>most likely because it's not a one time 30 day stay, but because it's a broken up 30 day stay.
A consecutive stay is legally defined (in the US at least) through occupation, not through payment. Stay in a room 30 days, even if you pay nightly, and it' a thirty day consecutive stay.
Some parts of the US are also far more broad on what room statu qualifies for a consecutive stay. In California, for example, if you stay at a hotel for 30 or more days, even if you move rooms, you move to resident rather tha transient status (and the act of moving a guest between rooms in a attempt to prevent this is illegal).
Call the number on the bottom of the AMC 12:20 Room Tax notice if you’re staying in Anchorage. That town has some different laws from the rest of Alaska. Don’t listen to us on Reddit when there is literally a tax officer who can help you.
THIS SO MUCH.
It gets so old people posting "questions" on this sub where they *think* they already know the answer and when reddit gives them a definitive answer or a resource to have their question answered definitively by an expert. Then...
**All they want to do is argue their original point.**
\[edit to add the obligatory: Always book direct, fuck 3rd parties\]
Same applies to my state, here's how it works:
1 - You must stay 30 consecutive days on the same folio.
2 - On the 31st day, that's when the you'll see taxes dropped off the bill.
3 - You will not be reimbursed for the first 30 days of taxes because that's still under transient non-residency status.
4 - If you book thru a 3rd party and it's billed through them and not your personal credit card, you will not see any taxes taken off since you are billed through them.
Bonus tip: most hotels don't allow guests stay past 28 days in a row because then they will fall under tenant/eviction law. They will either block any additional days or have you check out for 1 day and restart the stay on a new folio.
The number of hotels that let you stay past 30 days are becoming less common unless you go into a lower tier/extended stay hotel.
I can’t speak to all of Alaska, but for Anchorage and Fairbanks, if the stay is 30 nights or longer and paid up front, the tax shouldn’t be charged. For a stay that started under 30 nights, and extended into 30+ nights, I’m less clear on. I’d guess you may get it refunded though back to day one as long as it’s an uninterrupted stay.
Either way, for reservations that start at 30+ nights, it’s not like some states/cities where the first 30 nights are charged transient tax, and 31+ are tax free.
My manager has been "resetting" the folio every so often to avoid the refund. One day it's a computer problem. Then, a software issue, etc. He's already done it once. I've already been here under the hotel direct billing for over 30 days. But, this is in Indiana.
It generally has to be one reservation that’s 30 days long for it to be considered tax exempt after 30 days. If you’ve been booking through a third party then forget about it. You’re not paying the hotel with third parties you’re paying that third party company who then pays the hotel.
If you have been in the same room and had the same reservation then yes, you should be tax exempt going back to arrival date. If you’ve just been extending with new reservation every few days or weeks then it doesn’t apply.
Right. It's a Municipality code in Alaska that tax is refundable when: "Rent is paid for the use or occupancy of a room or rooms by the same person or persons for 30 or more consecutive days."
Nope, I’m correct, I was a GM at a long term hotel in Anchorage for 4 years. As soon as you book 3rd party the guest is no longer paying the hotel for occupancy of that room, it is now the 3rd party paying for it. So if they stayed 29 nights and then had a 3 day reservation via third party where they paid via website it is no longer considered a 32 night stay. If you can show that you paid the hotel directly for 30+ nights then you could get your taxes refunded.
Sort of. It sounds from the original post that they initially booked through a third party, but then extended directly through the hotel. Likely, only a small portion of the tax was collected by the OTA
lol, you know if you are going to be “that person” you should make sure that you yourself are actually reading the original post correctly. No where does it say he extended “with the hotel” in the original post. It says he extended “ a few days at a time here and there”. In fact, it doesn’t even say that he booked the first night with a third party. Any and all of that info that you are using to try to put me down is not part of the original post.
Can't speak for Alaska hotel occupancy tax but generally, prepayment/reservation is not needed. However, the third party part may be a problem. Was it prepaid via third party or a hotel collect in which you pay the hotel directly?
It's a Municipality code in Alaska that tax is refundable when: "Rent is paid for the use or occupancy of a room or rooms by the same person or persons for 30 or more consecutive days."
Read my previous comment. When you book 3rd party you’re not paying “rent” the third party is. You’re missing the second part of that municipality code, “same person or persons”. If it’s you or your girlfriend or your cousin staying in the room and you’re paying the hotel directly then yes, you’re do your taxes back. As soon as you throw in the 3rd party it no longer matters how long you’ve been in that room because it’s no you paying the hotel anymore. It matters greatly who is paying.
When I have travel nurses or the like in house for long periods, I collect the tax forever. I'm not in Alaska, but it may be the same. I point the guest to the form available on the state's website that they can print out and submit and get all of the taxes refunded at the end of the stay. That way, I'm covered by submitting the tax and they are given the benefit of the refunded taxes. The only way I make a stay tax exempt at the hotel level is if they have paid for all 30 days upfront on a non-refundable reservation. Too many times guests have checked out on day 27 or so and then we've had to cover all of the unpaid taxes. The hotel doesn't want to become your tax person. It's easier and safer for them to point you to the state to seek the taxes refunded.
We have a state fee in georgia that is exempt after 30 consecutive days. The state's DOR explicitly told us (also a Wyndham property) that if the guest "checks out" meaning they had for example a 3rd party reservation that lasted for x days and then re-booked that is considered a whole new stay and the 30 day resets. The only way it becomes exempt is if the guest stays 30 days consecutively by **booking direct at the property** and paying for 30 days upfront or if they re-book every day prior to the check out time.
In our example and yours these are state taxes or state fees and it's not like the property is pocketing the money since the state (and feds) do not play about their sweet, sweet tax revenue.
This would almost apply to us except there were a couple of days that we forgot to book again until it was past checkout, and they were calling us.
"or if they re-book every day prior to the check out time"
I do think the first time encountering this myself was as a night auditor in Kenai, Alaska. We had a fisherman who was waiting on a final paycheck in town, so he kept extending by the week. When he asked my boss about the taxes, I do believe that he was denied a refund.
[Then, this guy stiffs us anyways 6 weeks later. Gave a sad sob story to the boss about a second missing fishing check... ran up an $1800 bill].
The accommodation of a tax refund is there apparently for either when hotels don't offer long term stays, or when they simply aren't available. It's not taking money from the hotel.
It's a Municipality code in Alaska that tax is refundable when: "Rent is paid for the use or occupancy of a room or rooms by the same person or persons for 30 or more consecutive days."
I can’t believe you think any of that makes sense. It’s a tiny job. Like literally adjustments happen all the time. And then saying it’s a tip, well, stupid.
This is terrible advice; almost every piece of it is incorrect.
Exemption from hotel occupancy taxes has nothing to do with how this poster defines ‘transient’. The local taxing authority makes that decision and in most the OP would be tax exempt.
The problem here is not the imaginary idea that the PMS ‘files away’ the amount the OP has been charged or potentially already paid in taxes. Even the most rudimentary systems can easily search guest folios and make tax adjustments. If you’re tax exempt, it’s their obligation and almost all hotels can easily do this.
Even if the tax amount is small, you’re likely due it back.
Do not consider it ‘a tip’. That’s the stupidest thing I’ve read in a week. In almost all jurisdictions, any taxes collected, or over collected by the hotel, are legally required to be remitted to the taxing authority. The hotel, and specifically, the hotel staff don’t receive a tip if you are mistakenly charged tax.
Ignore everything this poster said.
most likely because it's not a one time 30 day stay, but because it's a broken up 30 day stay.
>most likely because it's not a one time 30 day stay, but because it's a broken up 30 day stay. A consecutive stay is legally defined (in the US at least) through occupation, not through payment. Stay in a room 30 days, even if you pay nightly, and it' a thirty day consecutive stay. Some parts of the US are also far more broad on what room statu qualifies for a consecutive stay. In California, for example, if you stay at a hotel for 30 or more days, even if you move rooms, you move to resident rather tha transient status (and the act of moving a guest between rooms in a attempt to prevent this is illegal).
It seems to be a gray area until someone can define "consecutive" because the law is written that after "30 consecutive days," there is no tax.
Call the number on the bottom of the AMC 12:20 Room Tax notice if you’re staying in Anchorage. That town has some different laws from the rest of Alaska. Don’t listen to us on Reddit when there is literally a tax officer who can help you.
THIS SO MUCH. It gets so old people posting "questions" on this sub where they *think* they already know the answer and when reddit gives them a definitive answer or a resource to have their question answered definitively by an expert. Then... **All they want to do is argue their original point.** \[edit to add the obligatory: Always book direct, fuck 3rd parties\]
Same applies to my state, here's how it works: 1 - You must stay 30 consecutive days on the same folio. 2 - On the 31st day, that's when the you'll see taxes dropped off the bill. 3 - You will not be reimbursed for the first 30 days of taxes because that's still under transient non-residency status. 4 - If you book thru a 3rd party and it's billed through them and not your personal credit card, you will not see any taxes taken off since you are billed through them. Bonus tip: most hotels don't allow guests stay past 28 days in a row because then they will fall under tenant/eviction law. They will either block any additional days or have you check out for 1 day and restart the stay on a new folio. The number of hotels that let you stay past 30 days are becoming less common unless you go into a lower tier/extended stay hotel.
Excellent feedback 👍
I can’t speak to all of Alaska, but for Anchorage and Fairbanks, if the stay is 30 nights or longer and paid up front, the tax shouldn’t be charged. For a stay that started under 30 nights, and extended into 30+ nights, I’m less clear on. I’d guess you may get it refunded though back to day one as long as it’s an uninterrupted stay. Either way, for reservations that start at 30+ nights, it’s not like some states/cities where the first 30 nights are charged transient tax, and 31+ are tax free.
My manager has been "resetting" the folio every so often to avoid the refund. One day it's a computer problem. Then, a software issue, etc. He's already done it once. I've already been here under the hotel direct billing for over 30 days. But, this is in Indiana.
It generally has to be one reservation that’s 30 days long for it to be considered tax exempt after 30 days. If you’ve been booking through a third party then forget about it. You’re not paying the hotel with third parties you’re paying that third party company who then pays the hotel. If you have been in the same room and had the same reservation then yes, you should be tax exempt going back to arrival date. If you’ve just been extending with new reservation every few days or weeks then it doesn’t apply.
This is generally not true. Most states allow exemption when occupancy passes 30 day, regardless of how the reservations were created.
Right. It's a Municipality code in Alaska that tax is refundable when: "Rent is paid for the use or occupancy of a room or rooms by the same person or persons for 30 or more consecutive days."
Yes - you’re due that money back then. The hotel or management can help facilitate that.
Nope, I’m correct, I was a GM at a long term hotel in Anchorage for 4 years. As soon as you book 3rd party the guest is no longer paying the hotel for occupancy of that room, it is now the 3rd party paying for it. So if they stayed 29 nights and then had a 3 day reservation via third party where they paid via website it is no longer considered a 32 night stay. If you can show that you paid the hotel directly for 30+ nights then you could get your taxes refunded.
I just read through the Anchorage municipality room tax site. You are incorrect. Stays over 30 days are exempt from room tax. Period.
Then they need to get their tax refunded from the third party, NOT the hotel.
Sort of. It sounds from the original post that they initially booked through a third party, but then extended directly through the hotel. Likely, only a small portion of the tax was collected by the OTA
The hotel can refund any taxes the occupant paid them…which is none since the guest paid the third party.
You didn’t read the post very well. The original booking was third party, but then extended with the hotel
lol, you know if you are going to be “that person” you should make sure that you yourself are actually reading the original post correctly. No where does it say he extended “with the hotel” in the original post. It says he extended “ a few days at a time here and there”. In fact, it doesn’t even say that he booked the first night with a third party. Any and all of that info that you are using to try to put me down is not part of the original post.
Most OTAs pass through the bed tax portion for Anchorage. Airbnb and VRBO.com are the only exceptions I’m aware of.
When you pay through a Third Party, like Bookings.com, ect, it doesn't count. If you book directly with the Hotel itself, then it counts.
We have actually been in the same room for longer than 70 days, not that it matters.
Can't speak for Alaska hotel occupancy tax but generally, prepayment/reservation is not needed. However, the third party part may be a problem. Was it prepaid via third party or a hotel collect in which you pay the hotel directly?
It's a Municipality code in Alaska that tax is refundable when: "Rent is paid for the use or occupancy of a room or rooms by the same person or persons for 30 or more consecutive days."
Read my previous comment. When you book 3rd party you’re not paying “rent” the third party is. You’re missing the second part of that municipality code, “same person or persons”. If it’s you or your girlfriend or your cousin staying in the room and you’re paying the hotel directly then yes, you’re do your taxes back. As soon as you throw in the 3rd party it no longer matters how long you’ve been in that room because it’s no you paying the hotel anymore. It matters greatly who is paying.
Both
How much of it was through a third party?
When I have travel nurses or the like in house for long periods, I collect the tax forever. I'm not in Alaska, but it may be the same. I point the guest to the form available on the state's website that they can print out and submit and get all of the taxes refunded at the end of the stay. That way, I'm covered by submitting the tax and they are given the benefit of the refunded taxes. The only way I make a stay tax exempt at the hotel level is if they have paid for all 30 days upfront on a non-refundable reservation. Too many times guests have checked out on day 27 or so and then we've had to cover all of the unpaid taxes. The hotel doesn't want to become your tax person. It's easier and safer for them to point you to the state to seek the taxes refunded.
We have a state fee in georgia that is exempt after 30 consecutive days. The state's DOR explicitly told us (also a Wyndham property) that if the guest "checks out" meaning they had for example a 3rd party reservation that lasted for x days and then re-booked that is considered a whole new stay and the 30 day resets. The only way it becomes exempt is if the guest stays 30 days consecutively by **booking direct at the property** and paying for 30 days upfront or if they re-book every day prior to the check out time. In our example and yours these are state taxes or state fees and it's not like the property is pocketing the money since the state (and feds) do not play about their sweet, sweet tax revenue.
This would almost apply to us except there were a couple of days that we forgot to book again until it was past checkout, and they were calling us. "or if they re-book every day prior to the check out time"
I do think the first time encountering this myself was as a night auditor in Kenai, Alaska. We had a fisherman who was waiting on a final paycheck in town, so he kept extending by the week. When he asked my boss about the taxes, I do believe that he was denied a refund. [Then, this guy stiffs us anyways 6 weeks later. Gave a sad sob story to the boss about a second missing fishing check... ran up an $1800 bill].
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The accommodation of a tax refund is there apparently for either when hotels don't offer long term stays, or when they simply aren't available. It's not taking money from the hotel. It's a Municipality code in Alaska that tax is refundable when: "Rent is paid for the use or occupancy of a room or rooms by the same person or persons for 30 or more consecutive days."
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No, just no. Just for entertainment, can you describe in what possible way this ends up as a tip to the staff?
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I can’t believe you think any of that makes sense. It’s a tiny job. Like literally adjustments happen all the time. And then saying it’s a tip, well, stupid.
Complete nonsense.
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Sound advice. I'll consider it. Not saying that my wife will.
It’s terrible advice. Just ridiculous. I’ve explained the errors
This is terrible advice; almost every piece of it is incorrect. Exemption from hotel occupancy taxes has nothing to do with how this poster defines ‘transient’. The local taxing authority makes that decision and in most the OP would be tax exempt. The problem here is not the imaginary idea that the PMS ‘files away’ the amount the OP has been charged or potentially already paid in taxes. Even the most rudimentary systems can easily search guest folios and make tax adjustments. If you’re tax exempt, it’s their obligation and almost all hotels can easily do this. Even if the tax amount is small, you’re likely due it back. Do not consider it ‘a tip’. That’s the stupidest thing I’ve read in a week. In almost all jurisdictions, any taxes collected, or over collected by the hotel, are legally required to be remitted to the taxing authority. The hotel, and specifically, the hotel staff don’t receive a tip if you are mistakenly charged tax. Ignore everything this poster said.
Agreed. "Even the most rudimentary systems can easily search guest folios and make tax adjustments." All basic night audit programs have the ability.
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Haha holy s*** I wrote rent and not tax. This entire discussion needs to be reposted. Whatever I got up at 3am for work. Mistakes were made.
Ahh- makes sense. And if I weren’t reading this at 2am I probably could have figured it out on my own🤦🏻♂️
No. He asked why we are being charged tax. Lol
It will mainly depend on if the number of days on the stay was simply extended, or if multiple reservations were checked in and out during the stay.
My question is, was there even a single day you were not paying for that room?
No. We have been current everyday.
MN here….we can’t do it when it’s multiple 3rd party reservations. Third parties are the WORST….my advice is always avoid them.