Anchorage, AK Short-Term Rentals: Taxes & Fees (2026)
Key Facts
- Tax rate
- 12% of room rent
- Who collects
- Operator or hosting platform
- Late filing penalty
- 10%–25% of tax due
- Interest rate
- 12% per annum
- Registration
- Certificate required before operating
Summary
Anchorage levies a 12 percent room tax on every short-term rental booking, and hosting platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo must register with the Finance Department and remit the tax on operators' behalf.
Subject to the provisions of this chapter, there is hereby levied a tax on all room rents in an amount equal to 12 percent (12%) of the room rent paid to an operator.
1. The guest shall pay the tax to the operator at the time the rent is paid, provided however, that tax paid on rents which subsequently qualify for an exemption from this tax shall be refunded by the operator to the guest and shown as a credit on the guest's bill.
2. The operator shall collect the tax when the operator collects the rent and shall state the tax as a separate item on the guest's bill.
B. One-third of the total tax revenues received, less administrative and enforcement related expenses, are dedicated to promotion of the tourism industry, which includes use of funds for any purpose set forth in subsection C.
C. One-third of the total tax revenues received, less administrative and enforcement related expenses, are dedicated to financing the design, site acquisition, construction, landscaping, bonded debt service or lease payments, carrying costs, and operation, and/or maintenance of the new civic and convention center, including parking facilities, and the renovation, operation and maintenance of the existing Egan Civic and Convention Center.
D.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 5010260; v11 updated 2026-09-01).
Full Breakdown
The Municipality of Anchorage's room tax (AMC Chapter 12.20) applies to every room rented for lodging, including short-term rentals booked through hosting platforms. The tax rate is 12 percent of the rent, collected from the guest and stated as a separate line item on the bill. Since 2019, registered hosting platforms, the online services operators use to list and book rooms, must obtain their own certificate of registration and collect and remit the tax to the Finance Department on behalf of the operators who use their platform, rather than leaving each individual host to file separately.
Violations & Fines
Operators who fail to register or collect the tax face civil penalties of 10% to 25% of unpaid tax, 12% annual interest, and revocation of their registration certificate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Anchorage's room tax apply to Airbnb and Vrbo rentals?
What happens if a short-term rental host doesn't collect Anchorage's room tax?
Is there an exemption for renting a room short-term?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anchorage
How Anchorage compares: Cities with the Highest Short-Term Rental Taxes·Compare Anchorage to another location·View the Alaska short-term rentals overview
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