Sponsored link
Friday, March 29, 2024

Sponsored link

UncategorizedAirbnb agrees to pay back taxes

Airbnb agrees to pay back taxes

Efforts by Campos mean city will now collect tens of millions of dollars for the General Fund

48hillscamposheadshot

By Tim Redmond

FEBRUARY 18, 2015 – Airbnb has agreed to pay the city tens of millions of dollars in back taxes, Sup. David Campos told me today.

The decision by the multibillion-dollar company is a huge victory for the district 9 supervisor, who refused to give up on the issue even after losing 6-5 the first time he introduced a measure mandating the payment.

With a new supervisor on the board, who is facing the voters this fall, and growing grassroots pressure on the company, Airbnb apparently decided it could no longer duck the bill.

The issue would have been part of the campaign to pass a ballot measure better regulating short-term rentals this fall, although that measure is going to deal with land use, not taxes.

“A lot of people said we should let go of this,” Campos told me. “But it’s going to mean millions of dollars for the General Fund.”

Campos had introduced legislation that would suspend the legalization of short-term rentals until the city treasurer certified that all back taxes were paid.

The company, and other short-term rental platforms, still have a serious problem in San Francisco: Only a tiny number of hosts have signed up for legal registration. The vast majority of the current listings are now illegal.

Gina Simi at the City Planning Department confirmed this to me today:

Residents cannot engage in short-term renting without obtaining a Short-Term Residential Rental Registration Number, regardless of whether they have an appointment scheduled or an application under review. It’s also important to note this ordinance does not override any lease agreements or any other agreement, law, or regulations that prohibit subletting or use of a unit as a short-term residential rental.

So there are thousands of illegal rentals going on today.

48 Hills welcomes comments in the form of letters to the editor, which you can submit here. We also invite you to join the conversation on our FacebookTwitter, and Instagram

Tim Redmond
Tim Redmond
Tim Redmond has been a political and investigative reporter in San Francisco for more than 30 years. He spent much of that time as executive editor of the Bay Guardian. He is the founder of 48hills.

Sponsored link

Featured

Bilal Mahmood puffed up his resume—and the Chron doesn’t seem to care

Neuroscientists say he's not a 'neuroscientist' (he's not an 'economist,' either)—but the dailies still let his claims stand without challenge.

102-year-old heroine Betty Reid Soskin’s journey premieres on Bay Area stage

Writings and songs by the nation's oldest park ranger and longtime activist form base of 'Sign My Name To Freedom.'

With Castro Theatre out, massive Frameline LGBTQ+ film fest gets creative

New executive director Allegra Madsen takes on fresh challenges with an agile attitude—and innovative locations.

More by this author

In mayoral race preview, supes reject Breed veto of Peskin zoning bill

Mayor's move was all politics, not policy, most board members agree.

Can SF get an independent study of toxic risk at Hunters Point?

Plus: Preserving history on the waterfront, and preserving the waterfront from sea-level rise. That's The Agenda for March 24-31

Hundreds rally for Preston kick-off

Spirited event seeks to draw a clear line between the billionaires and the rest of the city.
Sponsored link

You might also likeRELATED