Short Term Rental Taxes in Texas: State, Local HOT, and 2026 Host Rules
Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com each handle tax remittance differently — and none of them cover every obligation a Texas host carries.
Based on 2026 Texas Comptroller rates and local HOT ordinances across 254 counties.
Why Deadlines Differ by Platform
Airbnb remits the 6% state hotel occupancy tax automatically in Texas. VRBO does the same. But roughly 40% of local jurisdictions still require hosts to file and pay city or county taxes separately, regardless of which platform collected the booking.
Missing a quarterly local filing triggers a 5% penalty on day one. That penalty compounds. Short term rental taxes in Texas catch hosts off guard not because the rates are high, but because the filing calendar fragments across state and local levels with no single reminder system.
Cross-reference every active listing against the Texas Comptroller's hotel tax page to confirm which taxes your platform actually covers — and which ones you still owe directly.
What expenses can STR hosts deduct on their federal return?
Does Airbnb collect Texas hotel occupancy tax automatically?
Do hosts still owe local occupancy taxes if the platform collects state tax?
When does hiring a CPA make sense?
What records should hosts keep and for how long?
Not Sure What You Owe?
Mr Props helps Texas STR hosts sort out state and local tax obligations before filing deadlines hit. Get a property-specific tax breakdown without the guesswork.