This Software Can See If You Paid Your STR Taxes...

Washington County, Pennsylvania isn't taking hosts' word for it anymore...

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They're getting ready to launch new tech that can track who's paying the state's 6% hotel occupancy tax and who's flying under the radar.

The new system will cost the county about $28,000 per year. But officials think it'll be worth it. Right now, Washington County only has around 35 registered short-term rentals paying the tax. But the system claims it can find over 300 STRs operating in the county without paying.

Crunch the numbers, that's between $300,000 and $500,000 of tax revenue they are losing to sneaky or uninformed hosts.

For now, they're still spreading the word about the tax and how to register. But soon, they'll switch gears and start handing out serious penalties to hosts who still haven't complied.

Who They're Really Hunting For (It Might Be You)

If this tech works, it is only a matter of time before other counties and cities adopt it.

Hosts only using OTAs like Airbnb and Vrbo are likely good to go. Those platforms already collect and remit taxes automatically in most markets. The work isn't completely done, but you're not dodging taxes.

Direct booking hosts need to pay attention. Direct websites do not usually collect taxes automatically, you need a system to collect and remit those taxes yourself.

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Why Taxes Aren't a Problem. They're an Opportunity. (Free Course Inside)‍

Most hosts overpay because they don't know the rules. But there are legal loopholes and strategies to use short-term rentals to save on taxes.

Short-term rental owners can deduct mortgage interest, property taxes, utilities, repairs, and even a portion of their personal residence if they host guests in it. With 100% bonus depreciation back and cost segregation, you can unlock even more tax deductions and save hundreds of thousands. Legally.

But knowing the rules exist is not enough, you need to know how to use them. That's why we built the FREE STR Tax Loophole Supercourse to help.

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Ready to enroll for free?

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Join the Host Camp Free Community and get instant access to:

• The STR Tax Loophole Supercourse – A free, expert-led course on how to legally minimize taxes and maximize deductions with your STR.
• The Host Forum – Ask questions, share strategies, and learn from other hosts and our coaches.
• Free resources and guides – Created by Host Camp coaches to help you build, launch, and scale your portfolio.

                                                                                                   JOIN NOW + ENROL FOR FREE                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Or read the full blog to learn more about Washington County's tax tracking software and how to register your STR.

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Cheers,

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The Host Camp Team

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