City says it has reached an agreement with Airbnb

According to a press release sent out today from the city of Eugene, it has relached an agreement with popular online home short-term rental site Airbnb on complying with tax laws. The full release is below.

City of Eugene and Airbnb reach home sharing tax agreement

The City of Eugene has reached an agreement with Airbnb for the home sharing website to comply with local tax laws, simplifying the process for Eugene residents who list all or part of their homes as short term rentals. Airbnb is a popular alternative to booking hotel rooms, as many travelers seek new or less expensive ways to experience cities they visit.

Eugene has a transient room tax (TRT) of 4.5% that applies to all overnight stays in the city, including hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, vacation rentals, and short-term rentals. Revenue from the TRT helps fund Eugene’s Cultural Services programs and supports tourism and visitor programs in Eugene. With the new agreement, Airbnb will collect and remit taxes on behalf of hosts, simplifying the process for hosts.

“This agreement will make it easier for Eugeneans to provide this popular form of rental and comply with local rules. It also provides fairness with hotels and other rentals,” says Renee Grube, Executive Director, Eugene Library, Recreation, Cultural Services. “The service benefits the community by helping expand local options for rooms,” she added.

Portland was one of the first cities to make a similar agreement with Airbnb in 2014. Globally, 200 communities have made similar agreements with Airbnb, including Bend and Washington County earlier this year.

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