Lodging Tax • Managing Your Vacation Rental

The Talmadges Speak Out Against the Lodging Tax on Air with Jack Peak

2 Comments
by Elizabeth Weedon
Written by Elizabeth Weedon
5/5 - (2 votes)

WeNeedaVacation.com co-owners, Joan and Jeff Talmadge, appeared on Jack Peak’s TV show Peak Time on Friday, June 30th to advocate against the proposed Lodging Tax on short-term vacation home rentals. Peak Time is aired regularly on Lower Cape Community Access TV for the towns of Brewster, Eastham, Orleans, Truro, and Wellfleet.

In the interview, Joan and Jeff discussed the negative impact the new tax would have on not just vacation rental owners but the entire Cape and Islands economy as well.

Here are a few segments from the interview:

Understanding the the bill.

Who is the typical homeowner?

How should the tax be rolled out if it goes into effect?

Do other states have a lodging tax?

Does the lodging tax level the playing field with hotels?

Watch the full episode:

You may also like

About the author

Elizabeth Weedon

Elizabeth Weedon - Although I’ve worked for WeNeedaVacation.com since 2008, I’ve been a loyal homeowner on the site since early 1998, just a few months after the website was launched by the Talmadges. I grew up summering on the Vineyard and managed my family's rental home there since the mid-1980’s. I’m passionately devoted to the Vineyard – and to WeNeedaVacation, which I credit with enabling me to hold onto the special property that has been in our family for nearly a century. An enthusiastic member of the WNAV Homeowner Support Team, I endeavor to keep my finger on the pulse of the Cape and Islands vacation rental industry so that I can provide homeowners advice about how to ensure their booking success with us. With owner Joan Talmadge, I am also responsible for editing and writing much of the text on our website, our monthly newsletters, and Homeowner Blog posts.

View all posts

2 Comments

  • In a way, the proponents of this tax are giving the hotels A bail out. If online services made it easier for vacationers to rent homes, and if they choose to stay in homes, maybe hotels Would do well to build single-family homes instead of hotels. Message to the politicians advocating for this tax. Stop trying to protect businesses. Let the market decide.

  • This is a false argument and a sorry excuse to pander to corporations.

    I’ll make a deal with the proponents of this tax.

    I own a small business. Let me build a summer home with pre-taxed corporate money, and I’ll pay your 15% rental tax when I get renters. You see, it’s double jeopardy.
    Corporations build their hotels with pre-taxed money, as a business, we/they, are subject to fees and taxes. Citizens do not fall under the same criteria. Are you gonna tax my yard sale next?
    True, tourism draws on public services.
    On the flipside, there are not a lot of children in the Cape drawing on the school system therefore taxes can be redirected.
    There is no public trash pick up and there are hardly any sidewalks on the Cape and the upkeep is minimal.
    Corporations pay a higher property taxes too,
    That’s because they are a corporation.
    Are you gonna tell me if I rent my house I should pay the corporate tax rate too?
    Article 1 section 2 of the constitution says Direct taxes need to be apportioned equally
    Is this tax even legal?
    Maybe it’s voluntary?
    You know, like voluntary compliance..
    Stop it, please, just stop it!