San Rafael, CA – A transient occupancy tax (TOT) workshop for short-term rental operators will be held from 2-4 p.m. on Thursday, February 21, in the Marin County Civic Center Board chamber (Suite 330).
West Marin, including Stinson Beach and Bolinas, has many vacation rentals.The workshop will focus on registering, reporting and paying TOT to the County of Marin. It will also address common questions relating to the Measure W tax rate increase in West Marin that became effective January 1, 2019. All short-term rental operators in the unincorporated areas of Marin are encouraged to attend, especially those using online reservation platforms, like Airbnb, HomeAway or VRBO. Attendees should RSVP online.
TOT is not a tax on the business operator; it is collected by the operator from the transient guest on behalf of the County. The funds are used in variety of ways to mitigate the impacts of tourism and to fund projects that benefit the County as a whole. Public parks, historical and environmental preservation, and improvements to infrastructure are just a few of the benefits enjoyed by our communities and funded in part by TOT.
Short-term rentals operators (30 days or less) are required to obtain a TOT certificate and an annual business license. Operators must also collect, report and remit TOT monthly. Online services are now available to simplify these requirements.
“We understand that people expect to do business online, and we hope to continue to expand these online services,” said Roy Given, Director of the Department of Finance.
Online services include TOT applications, tax returns, business license renewals, closures, digital signatures and payments. The online system automatically calculates the business registration fee, state fee, TOT tax, any applicable penalties, and interest.
Learn more at these online locations:
The County’s Online Payment Center offers additional conveniences.