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Guides for vacation rental owners

Last checked Oct 26, 2026 from official sources. Not tax advice.

Plain-English answers for owners who rent out a second home. Every guide cites its official source.

• Does Airbnb pay my county's lodging tax? How to check in 3 minutes
• Zero returns: why an empty month still needs a filing
• Behind on lodging tax? A calm catch-up plan
• Does Airbnb pay Florida tourist tax? County by county (checked Oct 26, 2026)
• Every license a 30A, Panama City Beach or Destin rental needs (and what each costs)
• Behind on Florida tourist tax? A catch-up plan for Walton, Bay and Okaloosa
• Does Airbnb pay my county tourist tax?
• Florida tourist development tax, explained
• Airbnb vs Vrbo: Florida county tourist tax, side by side
• How to catch up on missed lodging tax
• Form 1099-K and short-term rentals
• Second-home owner rental tax checklist
• Direct bookings: who collects the lodging tax?
• Are cleaning fees subject to lodging tax?
• Florida DBPR vacation rental license
• Ski and lake towns: who collects the lodging tax?

How to register and file

• How to register for Walton County tourist development tax (30A and South Walton)
• Walton County short-term vacation rental certificate: what it costs and when to renew
• How to file Okaloosa County tourist development tax (Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa Island)
• How to file Bay County tourist development tax (Panama City Beach and Mexico Beach)
• Panama City Beach: the vacation rental certificate and the 1% city tax
• City of Destin short-term rental registration: fees, deadlines and the sign rule
• Florida sales tax for vacation rentals: registering with the Department of Revenue
• Florida’s six-month rule: when a rental is exempt from tourist tax and sales tax
• Florida tourist tax late penalties: how they add up, and how to stop them
• Florida tourist tax audits: which records to keep, and what an audit looks like
• California transient occupancy tax (TOT): registering a short-term rental
• Lodging tax glossary: what TDT, TOT, HOT, TAT and the rest mean

By place

• Florida county by county
• Ski and lake towns

Our research

• Where Airbnb and Vrbo don’t collect Florida’s tourist tax
• Ski and mountain towns where the platforms skip local lodging taxes

How it works

1. Free checkTell us the address. We list every lodging tax, permit and deadline, and which ones Airbnb or Vrbo already pay.
2. Authorize onceSign one payment authorization for your own bank account and the county’s agent form. How it stays secure.
3. We file and payEvery return, including $0 months, filed and paid from your account to the county, with each confirmation in your file.