More than half of short-term rentals registered, county warns hosts remain confused about tax collection

Columbia County reported that roughly 375 of about 600 short‑term rental units have registered under the county's new short‑term rental registration program, and staff said second notices are being sent to owners who have not yet registered.

County staff told the Board of Supervisors they have received many emails and phone calls from hosts since the registration drive began and that a portion of hosts remain unclear about tax collection responsibilities. Staff reminded hosts that the first sales-tax remittance for registered short‑term rentals is due Sept. 20.

"There's still a tremendous amount of confusion out there with Airbnb because the short term rental people think that Airbnb is collecting the occupancy tax," a county official said at the meeting, noting that many platforms list charges differently on receipts and that some receipts incorrectly label state sales tax as occupancy tax. County officials said that discrepancy has prompted calls to county offices and to state representatives.

Staff said they are preparing to share registration lists with town code‑enforcement officers and that some hosts have signaled they may stop renting because of the new requirements. The county has sent a second letter to unregistered hosts and will continue outreach.

County staff also described how platform practices vary: some hosts may absorb taxes in rates, others might add the tax at booking, and some hosts report platform help desks providing conflicting guidance. Staff said they are coordinating with state offices and a state senator's office that had been contacted about platform guidance.

No formal action on short‑term rental policy was taken at the meeting; supervisors asked staff to continue outreach and to provide towns with registration data for code enforcement and collections.

Clarifying details disclosed: county staff reported "about 375" registrations out of roughly 600 possible short‑term rental units; the county has sent a second notice to unregistered hosts; the first sales‑tax remittance for registered short‑term rentals is due Sept. 20.