The taxes, line by line
| Tax or fee | Rate | Applies to / notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transient occupancy tax (vacation rentals) | 11.5% | Rate in effect since January 1, 2002 | [1] |
| Greater Palm Springs TBID assessment | 1% | Gross short-term rental revenue, stays under 28 days (since July 1, 2021) | [2] |
Who collects it (and what's still on you)
- Monthly, always: file a TOT form every month, with a $0 return if you had no guests.[3]
- Late filing: the penalty is 10% of the TOT due or $50, whichever is greater, plus interest.[3]
- Online: returns and payments can be filed online through the City's GovOS portal.[1]
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) | $87.50 | $87.50 |
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 Palm Springs
Pool days double your towel count. Plan bath and pool towels for a full house plus one spare set. Our Airbnb sheets & towels linen 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.