Short-term stays in Benton County owe Washington retail sales tax and B&O tax on the rental, plus a 2% Tri-Cities-area special lodging tax. Airbnb and Vrbo collect many of these automatically.
Washington has no state income tax, so lodging is taxed through excise taxes. Under WAC 458-20-166, renting a room or home to transient guests (under 30 days) is a retail sale: the host owes retailing B&O tax and must collect retail sales tax on the full charge, including cleaning fees. On top of sales tax, Benton County and its cities levy a 2% special hotel/motel lodging tax on short stays. Airbnb and Vrbo collect and remit state and local sales and lodging taxes for platform bookings, but direct bookings require registering with the Department of Revenue and filing your own returns.
Failing to register, collect, or remit exposes hosts to back taxes, penalties, and interest assessed by the Washington Department of Revenue, plus unpaid retailing B&O tax liability.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Benton County, WA
Unincorporated Benton County does not regulate holiday lights, inflatables, or yard displays on private property, and Washington has no statewide holiday-dis...
Benton County, WA
Garage-sale signs are fine on your own property in Benton County, but directional signs staked in a road right-of-way, median, or on utility poles are prohib...
Benton County, WA
Political signs are allowed on private property throughout Benton County with no permit, protected as free speech. Signs staked in a county road or state hig...
Benton County, WA
Rental registration in Benton County depends on your city. Prosser requires a rental business license — $10 to register, $5 to renew yearly — with a safety i...
Benton County, WA
Washington requires just cause to evict. In Benton County a landlord may not end a tenancy or refuse renewal except for a reason listed in RCW 59.18.650 — no...
Benton County, WA
Since May 7, 2025, Washington caps annual rent increases statewide under HB 1217. In Benton County a landlord may raise rent no more than 7% plus CPI or 10%,...
See how Benton County's taxes & fees rules stack up against other locations.
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