Airbnb to begin collecting county taxes

Madera County and Airbnb — a short-term rental website and smartphone app — have​ ​finalized a​ ​voluntary tax collection agreement, which county supervisors approved in August.​

Beginning​ ​Oct.​ ​1,​ ​Airbnb​ ​will​ bill the area’s rural Transient Occupancy Taxes of 9 percent and Tourism Business Improvement District taxes of 2 percent​ ​in ​unincorporated​ ​areas​ ​of​ ​Madera County.

“We are​ ​thrilled​ ​to​ ​partner​ ​with​ ​the​ ​county​ ​on​ ​collecting​ ​taxes​ ​because​ ​these​ ​are​ ​valuable​ ​dollars​ ​for​ ​the​ ​community​ ​and​ ​it simplifies​ ​the​ ​process​ ​for​ ​our​ ​hosts​ ​and​ ​guests,​ ​allowing​ ​everyone​ ​to​ ​focus​ ​on​ ​what​ ​matters,​ ​enjoying​ ​the​ ​travel experience," ​said​ ​Marisa​ ​Moret,​ ​Airbnb​ public​ policy​ manager.​

With​ ​this​ ​new​ ​agreement,​ ​Madera​ ​County​ ​joins​ ​a​ ​list​ ​of​ ​more​ ​than​ ​310​ ​jurisdictions​ ​globally​ ​where​ ​Airbnb​ ​has collected​ ​and​ ​remitted​ ​more​ ​than​ ​$300​ ​million​ ​in​ ​hotel​ ​and​ t​ourist​ ​taxes.

“The​ ​revenues​ ​collected​ ​through​ ​the​ ​TOT​ ​and​ ​TBID​ ​collection​ ​process​ ​fund​ ​important​ ​County​ ​services,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​law enforcement​ ​and​ ​additional​ ​marketing​ ​is​ ​also​ ​provided​ ​by​ ​the​ ​local​ ​visitors​ ​bureau​ ​from​ ​the​ ​TBID​ ​revenues,”​ ​said Tracy​ ​Kennedy,​ ​Madera​ ​County​ ​treasurer-tax​ ​collector.

A​ ​typical​ ​host​ ​in​ ​Madera County​ ​earns​ ​$9,700​ ​a​ ​year​ ​sharing​ ​his​ ​or​ ​her​ ​home, according to the company.​ Airbnb handled temporary lodgings for 49,000 Madera County guests in 2016.