Wisconsin lodging tax on Airbnb
Verdict for Wisconsin
- Airbnb collects
- State sales tax, county sales tax and all local room taxes
- You may still owe
- Bookings made off Airbnb; any city sales tax or other obligations Airbnb does not list
Researched from Airbnb's Wisconsin tax page (article 2337) and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. Airbnb lists a 0.5% county tax, but the Department of Revenue says Milwaukee County's rate is 0.9% since January 1, 2024, and a 2% City of Milwaukee tax took effect the same day; Airbnb's page does not mention the city tax. Not yet confirmed by a person; check your city and county before filing.
Tax layers
State sales tax on lodging
Reported- Rate
- 5%
- Applies to
- Lodging furnished for periods of less than one month (Airbnb collects on reservations of 29 nights and shorter)
- Airbnb collects
- Yes
- Where to register
- Wisconsin Department of Revenue
- Source
County sales and use tax
Reported- Rate
- 0.5% in most counties; 0.9% in Milwaukee County
- Applies to
- Short-term lodging in counties that impose the tax
- Airbnb collects
- Yes
- Where to register
- —
- Source
City of Milwaukee sales and use tax
Reported- Rate
- 2%
- Applies to
- Taxable sales within the City of Milwaukee
- Airbnb collects
- Unknown
- Where to register
- —
- Source
Local room tax
Reported- Rate
- Varies by municipality (Airbnb: typically 0–10%)
- Applies to
- Short-term rentals in municipalities that impose a room tax
- Airbnb collects
- Yes
- Where to register
- —
- Source
| Layer | Rate | Applies to | Airbnb collects | Where to register | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State sales tax on lodgingReported | 5% | Lodging furnished for periods of less than one month (Airbnb collects on reservations of 29 nights and shorter) | Yes | Wisconsin Department of Revenue | |
| County sales and use taxReported | 0.5% in most counties; 0.9% in Milwaukee County | Short-term lodging in counties that impose the tax | Yes | — | |
| City of Milwaukee sales and use taxReported | 2% | Taxable sales within the City of Milwaukee | Unknown | — | |
| Local room taxReported | Varies by municipality (Airbnb: typically 0–10%) | Short-term rentals in municipalities that impose a room tax | Yes | — |
Change history
No changes since we started tracking on Oct 17, 2026.
FAQ
- Does Airbnb collect Wisconsin lodging tax?
- Airbnb's Wisconsin tax page says it collects the 5% state sales tax and county tax in certain counties on reservations of 29 nights and shorter, and all locally imposed room taxes. The Department of Revenue says a marketplace provider that both advertises the lodging and processes payment, rather than the homeowner, remits tax on the full price.
- What about municipal room tax?
- Where a municipality imposes room tax, the Department of Revenue says the party that collects state sales tax generally handles room tax too, and marketplace providers file with each municipality. Local rules vary, so check with your municipality.
- Where do I register in Wisconsin?
- The Department of Revenue handles seller's permits through its online Business Tax Registration, for any tax you must remit yourself, such as on bookings made outside a marketplace.
Sources
- Occupancy tax collection and remittance by Airbnb in Wisconsin (Tier 1, Airbnb Help Center)
- Homeowners and Individuals Selling Short Term Lodging (Tier 1, Wisconsin Department of Revenue)
- Business Tax Registration (Tier 1, Wisconsin Department of Revenue)
- County and City Sales and Use Taxes (Tier 1, Wisconsin Department of Revenue)
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General information, not tax advice. Confirm with your state or a tax professional.