Dutchess, Airbnb reach tax agreement

Dutchess County could generate $50,000 in revenue through a tax agreement with the online lodging service Airbnb.

Airbnb will collect and remit county hotel occupancy taxes beginning on March 1, according to a press release from the company. Airbnb is an online service which allows people to list their property for rent, acting as an alternative to hotels and similar services.

As part of the agreement, the county acknowledged that Airbnb is not required to collect these taxes and Airbnb agreed to voluntarily implement them, said Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro.

"With Airbnb offering similar services, this agreement levels the playing field for our hotels and bed and breakfasts," he said.

In 2016, Dutchess County hosted 26,000 arrivals through the service with 438 hosts in the county, according to a press release from Airbnb. This resulted in $4.3 million in host revenue for the year, with the typical host earning $7,500, the release said.

"We're excited to work with Dutchess County to welcome more visitors to the region and grow the county’s tax base as we head closer to summer travel season," Josh Meltzer, head of New York public policy for Airbnb, said in the release. "We hope the agreements we have reached with New York counties will serve as models for how local and state governments can work collaboratively with our community to boost incomes and provide more tax revenue."

Other counties which have entered similar agreements with Airbnb include Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Otsego, Schuyler, St. Lawrence, Sullivan and Tompkins counties.

Geoffrey Wilson: gwilson@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4882, Twitter: Geoff_LW