KTIA Legislative Alert (February 16, 2018)HB 383 Introduced to Move Responsibility for Collecting and Remitting Local Transient Room Tax from KY homeowners to AirbnbState Representative Diane St. Onge (R- Fort Wright) has introduced legislation, House Bill 383 requiring shared economy lodging operations (such as Airbnb) to remit local transient room taxes. This issue is one of the top priorities of KTIA's 2018 Legislative Agenda. Click here to access a copy of the bill. Airbnb and Kentucky's Department of Revenue reached an agreement last year that required Airbnb to collect and remit the 1% statewide transient room tax and the state sales tax. That agreement did not include payment of local transient room taxes, a requirement for all other lodging businesses, which are the primary source of funds for Kentucky's convention & visitors' bureaus and tourist commissions. Representative St. Onge, a strong tourism supporter, chairs the House Small Business and Information Technology Committee. She views the importance of a level lodging playing field as a tourism business issue. Her committee is expected to hear the bill in the coming days. It is important to understand that HB 383 places the responsibility to collect and remit the local transient room tax on the companies, such as Airbnb, and not on Kentuckians who "host" visitors to the property: HERE'S WHAT KTIA MEMBERS NEED TO DO IMMEDIATELY: Send an email and leave a phone message for your State Representative, Senator and to members of the House Small Business and Information Technology Committee. Click here for a list of committee members and here to determine who your Representative and Senator are. Information to Representatives and Senators should include those where you live and where you business is if different. ASK THEM TO SUPPORT HOUSE BILL 383 TO SUPPORT THEIR LOCAL ECONOMY Make the following points:
HB 383 Legislator Meeting Leave BehindText of HB 383 |