax Collector’s office will be mailing notices to property owners who list with online booking platforms with the goal of registering all short-term rental hosts by the end of summer.
For more information, visit the Alachua County Tax Collector’s Office website or call 352-264-6968.