Airbnb has finalized a new tax agreement with Orleans County, which will allow the company to collect and remit hotel and motel room tax on behalf of the local host community. With this new agreement, Airbnb will now collect and remit taxes in 21 counties statewide, including Monroe County.
Through its existing agreements in New York State, Airbnb has remitted over $1.7 million in hotel and motel room taxes since reaching the first agreement with Tompkins County in July 2016. Airbnb remitted over $1 million in hotel and motel room tax revenue in 2017 alone.
“Airbnb is an economic mobilizer for everyone, from families sharing their home to make ends meet, to the small businesses benefitting from more guests shopping and eating locally — and now to Orleans County, which will join 20 other county governments statewide in receiving a new source of tax revenue from home sharing,” said Josh Meltzer, head of New York Public Policy for Airbnb. “We hope this latest agreement will also serve as yet another clear example of the economic potential of home sharing in every corner of the Empire State.”
Airbnb will now collect and remit the hotel and motel room tax on taxable Airbnb stays in Orleans County. By doing so, Airbnb will make the process seamless for hosts while providing a valuable source of revenue to Orleans County.
“Orleans County Tourism welcomes the effort that Airbnb is making to ensure homes hosting visitors in our county are compliant and contributing to the local occupancy tax. The taxes collected by Airbnb help strengthen and expand the advertising programs we use to attract even more tourists, increasing the revenues for our businesses and taxable sales for our county. It is a great fit, as many of our recent promotions read, “Unplug and Reconnect to What Matters in … Orleans County, NY,” said Dawn L. Borchert, Orleans County Director of Tourism.
“This agreement between Orleans County and Airbnb is a win-win for everyone involved. The ease of finding a short-term rental for visitors, simplifying the occupancy tax collection for the property owners and the certainty of receiving the tax by the county. I’m hoping to see an increase of tourism in Orleans with this agreement, and therefore, an increase in revenue for the county,” said Kimberly DeFrank, Orleans County Treasurer.
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