FILE: LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 03: Airbnb logo seen on a computer screen on August 3, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)
(Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – State lawmakers have their eyes on short-term rentals – like Airbnb – for new, tougher tax regulations. No bill has yet been tabled, but lawmakers are looking for ways to stop tax evasion.
Republican Rep. Calvin Musselman, who represents Weber County, said many people rent property in areas where it’s not allowed.
He said that in his county, 40 rental properties are licensed, compared to more than 800 that are not.
Musselman said many people rent houses and apartments without using apps such as Airbnb and no sales tax license. As a result, he said, some people don’t remit the proper taxes to the state.
“The way the law works is that you should rent your property only and only through one of the platforms. If you rented it once outside the platform, you would be responsible for paying the tax,” he said.
Lawmakers are also considering the impact of short-term rentals on the housing market.
Unlicensed short-term rentals “may have affected affordability and for some availability of the housing stock,” Musselman said.
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