The tourist tax increase: no, it is not a scam against tourists!

In the last few weeks, tourists planning to visit Rome may have received a notification from Airbnb or other similar platforms about their accommodation, warning them to pay a higher than usual amount for the city tax/tourist tax.

Understandably, some travelers arriving in Rome may have been surprised at the news – disappointingly, this was discussed over the summer but not announced until the very last minute. Even worse, they may have been even annoyed at the idea of having to pay a city tax! First-time visitors, in particular, probably don’t even know that there is a city tax to pay, even though it is common in many European cities and throughout Italy.

Here’s why we thought a blog post on the subject was necessary.

First of all – what is a tourist tax and why does it need to be paid?

The city tax is a local charge levied on all non-residents staying in hotels, guesthouses, hostels, bed and breakfasts and, in general, any type of vacation rental (yes, even barges!). The money raised by this tax is used to finance tourism infrastructure and cultural projects. Some examples that are very visible in Rome are the free maps distributed at the Fiumicino airport or the Virtual Reality Bus: both were developed with the money from the tourist tax. The recent decision of the Rome City Council, effective this month of October, marks the first increase of the tax since 2014.

A common question: I don’t pay any city tax when I stay at a hotel!

This is not true – a city tax is paid no matter where you stay, unless you are a resident – we’re talking about Italy but again, city taxes are the norm in many cities of Europe and the world. Hotels simply add it to the total cost of your room, so some people don’t even realize the tax is part of their bill.

Of course, there are accommodations that never charge this type of tax. Whether it’s a rented apartment or a luxury hotel, this usually means that the owners are working illegally, possibly without the necessary permits, but 100% they’re not paying their taxes – this or any other!

Another common question: why do I have to pay a difference if I have already paid my city tax?

This is where some tourists may feel like they have been scammed – in a confusing turn of events, instead of letting reservations made before October pay the previous amount required for the city tax, Airbnb and other similar platforms, but even just individual entrepreneurs like ourselves, started asking for a difference to comply with the new rates. It’s not their/our fault – it’s the unfortunate consequence of the Rome city council’s sudden launch of the updated rates.

Also, my host asked me to pay the city tax in cash and leave it at the apartment when I check out. Is this a scam?

That’s a resounding no – and to be fair, we do it ourselves on occasion. Again, the services that allow you to book an apartment online often have a built-in city tax that is included in the final cost of the accommodation, but these are foreign companies and their convenience is trumped by the headache that is the Italian tax system. For purely accounting reasons, the vast majority of Italian property managers prefer to pay the city tax separately, hence the request for this amount either in cash or via a separate transaction.

Still not convinced? Look here!

Above, a news piece on the original launch of the tourist tax, to give you more context.

Also, this city-council operated website has the details on the upgraded tax. And if you have more questions, drop us a line! We’re always available!