Open a Tourist Development Tax Account
Who needs to open a tourist development tax account?
The Hillsborough County Tax Collector has agreements with several platforms to collect and remit tourist development taxes on behalf of property owners (hosts).
View Registered Platforms that already collect taxes for your behalf
- Vacation Rentals (bookings effective January 7, 2019)
- Airbnb (bookings effective December 20, 2016)
- HomeAway (bookings effective January 7, 2019)
- Misterb&b (bookings effective January 10, 2019)
- VRBO (bookings effective January 7, 2019)
You need to open an account if you:
- Don’t use any of the registered platforms mentioned above.
- Use a third-party reservation system that processes payments outside these registered platforms.
- Accept any payments that don’t go through these registered platforms.
How do I open a tourist development tax account?
Make sure you view the additional rental operator requirements listed below before you open your business.
What other requirements do rental operators need?
- State Sales Tax: Ensure compliance with Florida sales tax requirements. Learn more about Florida sales tax. For questions, contact the Florida Department of Revenue (DOR).
- Obtain your hotel license: Learn how to obtain your license (you must also get a restaurant license if you plan to offer food services). For questions, contact the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
- Open a local business tax account: Learn how to open a business tax account. For questions, contact our office.
Once you are ready to open a tax account, complete the Hillsborough County Tourist Development Tax Application (PDF) and follow the submission instructions on the form.
Can I appoint someone else to act on my behalf?
Yes. Complete the Tourist Development Tax Power of Attorney Form (PDF) and submit it using one of the options below.
Option 1 : Email (preferred – fastest processing)
Use our online contact form to email us your documents (select “Tourist Development Tax” in the “Service of Interest” section).
Option 2: Mail
Send your documents to our mailing address.
Need to contact our Tourist Development Tax Team?
You can contact us at (813) 635-5235 or use our online contact form (select “Tourist Development Tax” in the “Service of Interest” section).