What are occupancy taxes?
In the United States many state and local (generally county or city) governments charge an occupancy tax on short term stays, rentals, or similar accommodations. These taxes can take many names: occupancy taxes, transient taxes, accommodation taxes, hotel taxes, etc. Sometimes generic “sales tax” laws also capture these types of activities. For simplicity, we will refer to these taxes as occupancy taxes for the remainder of this article. Taxability of a host listing may also vary by site type: for example, some jurisdictions may charge occupancy taxes only if a physical structure is provided for accommodations.
Is Hipcamp collecting any occupancy taxes?
Based on State and local laws, Hipcamp is charging, collecting, and remitting occupancy taxes in certain states and other local jurisdictions, see list and details below. Where Hipcamp has determined it has a collection obligation, it will charge, collect and remit these taxes to the appropriate governing agency. Hosts cannot opt out as Hipcamps responsibility to collect is mandated by the state or local government. This applies to all Hipcamp Hosts, including PMS integrated Hosts.
As a Host do I have an obligation to collect occupancy taxes?
Hosts should research and understand state and local occupancy tax laws to determine if they have an obligation to collect and remit these taxes. If a Host determines they have a collection obligation, they can enable taxes in their dashboard, see instructions here. It's important to note that taxes can be administered by multiple jurisdictions, including state, county, city, and other local jurisdictions and Hipcamp may collect some but not all of these. For example, some states may have a state occupancy tax that Hipcamp collects; additionally there could also be a local jurisdiction (like a county or a city) that has a separate tax that the Host is required to collect. The list below will detail which taxes Hipcamp is collecting. Hosts need to research if they have an additional collection obligation.
Hosts may be required to collect taxes in addition to what Hipcamp is collecting and remitting
Campers see all relevant taxes that they are required to pay when booking your property.
If you are collecting taxes in addition to what Hipcamp is collecting and remitting, both amounts will be separate line items on your Host payout statement for each individual booking. You can view this by opening up any one booking from your calendar or bookings page.
In your weekly payout summary, you are clearly shown taxes that are paid out to you, which are taxes you need to take action to remit. Taxes that Hipcamp is collecting and remitting are not shown on your weekly payout summary.
This will not impact your net Host earnings - your specific Host earnings amount will be the same before and after Hipcamp started collecting and remitting taxes on your behalf.
Hipcamp is now collecting taxes on your behalf in the following states
Colorado
The state of Colorado collects all state and county occupancy taxes and some city occupancy taxes, which Hipcamp administers. As a Host, it's possible there is a local city tax that you should collect and remit to that local agency.
Hipcamp collects the following city occupancy taxes (updated as of July 2024)
You can also learn more on the Colorado Department of Revenue Tax website.
If you have an additional tax collection obligation, turn on hybrid taxes following the instructions here.
Hipcamp collected taxes will be charged to newly made reservations as of September 9, 2024.
If you were previously collecting taxes via the tool in your Host Dashboard, those taxes will be paid out to you for all bookings made before September 9, 2024. You will still need to remit these taxes.
For any bookings made after September 9, 2024., Hipcamp will collect and remit those taxes.
Kentucky
The state of Kentucky collects all state occupancy taxes, which Hipcamp administers. Hipcamp does not collect local level taxes in Kentucky. Therefore, as a Host it's possible there is a local tax that you should collect and remit to that local agency.
These taxes will be charged to newly made reservations as of December 7th, 2023.
If you were previously collecting taxes via the tool in your Host Dashboard, those taxes will be paid out to you for all bookings made before December 7th, 2023. You will still need to remit these taxes.
For any bookings made after December 7th, 2023, Hipcamp will collect and remit those taxes.
Maine
The state of Maine collects all state occupancy taxes, which Hipcamp remits to the state. There are no local occupancy taxes and as such there should not be a situation where a Host has an obligation to collect and remit occupancy taxes.
These taxes have been charged to newly made reservations since April 2022 and Hipcamp has been remitting taxes on your behalf since that time. You don't need to take any action as a Host to ensure these taxes are paid.
Montana
The state of Montana collects all state occupancy taxes, which Hipcamp remits to the state. Hipcamp does not collect local level taxes in Montana. Therefore, as a Host it's possible that there is a local tax that you should collect and remit to that local agency.
These taxes will be charged to newly made reservations as of July 26th, 2023.
If you were previously collecting taxes via the tool in your Host Dashboard, those taxes will be paid out to you for all bookings made before July 26th, 2023. You will still need to remit these taxes.
For any bookings made after July 26th, 2023, Hipcamp will collect and remit those taxes.
Utah
The state of Utah collects all state occupancy taxes and all local occupancy taxes and as such there should not be a situation where a Host has an obligation to collect and remit occupancy taxes.
These taxes will be charged to newly made reservations as of July 28th, 2023.
If you were previously collecting taxes via the tool in your Host Dashboard, those taxes will be paid out to you for all bookings made before July 28th, 2023. You will still need to remit these taxes.
For any bookings made after July 28th, 2023, Hipcamp will collect and remit those taxes.
Washington
The state of Washington collects all state occupancy taxes, which Hipcamp administers. Hipcamp does not collect local level occupancy taxes in Washington. Therefore, as a Host it's possible that there is a local tax that you should collect and remit to that local agency.
These taxes will be charged to newly made reservations as of August 1st, 2023.
If you were previously collecting taxes via the tool in your Host Dashboard, those taxes will be paid out to you for all bookings made before August 1st, 2023. You will still need to remit these taxes.
For any bookings made after August 1st, 2023, Hipcamp will collect and remit those taxes.
Wyoming
The state of Wyoming collects all state occupancy taxes, which Hipcamp administers. The state also collects all local occupancy taxes and as such there should not be a situation where a Host has an obligation to collect and remit occupancy taxes.
These taxes will be charged to newly made reservations as of October 4th, 2023.
If you were previously collecting taxes via the tool in your Host Dashboard, those taxes will be paid out to you for all bookings made before October 4th, 2023. You will still need to remit these taxes.
For any bookings made after October 4th, 2023, Hipcamp will collect and remit those taxes.
Vermont
The state of Vermont collects all state occupancy taxes and some local occupancy taxes, which Hipcamp administers. As a Host it's possible that there is an additional local tax that you should collect and remit to that local agency.
These taxes will be charged to newly made reservations as of December 5, 2024.
If you were previously collecting taxes via the tool in your Host Dashboard, those taxes will be paid out to you for all bookings made before December 5, 2024. You will still need to remit these taxes.
For any bookings made after December 5, 2024, Hipcamp will collect and remit those taxes.
Hipcamp is now collecting taxes on your behalf in the following counties
Specific details in regards to Chatham County, NC
Hipcamp collects and remits occupancy taxes for all bookings of all physical structures made in this county. As a North Carolina based host, it's possible there are state or other local occupancy taxes that you should collect and remit to the appropriate agency.
These taxes will be charged to newly made reservations as of July 1, 2024.
If you were previously collecting taxes via the tool in your Host Dashboard, those taxes will be paid out to you for all bookings made before July 1, 2024 You will still need to remit these taxes.
For any bookings made after July 1, 2024, Hipcamp will collect and remit those taxes.
Specific details in regards to San Benito County, CA
Hipcamp collects and remits occupancy taxes for all bookings of all Site types made in this county. As a California based host, it's possible there are state or other local occupancy taxes that you should collect and remit to the appropriate agency.
These taxes will be charged to newly made reservations as of August 1, 2024.
If you were previously collecting taxes via the tool in your Host Dashboard, those taxes will be paid out to you for all bookings made before August 1, 2024 You will still need to remit these taxes.
For any bookings made after August 1, 2024, Hipcamp will collect and remit those taxes.
Specific details in regards to Sullivan County, NY
Hipcamp collects and remits occupancy taxes for all bookings of physical structures made in Sullivan County. We have confirmed with the county that only physical structures are subject to this tax. As a New York based host, it's possible there are state or other local occupancy taxes that you should collect and remit to the appropriate agency.
These taxes will be charged to newly made reservations as of September 23, 2023.
If you were previously collecting taxes via the tool in your Host Dashboard, those taxes will be paid out to you for all bookings made before September 23, 2023. You will still need to remit these taxes.
For any bookings made after September 23, 2023, Hipcamp will collect and remit those taxes.
Specific details in regards to Washington County, OR
Hipcamp collects and remits occupancy taxes for all bookings of all site types made in this county. As an Oregon based host, it's possible there are state or other local occupancy taxes that you should collect and remit to the appropriate agency.
These taxes will be charged to newly made reservations as of July 1, 2024.
If you were previously collecting taxes via the tool in your Host Dashboard, those taxes will be paid out to you for all bookings made before July 1, 2024 You will still need to remit these taxes.
For any bookings made after July 1, 2024, Hipcamp will collect and remit those taxes.