Florida sales tax
The state's transient rental tax on accommodations rented for six months or less, remitted to the Florida Department of Revenue.
Owner Resource
The Vacation Rental Tax Guide for Pinellas County
What short-term rental owners actually owe, who collects it, and how to stay off the penalty list. Written in plain English by the team that files this stuff every month.
The 13% every guest pays
Every short-term rental stay in Pinellas County carries 13% in taxes on top of the rent. Guests pay it, but owners are responsible for making sure it gets collected and remitted, and the county actively audits. Here is the whole stack, what it applies to, and the registrations behind it.
Pinellas discretionary surtax
The county's local-option sales surtax, collected together with the state sales tax on the same rental charges.
Tourist Development Tax
Pinellas County's "bed tax" on stays of six months or less, registered and remitted separately through the Pinellas County Tax Collector.
Total on every stay
Applied to rent and required fees (like cleaning) on short stays. Stays longer than six months are exempt from transient taxes.
What owners have to set up
- Florida DOR sales tax registration. You need a state sales tax account to collect and remit the 6% + 1%, filed monthly or quarterly depending on volume.
- Pinellas Tourist Development Tax account. The 6% bed tax has its own registration and its own return through the county's TouristExpress system. It is not covered by your state filing.
- DBPR vacation rental license. Florida requires a state vacation-rental license for most short-term rentals, on top of any city registration covered in our regulations guide.
- Know what your platforms remit. Some booking platforms collect some of these taxes for you and not others, the mix has changed over the years, and gaps are the number one audit finding. Never assume; verify per platform, per tax.
- Income tax is separate. Rental income is reported federally (typically Schedule E), and rules like the 14-day personal-use exemption can change what you owe. That conversation belongs with your CPA.
This guide is general information current as of mid-2026, not tax or legal advice. Rates and rules change; confirm with the Florida Department of Revenue, the Pinellas County Tax Collector, and your tax professional.
Or let us file it all
For homes we manage, tax collection and remittance is our job: state, surtax, and bed tax, filed correctly and on time, every month. One less spreadsheet in your life.
See what your home could earn Read the regulations guideFrequently asked questions
What taxes apply to a vacation rental in Pinellas County?
Three transient taxes totaling 13% on stays of six months or less: 6% Florida sales tax, 1% Pinellas discretionary surtax, and the 6% Pinellas Tourist Development Tax. The first two go to the state, the bed tax to the county.
Does Airbnb or Vrbo pay these taxes for me?
Sometimes, partially. Platform collection agreements cover some taxes and not others, and they have changed over time. The owner remains responsible for anything not remitted, so verify exactly what each platform collects for your listing rather than assuming.
Are long-term rentals taxed the same way?
No. Stays longer than six months are exempt from the transient rental taxes, which is one reason annual and long-seasonal rentals are administratively simpler.
What happens if I have not been collecting these taxes?
Back taxes, penalties, and interest, and the county does audit short-term rentals. If you are behind, address it proactively; voluntary disclosure goes far better than a discovered gap. Talk to a tax professional promptly.
Does Sunny Orange Stays handle taxes for managed homes?
Yes. For homes in our program we handle registration guidance, collection on every booking, and monthly remittance of all three transient taxes, alongside licensing and compliance covered in our regulations guide.
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