The lodging tax is not a “new” tax but rather an extension of the current lodging tax imposed on all motel and hotel stays. Thus, whatever tax your town presently charges for hotel/motel stays is the tax amount that applies to all stays in private vacation homes.
Below is chart of the lodging tax for short-term vacation rentals in Massachusetts by towns located in the Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket and Just off Cape areas. The MA Department of Revenue is responsible for collecting and allocating the funds.
This information is ONLY related to the tax on short-term rentals, paid by vacationers and collected by property owners and managers. For information about short-term rental registration fees charged by each town to the owner/manager, click here.
Note: * Chatham and Harwich recently increased rates from 4% to 6% for stays beginning 1/1/23 or after
| Town | State | Local | Wastewater | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquinnah | 5.7% | 4.0% | 0% | 9.7% |
| Barnstable | 5.7% | 6.0% | 2.75% | 14.45% |
| Bourne | 5.7% | 6.0% | 2.75% | 14.45% |
| Brewster | 5.7% | 6.0% | 2.75% | 14.45% |
| Chatham | 5.7% | 6.0%* | 2.75% | 14.45%* |
| Chilmark | 5.7% | 4.0% | 0% | 9.7% |
| Dennis | 5.7% | 6.0% | 2.75% | 14.45% |
| Duxbury | 5.7% | 0% | 0% | 5.7% |
| Eastham | 5.7% | 6.0% | 2.75% | 14.45% |
| Edgartown | 5.7% | 4.0% | 0% | 9.7% |
| Falmouth | 5.7% | 6.0% | 2.75% | 14.45% |
| Harwich | 5.7% | 6.0%* | 2.75% | 14.45%* |
| Hull | 5.7% | 4.0% | 0% | 9.7% |
| Kingston | 5.7% | 6.0% | 0% | 11.7% |
| Marion | 5.7% | 0% | 0% | 5.70% |
| Mashpee | 5.7% | 6.0% | 2.75% | 14.45% |
| Mattapoisett | 5.7% | 0% | 0% | 5.7% |
| Nantucket | 5.7% | 6.0% | 0% | 11.7% |
| Oak Bluffs | 5.7% | 6.0% | 0% | 11.7% |
| Orleans | 5.7% | 6.0% | 2.75% | 14.45% |
| Plainville | 5.7% | 6.0% | 0% | 11.7% |
| Plymouth | 5.7% | 6.0% | 0% | 11.7% |
| Provincetown | 5.7% | 6.0% | 2.75% | 14.45% |
| Sandwich | 5.7% | 4.0% | 2.75% | 12.45% |
| Scituate | 5.7% | 6% | 0% | 11.7% |
| Tisbury | 5.7% | 6.0% | 0% | 11.7% |
| Truro | 5.7% | 6.0% | 2.75% | 14.45% |
| Wareham | 5.7% | 6.0% | 0% | 11.7% |
| Wellfleet | 5.7% | 6.0% | 2.75% | 14.45% |
| West Tisbury | 5.7% | 6.0% | 0% | 11.7% |
| Yarmouth | 5.7% | 6.0% | 2.75% | 14.45% |
If I rent thru weneedavacation.com, can I ask an owner to provide a receipt stating how much Lodging Tax I had payed?
Tnabks,
Eugene
Yes, of course, Eugene. The amount of tax that you are being asked to pay should be clearly noted in a line item on your lease. But if you would like further confirmation, I’m sure the homeowner you are working with would be happy to furnish you with a specific receipt.
where do I call to register with the state? I don’t rent my house all summer
it is approximately 5 to 6 weeks per year do I still need to register and some of the
weeks are family members which I don’t charge a fee. What do I handle this?
Thank you
Hi, Maria,
Here’s the number for the MA Tax Department (617) 887-6367. You DO need to register your home as long as you rent for more than 2 weeks a year (they don’t have to be consecutive), but only if you charge someone to stay in your home, i.e, rent it. I strongly recommend that you read our full Blog post: https://blog.weneedavacation.com/lodging-tax-faqs It should answer most of your questions.
I spoke to someone in the Truro Town Hall on Thursday, and was told that they had not yet voted on what the town tax would be, so I’m curious to see the 4% figure; does that mean that the MA Dept of Revenue has set the rates regardless of input from the towns?
Hi, Anne, every town (except for W. Tisbury on the Vineyard) already has a Lodging Tax on their books, which has been used for some years to tax their hotels, motels, and inns. That rate tends to be either 4% or 6%. This new Bill enables towns to assess up to 6%, so many towns that currently have a Lodging Tax of only 4% will undoubtedly meet to decide whether or not to increase the fee from 4% to 6%. In the meantime, the tax already on their books is what we published in our Blog post from the DOR, including Truro’s tax of 4%.
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE COST OF THE $1,000,000 INSURANCE RIDER
The cost varies widely, so it’s best to check with a few insurance companies.