How to compute taxable and exempt lodging
Example #1: Prior to arrival, an individual commits in writing to staying for
a period of 30 consecutive days. The lodger is assigned a room but 10 days into
the stay is moved to another room. Provided the person pays for 30 consecutive
days, this will be considered rental of real estate and not subject to any Washington
state taxes.
Example #2: An airline contracts with a motel to pay for a minimum of 10 rooms
per night even if fewer rooms are occupied for the month of April. On the tenth
of April the airline only occupies eight rooms. Throughout the 30 day billing
period, the airline is charged for 10 rooms per night. The charges for the rooms
are considered non-transient rental and are not subject to any state tax. Any
charges for rooms over and above the 10 rooms will be considered transient rental
and subject to retailing B&O tax, retail sales tax, and the special hotel/motel
tax, and convention and trade center tax, if applicable.
Example #3: An airline contracts with a motel to keep 15 rooms available for the
month of April. The airline is allowed to cancel the rooms without paying for
them if the motel is contacted before 6:00 p.m.. During the 30 day billing period
the fewest number of rooms paid for is six. The six rooms will be considered non-transient
rental and are not subject to any state tax. The rooms over and above the minimum
six rooms will be considered transient rental and subject to retailing B&O tax,
retail sales tax, and the special hotel/motel tax, and convention and trade center
tax, if applicable.
Package Deals
Hotels and motels sometimes offer package deals to the public. The packages include the room and other amenities. The following is an example of a package that might be offered and the resulting tax consequences for the income realized by the lodging provider:
A hotel offers a $250 "romantic getaway" package. The package includes a room
for one night, a certificate to be redeemed when dining at a local restaurant,
and two tickets to a local playhouse. The room also comes with a complimentary
fruit and champagne basket that the hotel purchases for $15.
The hotel purchases the two show tickets from the local playhouse on behalf
of the guest upon registration, at a total face value of $60. The $40 face value
of the certificate issued by the restaurant is to be applied as payment towards
the guest's purchase of a meal and beverages at the restaurant. The guest is
responsible for any restaurant billing in excess of $40. The hotel receives
a $5 commission from the restaurant for each redeemable certificate it sells
for the restaurant. The hotel purchases the complimentary fruit and champagne
basket for $15. The hotel properly segregates and accounts for the guest charges
for the show tickets and restaurant certificate in its books and records.
The amount attributable to the sale of lodging is subject to the retailing B&O,
retail sales, special hotel/motel, and convention and trade center taxes, if
applicable, is computed as follows:
| Charge to guest |
$250 |
| Restaurant Certificate |
-$40 |
| Show Tickets |
-$60 |
| |
| Taxable Amount |
$150 |
The $5 commission received from the restaurant is subject to the service and
other activities B&O tax.
For information on restaurants and their tax reporting responsibilities please
consult the Department of Revenue's
Restaurant
Guide.