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.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Tacoma, WA
Tacoma allows residential lawn ornaments and yard art without permits provided they do not exceed the 15-foot accessory-structure height limit in TMC 13.06 a...
Tacoma, WA
Tacoma does not regulate residential inflatable holiday decorations by size or type. The Noise Code (TMC 8.122) applies to continuously running blower motors...
Tacoma, WA
Tacoma has no ordinance restricting when residents may put up or take down holiday lights. The general Noise Ordinance at TMC 8.122 applies to any amplified ...
Tacoma, WA
Built-in outdoor kitchens in Tacoma require building permits from Planning and Development Services (PDS) when they include new electrical, plumbing, gas pip...
Tacoma, WA
Backyard wood and pellet smokers in Tacoma single-family yards are permitted but subject to Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA) Regulation I, Section 9.11, ...
Tacoma, WA
Tacoma adopts the International Fire Code through TMC Title 3 (Fire Prevention) as Tacoma Fire Code. IFC Section 308.1.4 prohibits open-flame cooking devices...
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 If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.