This is not financial advice. Everything below is strictly Belloise Realty’s opinion and general information, not a recommendation for your situation.
If you rent your Clearwater Beach condo to vacation guests, taxes are part of every booking. In Pinellas County, stays of six months or less carry state sales tax, a county surtax and the county’s tourist development tax. Here is how the 13% adds up and the registrations behind it.
Key takeaways
- Short-term stays of six months or less in Pinellas carry 13% in taxes: 6% state sales tax, 1% county surtax and 6% tourist development tax.
- The 7% goes to the Florida Department of Revenue. The 6% bed tax goes to the Pinellas County Tax Collector.
- You need separate registrations for each.
- Booking platforms may collect some taxes for you. Confirm which ones, because the owner remains responsible.
How the 13% breaks down
| Tax | Rate | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Florida sales tax on transient rentals | 6% | Florida Department of Revenue |
| Pinellas discretionary sales surtax | 1% | Florida Department of Revenue |
| Pinellas tourist development tax | 6% | Pinellas County Tax Collector |
| Total | 13% |
Registrations you need
- A Florida sales tax account with the Department of Revenue.
- A tourist development tax account with the Pinellas County Tax Collector.
- A vacation rental license from the Florida DBPR, which most short-term rentals need.
- Any city registration or business tax receipt, plus your association’s approval.
Working with booking platforms
Some platforms collect and remit some of these taxes on your behalf. What they cover has changed over time and varies by platform, so check each one’s tax settings and keep records. Direct bookings are always yours to collect and report.
Watch out: Pinellas requires a tourist development tax return even in months with no bookings, according to the Tax Collector. Missing returns can bring penalties.
How this affects your numbers
In our opinion, owners should build taxes into their pricing and cash flow plans from day one, alongside insurance, association dues, cleaning and management. Our guide to the costs of owning a vacation rental and rental strategy guide go deeper, and our rental income estimate is a starting point.
Not financial advice: This is not financial advice. It is strictly our opinion, for general information only. Talk to a licensed financial adviser, accountant or attorney before making investment decisions.
Thinking about buying for rental income? Read our short-term rental rules and contact us.
Sources
- Pinellas County, pay tourist development tax.
- Pinellas County Tax Collector, tourist development taxes.
- Florida Department of Revenue, sales and use tax, transient rentals and discretionary surtax.
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, vacation rental licenses.