Berks County, PA Short-Term Rentals: Taxes & Fees (2026)
Key Facts
- County hotel tax
- 5%
- State occupancy tax
- 6% (72 P.S. §7210)
- Combined
- About 11%
- County ordinance
- No. 01-13 (2013)
- County return due
- 25th of each month
Summary
Short-term stays in Berks County face a 5% county hotel room rental tax plus Pennsylvania's 6% state hotel occupancy tax, roughly 11% total. The county tax is filed monthly with the Treasurer; the state tax is collected by operators or platforms.
an excise tax of six per cent of the rent upon every occupancy of a room or rooms in a hotel in this Commonwealth, which tax shall be collected by the operator from the occupant and paid over to the Commonwealth
Full Breakdown
Berks County imposes a Hotel Room Rental Tax at five percent (5%) on room rentals received by operators of hotels. Originally limited (Ordinance 1-97) to Reading and areas within 15 miles of the Convention Center, Ordinance 01-13 (effective June 27, 2013) expanded the tax to all hotels located within Berks County. Returns are due by the 25th of each month for the prior month's sales, and a return is required even when no tax is due. On top of that, Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code imposes an excise tax of six per cent on hotel occupancy, which covers short-term rentals under 30 days.
Violations & Fines
Late or missing county hotel-tax returns incur a late fee and interest. Unremitted state occupancy tax is subject to PA Department of Revenue penalties and interest.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much tax do I collect on a Berks County Airbnb?
Does the county tax apply outside Reading?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Berks County
How Berks County compares: Cities with the Highest Short-Term Rental Taxes·Compare Berks County to another location·View the Pennsylvania short-term rentals overview
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