Collecting HST On Your Airbnb Listing

If you operate an Airbnb or short-term rental in Canada, you may choose to collect and remit HST yourself rather than relying on Airbnb’s automatic tax collection system. Some hosts prefer this because it gives them more control, improves accuracy, or simplifies bookkeeping across multiple platforms.

If you decide to handle HST on your own, there are a few key steps you’ll need to follow to transition smoothly. These instructions apply to Airbnb, but the process is very similar for other booking platforms such as VRBO, Booking.com, and Expedia.

1. Ensure Your HST Registration Is Active

Before you begin collecting HST independently, make sure your HST number is active with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Your HST number must be active to legally charge and remit tax. If you’re unsure:

• Log into your CRA My Business Account, or
• Call the CRA Business Enquiries line to confirm your account status

2. Update Your Airbnb Account Settings

Next, you’ll need to adjust the tax settings inside your Airbnb account. This is where you can control how taxes are handled on your listings.

• Log in to Airbnb
• Go to Account Settings
• Navigate to the Tax Information section
• Look for the menu related to VAT / GST / HST details

3. Change Your HST Collection Settings

Airbnb may have already been collecting HST on your behalf. If you want to collect and remit it yourself:

• Locate the setting that allows you to opt out of Airbnb’s automatic tax collection
• Select the option to collect and remit taxes yourself
• Enter your HST number when prompted
• Save your changes

This update ensures that Airbnb stops collecting HST and begins passing the responsibility—and the funds—directly to you.

4. Update Your Listing and Inform Guests if Needed

Airbnb should automatically add the HST line item at checkout once you switch to manual collection. However, it’s still a good idea to:

• Add a note to your listing description or house rules stating that HST will be applied to all bookings
• Ensure your nightly rate and tax breakdown clearly reflect the added HST

Transparency prevents guest confusion and protects you from disputes.

5. Record and Remit HST Properly

Once you start collecting HST yourself, you become fully responsible for reporting and remitting it to the CRA. Proper record-keeping is crucial—especially if you operate across multiple platforms or run several listings.

Be sure to:

• Collect HST from guests as part of their booking
• Keep organized records of all income and HST collected
• File your HST return according to your required filing schedule (monthly, quarterly, or annually)
• Remit the collected HST by the due date

Final Thoughts

Handling your own HST collection and remittance gives you better insight into your cash flow and tax obligations, but it also requires consistency and organization. Once set up, the process becomes relatively straightforward, and your bookkeeping will be cleaner across all platforms you use.