Taxes & Fees: Burlington vs Newton
How do taxes & fees rules compare between Burlington, MA and Newton, MA?
Newton has fewer restrictions than Burlington.
Burlington, MA
Middlesex County
Middlesex County short-term rentals under 32 days must collect the 5.7% Massachusetts state room occupancy excise plus local option taxes up to 6%, community impact fees, and convention center surcharges.
View full Burlington rules →Newton, MA
Middlesex County
Newton STRs collect 5.7 percent state room occupancy tax plus 6 percent local option and 2.75 percent Cape and Islands fee does not apply; Community Impact Fee applies to professional hosts.
View full Newton rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Burlington | Newton |
|---|---|---|
| State excise | 5.7% | - |
| Local option | Up to 6% | - |
| Community Impact Fee | Up to 3% | - |
| Convention Center | 2.75% (Cambridge) | - |
| Total (Cambridge) | Up to 17.45% | - |
| State Excise | - | 5.7 percent state tax |
| Newton Local | - | 6 percent local option tax |
| Combined Rate | - | 11.7 percent baseline |
| Impact Fee | - | Up to 3 percent for multi-property hosts |
| Filing | - | Monthly via MassTaxConnect by 20th |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Burlington FAQ
What taxes apply to my Middlesex County STR?
All stays under 32 days owe 5.7% state excise plus up to 6% local tax, plus a possible 3% Community Impact Fee and 2.75% convention center fee in Cambridge.
Who remits the STR taxes?
The operator or intermediary (like Airbnb) files monthly with the MA Department of Revenue via MassTaxConnect. Airbnb and Vrbo collect and remit on behalf of hosts in most cases.
Newton FAQ
Does Airbnb collect Newton STR tax automatically?
Yes, once your property is registered with the Massachusetts DOR registry, platforms like Airbnb generally collect and remit the combined 11.7 percent.
What counts as a professionally managed host?
Under state law, operating two or more STR units subjects you to the Community Impact Fee if the municipality has adopted it.
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