Arlington, TX Short-Term Rentals: Taxes & Fees (2026)

Arlington's short-term rental tax stack starts with the State of Texas Hotel Occupancy Tax at 6 percent of gross room revenue under Texas Tax Code Chapter 156, remitted to the Texas Comptroller. On top of that, Arlington imposes a local Hotel Occupancy Tax under Texas Tax Code Chapter 351 at 9 percent, one of the higher rates allowed under state cap rules and justified in part by the city's Entertainment District convention and tourism infrastructure. The combined HOT on an Arlington short-term rental stay is therefore 15 percent of rent plus mandatory non-optional fees. Operators using platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo should note that Airbnb collects and remits both the state and city HOT automatically in Arlington through its voluntary collection agreement, while Vrbo collects the state portion but the operator is often responsible for the city portion directly. Local registration is required under Arlington's STR ordinance; the city charges an annual registration fee (check the Planning Department portal for the current amount) and requires proof of insurance, a responsible local contact available 24/7, and a posted notice inside the unit listing the contact, trash schedule, and max occupancy. Failure to register or remit HOT is subject to penalties and interest, and the city can deny or revoke registration for repeat violations. Operators should also account for state franchise tax (if organized as an LLC with sufficient revenue) and federal Schedule E or Schedule C income reporting.