Coming this Summer: Airbnb Will Collect Taxes in San Francisco, New York State

The ongoing saga of the tax and regulatory standing of Airbnb, the popular room rental app and poster child for the sharing economy, is evolving in San Francisco, Portland and the state of New York.

1 minute read

April 15, 2014, 2:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Shortly after announcing the launch of its “Shared City” program in Portland, news about Airbnb’s tax collection policies have been emerging in San Francisco and New York State.

First in San Francisco, Carolyn Said reported that Airbnb had agreed to pay the city’s 14 percent hotel tax by the summer. A few days after that article, John Cote reported on a decision by the San Francisco Treasurer John Cisneros confirming that Airbnb is subject to the city’s hotel tax as the law is currently written.

Next in New York City, Kaja Whitehouse reports that Airbnb is “working on getting two bills passed by May that would allow it to collect the 14.7 percent hotel tax and pass it on to city and state authorities…”

The situation in New York State is different than that of Portland and San Francisco because “the company claims it is hindered in New York by laws that place the burden of collecting and paying taxes on the individual host….Airbnb says it wants to do the work for them. Changing the laws would allow the company to tack on an extra charge for taxes on renters’ bills in the same way hotels do for their guests.”

Tuesday, April 1, 2014 in SFGate

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view of red brick multi-story power plant building in Pittsburgh, PA.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower

A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

July 4 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cyclist on protected bike lane in middle of street in Washington D.C. with Washington Monument obelisk visible in background.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”

The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

July 4 - Streetsblog USA

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business