Taxes & Fees: Allentown vs Bethlehem
How do taxes & fees rules compare between Allentown, PA and Bethlehem, PA?
Allentown has fewer restrictions than Bethlehem.
Allentown, PA
Lehigh County
Allentown collects state and local hotel occupancy taxes on stays under 30 days. PA state rate is 6%. Municipal rates vary (typically 1 to 5% additional).
View full Allentown rules →Bethlehem, PA
Lehigh County
Short-term rental operators in Bethlehem must collect either the Lehigh County 4% hotel room rental tax (south side of the Lehigh River) or the Northampton County 4% hotel room excise tax (north side) plus the Pennsylvania 6% state hotel occupancy tax under 72 P.S. §7210 for any stay under 30 consecutive days. The combined rate is 10%. Bethlehem does not impose a separate municipal STR tax.
View full Bethlehem rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Allentown | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|
| State Tax | 6% Hotel Occupancy | - |
| Local Tax | Varies (1 to 5% typical) | - |
| Platforms | Auto-collect state tax | - |
| Filing | Monthly with PA DOR | - |
| PA State Tax | - | 6% (72 P.S. §7210) |
| Lehigh County Tax | - | 4% (south side) |
| Northampton County Tax | - | 4% (north side) |
| Combined Rate | - | 10% on Bethlehem STR bookings |
| 30-Day Exemption | - | Stays 30+ days by same guest exempt |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Allentown FAQ
What tax do I owe on rentals?
PA Hotel Occupancy Tax (6%) plus local hotel tax. Check Allentown for the local rate.
Does Airbnb handle tax collection?
Airbnb and Vrbo auto-collect PA state hotel tax. Verify local tax collection with Allentown tax office.
Bethlehem FAQ
What hotel tax do I have to charge for my Bethlehem PA Airbnb?
10% total: 6% Pennsylvania state hotel occupancy tax (72 P.S. §7210) plus the applicable 4% county hotel room rental tax. The county tax depends on which side of the Lehigh River the property sits - Lehigh County (south side) or Northampton County (north side). Airbnb's state-level voluntary collection agreement remits the PA 6% automatically, but the county 4% is generally the host's responsibility. Stays of 30 consecutive days or longer by the same guest are exempt from both.
Which county hotel tax does my Bethlehem Airbnb owe?
It depends on which side of the Lehigh River the property is on. Properties south of the Lehigh River (South Bethlehem, near Lehigh University and the SteelStacks complex) are in Lehigh County and remit to the Lehigh County Fiscal Office. Properties north of the river (the Historic Moravian district, North Side, near Moravian University) are in Northampton County and remit to the Northampton County Department of Fiscal Affairs. Both currently charge 4%.
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