Airbnb has plans to launch a program to collect occupancy taxes on behalf of its hosts in San Francisco beginning Oct 1. The program has already launched in Portland, Ore. According to a post on the company’s Public Policy blog, this is the culmination of a long process that began earlier this year when Airbnb announced its intent to help collect and remit occupancy taxes in San Francisco.
“Our community members in San Francisco have told us they want to pay their fair share and the overwhelming majority have asked us to help,” wrote David Owen, Airbnb’s regional head of public policy. “In the past, it’s been difficult for individual hosts to pay taxes that were designed for traditional hotels that operate year round.”
For reservations in San Francisco booked on or after Oct. 1, guests will see a new line item on their Airbnb receipt for the city-imposed Transient Occupancy Tax. The tax will be added to the total amount paid by guests on stays of fewer than 30 days, and those taxes will be remitted to the city by Airbnb on behalf of hosts.
Owen added that he hopes other home-sharing companies in San Francisco will follow suit and implement similar programs. “We think it’s the right thing to do in San Francisco, and we’re proud to be moving forward,” he wrote.
Read more over at the Silicon Valley Business Journal.
