The taxes, line by line
| Tax or fee | Rate | Applies to / notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Austin hotel occupancy tax | 11% (9% + 2% venue) | All amounts charged related to use, cleaning and readying the room; Full Purpose Jurisdiction only | [1] |
| State of Texas hotel occupancy tax | 6% | Remitted separately to the State | [1] |
Who collects it (and what's still on you)
- Platforms: since April 1, 2025, platforms that accept payment for a short-term rental must collect and remit the City HOT on the host's behalf.[1]
- You still report: STR owners must file a quarterly report with the City showing what each platform collected and remitted.[2]
- Where it applies: City HOT applies in the Full Purpose Jurisdiction. Limited Purpose Jurisdiction rentals don't owe City HOT but need a license; ETJ rentals need neither.[2]
- License: an Austin Finance Online tax account is required before the City issues an STR license in the Full Purpose Jurisdiction.[2]
A real booking, worked out
Say you list at $200 a night for 3 nights with a $100 cleaning fee: a $700 subtotal. Airbnb's fee and the lodging taxes are separate things. Airbnb's single host fee is 15.5% of your nightly price and fees, and taxes aren't part of that fee base, so the guest pays taxes on top while your payout is set by the platform fee.
| Booking line | Airbnb (15.5% host fee) | Vrbo (12% from Oct 29, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Your subtotal (rent + cleaning) | $700.00 | $700.00 |
| Platform host fee | −$108.50 | −$84.00 |
| Your payout | $591.50 | $616.00 |
| Lodging taxes on top for the guest (if the full $700 is taxable) | $119.00 | $119.00 |
Taxes use the rates in the table above. What counts as taxable (cleaning fees, platform service fees) is set by each agency, so treat this as an estimate. Run your own numbers in the Airbnb fee calculator or the Vrbo 12% calculator.
Holiday-season host prep for Austin
Late flights into AUS and SXSW-style arrivals at midnight are why self check-in exists. Codes that expire at checkout beat key handoffs. Our Smart lock for Airbnb: self check-in kit lists what to buy, how many and when to skip (that page contains affiliate links). Getting ready for cold snaps? See the winter-ready rental checklist.