Last month, the ACT Government put forward a new piece of legislation — the Short-Term Rental Accommodation Levy Bill 2025 — which proposes a 5% levy on bookings made through platforms like Airbnb, Stayz, Booking.com and other online booking services.
For now, it’s just a proposal. The bill has been introduced to the Legislative Assembly, but it hasn’t passed…yet. Still, if it goes ahead (potentially kicking in from 1 July 2025), there are a few things short-term rental (STR) managers should start thinking about.
What’s the proposal all about?
Here’s what’s on the table:
-
A 5% levy on revenue from un-hosted short-stay bookings of no more than 28 days.
-
Hosted stays (where the owner/occupier/agent is living on-site during the stay) and direct bookings (made without a platform or third party agent) would be exempt
-
The booking platform — not the owner — would be responsible for collecting and remitting the levy for the most part
But don’t let that last point fool you — even though platforms are tasked with collection, STR managers will still feel the ripple effects through pricing, communication, reporting, and compliance. And for any direct bookings made through your own website or direct booking channels the reporting obligations will likely fall to the STR manager.
What will STR managers need to prepare for?
If the bill is passed, here’s what STR managers should be ready to tackle:
1. Know which properties are affected → You’ll need to distinguish between hosted vs un-hosted listings, and whether bookings are made via a platform or direct.
2. Review your internal systems → Make sure you can easily track levy-applicable revenue. Clean, separate data will be key.
3. Get ahead of owner conversations → Owners will want to know how this impacts their earnings. Having clear, proactive communication ready will build trust.
4. Stay alert for quarterly reporting requirements → The bill proposes quarterly lodgements and payments, which could add extra admin to your already-full plate.
5. Keep an eye on the platforms → Even though Airbnb and the other platforms are supposed to handle collection, it’s still your job to double-check they’re doing it right and you’ve provided all the necessary info — because it reflects on your reporting and service.
When won’t this apply to short-term rental managers?
Under the proposed legislation, if you’re an STR manager acting as an agent (i.e., managing bookings on behalf of property owners), then this levy will apply. The only considerations will be working out who does the reporting.
The only time you wouldn’t have to collect the levy as an STR manager is if you:
-
Own the property yourself, and
-
Don’t use any booking platform or service — all bookings must be made directly with the guest.
In other words: being an STR manager means the levy will pretty much always apply to the properties you manage.
If you’d like to see more as information becomes available, check out the ACT Revenue Office.
Our Take
Yes, the bill is still under review — but if you’re managing properties across different states, it’s worth getting your ducks in a row now. Victoria’s levy is already locked in and if the ACT follows then you’ll want systems, communications, and reporting tools in place to avoid scrambling later.
Looking for help to manage the tax and financials for your short-term rental management business? Reach out today and see how Wingr can help – Contact Us
Comments are closed.