From the City of Bay City
The City of Bay City is reminding short-term rental owners and operators of their responsibility to collect and remit the City’s local Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT).
Short-term rentals, including homes, apartments, rooms, and other properties offered for temporary lodging, may be subject to state and local Hotel Occupancy Taxes.
The City of Bay City’s local Hotel Occupancy Tax rate is 7%.
Owners and property managers who use online rental platforms should not assume that the city’s local HOT is automatically being collected and remitted as part of a guest’s reservation.
While some platforms allow hosts or property managers to enable collection of local taxes, this may require additional setup by the property owner or manager.
Short-term rental owners and operators are responsible for ensuring applicable local HOT is properly collected, reported, and remitted to the City.
Those using an online platform are encouraged to review their account and tax settings to determine whether the local tax is being collected and how it is being remitted.
The city’s current focus is on education and voluntary compliance.
Short-term rental owners and operators are encouraged to review their current practices and become familiar with the city’s reporting and remittance requirements.
Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue supports tourism-related programs and activities that help attract visitors to Bay City. Compliance also helps ensure consistency among hotels, short-term rentals, and other lodging providers within the city.
The city maintains a Hotel Occupancy Tax FAQ with information for lodging operators and short-term rental hosts, including tax collection, online rental platforms, filing requirements, due dates, and other frequently asked questions.
Hotel Occupancy Tax FAQs: https://www.baycitytx.gov/m/faq?cat=19
For additional questions or assistance, contact Visit Bay City at tourism@baycitytx.gov.
For more information, please contact:
Media Contact: Ray Beltran, Communications Manager/PIO rbeltran@cityofbaycity.org | (979) 245-6931