Tomball requires every short-term rental (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.) renting sleeping rooms for less than 30 days to register with the city Finance Department and remit a 7% hotel occupancy tax (HOT) on net receipts. Reports are filed quarterly.
Tomball Code of Ordinances Ch. 42, Art. II authorizes a 7% hotel occupancy tax on rentals under 30 days. The city's Finance Department applies this to STRs booked through Airbnb, VRBO, or any platform. Operators must complete the Hotel Registration Form and remit tax quarterly, due the last day of the month following each calendar quarter (Apr 30, Jul 31, Oct 31, Jan 31). Online filing launched January 2024 via Avenu MuniServices (revds.com/taxpayer). Tomball contracted Avenu in 2023 to identify non-compliant STRs. There is no separate STR zoning permit or land-use license; HOT registration is the operative requirement. Confirm current forms and any updates with Finance at (281) 351-5484.
Failure to register or remit HOT exposes operators to back taxes, penalties, and interest under Ch. 42. Confirm specific penalty amounts with Finance at (281) 351-5484.
See how other cities in Harris County handle registration rules.
See how Tomball's registration rules rules stack up against other locations.
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