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How do I collect taxes with Hipcamp?

  • Updated

When you host on Hipcamp, you may be required to collect and remit taxes on your bookings, such as sales tax, services tax, or occupancy tax. In some locations, Hipcamp automatically collects and remits these taxes on your behalf, but in others, you may need to handle this yourself. This guide will walk you through the process of understanding and setting up tax collection correctly, including the following:

Does Hipcamp collect taxes on my behalf?

Hipcamp collects and remits taxes in specific counties, states, and jurisdictions where required to by law. To check if Hipcamp is already collecting and remits taxes in your area, use the following guides:

In addition to any taxes Hipcamp collects, you are responsible for determining any other occupancy taxes that apply to your property, as well as collecting and remitting these taxes to the relevant authorities. If you determine that you need to collect taxes, you can do so following the steps below.

We at Hipcamp cannot offer you legal or accounting advice, and we recommend that you check with your accountant or taxation specialist to help determine when you do have a collection obligation. Alternatively, you can seek further information or advice from your government to learn more about the specific requirements for tax returns in your area.

Lastly, the income you make from hosting on Hipcamp is taxable in many jurisdictions, we suggest you consult with a local tax advisor to properly report your income.

How to set up tax collection on Hipcamp

If you need to collect taxes manually, follow these steps:

  1. Log into your Hipcamp account.
  2. Navigate to the Property tab.
  3. Click Edit Property.
  4. Go to the Taxes tab.
  5. Click on the Set up taxes button (or jump straight there via this link)
  6. Scroll down and select Yes under "Do you want Hipcamp to collect occupancy taxes for you?"
  7. Enter the tax percentage you would like to collect.
  8. Assign a name to the tax (e.g. "State Lodging Tax").
  9. Select which sites this tax applies to.
  10. Click Save to enable tax collection for future bookings.

You can edit and update your tax settings at any time by navigating back to Your Property > Taxes and making the necessary adjustments.

How to view taxes collected on your bookings

There are two main ways you can view the taxes you have collected:

  • On individual bookings: Navigate to an individual booking in your calendar. You can see a breakdown of the payment the Hipcamper has made, including taxes, in the booking details.
  • At each payout: Taxes collected will be clearly displayed on each payout in the payout history tab and in your payout summary email.

Reporting and remitting taxes

When you set up tax collection on Hipcamp, the total tax amount will still be paid out to you in addition to your earnings. It is your responsibility to file a tax return to pay this tax to the appropriate tax authority. Depending on your jurisdiction this may be required monthly, quarterly, or annually.

Don’t know how to file the tax returns? This Avalara guide can help you.

Additional resources

For further assistance, check out these resources:

 

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