Tacoma hotel and short-term rental stays carry a combined lodging tax of roughly 13.5 percent, layering a 5 percent city lodging tax on top of the 6.5 percent Washington state sales tax and a 2 percent convention center charge.
Lodging tax in Tacoma stacks several pieces. Washington imposes a 6.5 percent state retail sales tax on lodging under RCW 82.08, plus local sales tax. Tacoma adds a 5 percent special hotel-motel tax under RCW 67.28, and a 2 percent Greater Tacoma Convention Center charge funds the downtown convention facility. Together this brings effective lodging tax to roughly 13.5 percent, which is itemized on every guest folio. Short-term rental hosts collecting through Airbnb or Vrbo also remit the 5 percent city tax through platform agreements with the Washington Department of Revenue.
Failing to register with the Department of Revenue, under-collecting the 5 percent city tax, or skipping convention center remittance exposes the operator to back taxes, interest, and penalties.
See how Tacoma's transient occupancy tax rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.