Tarrant County, TX Short-Term Rentals: Taxes & Fees (2026)
Key Facts
- State HOT
- 6 percent (TX Tax Code Ch 156)
- County HOT
- None in Tarrant County
- Fort Worth HOT
- 9 percent total
- Arlington HOT
- 9 percent total
- Grapevine HOT
- 7 percent total
Summary
STRs in Tarrant County owe 6 percent Texas state HOT plus 7 to 9 percent city HOT. Tarrant County has no county HOT. Fort Worth and Arlington charge 9 percent, Grapevine 7 percent, plus permit fees.
Hotel Occupancy Tax — Who is responsible for this tax? Hotel owners, operators or managers must collect state hotel occupancy tax from their guests who rent a room or space in a hotel costing $15 or more each day. The tax applies not only to hotels and motels, but also to bed and breakfasts, condominiums, apartments and houses. Local hotel taxes apply to sleeping rooms costing $2 or more each day. With the numerous sporting and entertainment events around the state, many homeowners rent their homes or rooms in their house to people attending these events. Persons leasing their houses must collect hotel occupancy tax from their customers in the same way a hotel or motel collects the tax from its guests. Property management companies, online travel companies and other third-party rental companies may also be responsible for collecting the tax. Rates: The state hotel occupancy tax rate is 6 percent (.06) of the cost of a room. Cities and certain counties and special purpose districts are authorized to impose an additional local hotel tax that the local taxing authority collects. Due Date: Monthly: 20th day of the month following the end of each calendar month [...]. Penalties: A $50 penalty is assessed on each report filed after the due date. If tax is paid 1-30 days after the due date, a 5 percent penalty is assessed. If tax is paid over 30 days after the due date, a 10 percent penalty is assessed.
Full Breakdown
Short-term rental tax obligations in Tarrant County stack state and municipal hotel occupancy taxes. The state HOT is 6 percent under Texas Tax Code Chapter 156, applied to the total rental charge for stays of 29 days or less. Tarrant County does not levy a county HOT. Municipal HOT rates include Fort Worth at 9 percent (2 percent venue tax plus 7 percent HOT under City Code Chapter 32), Arlington at 9 percent (Ordinance 07-090), Grapevine at 7 percent, Keller and Southlake at 7 percent, Mansfield at 7 percent, and Haltom City at 7 percent.
Combined state plus city tax ranges from 13 to 15 percent. STR operators must register with the Texas Comptroller and the applicable city, file HOT returns monthly or quarterly, and remit collected taxes. Airbnb collects and remits state HOT automatically and local HOT in many Tarrant County cities including Fort Worth and Arlington, but hosts remain responsible for verifying complete remittance. Permit fees include Fort Worth 150 dollars initial plus 100 dollars annual renewal, Arlington 265 dollars annual, and Grapevine 300 to 500 dollars annual.
Violations & Fines
Failure to collect or remit HOT is a state tax violation with interest, penalties up to 10 percent of tax due, and possible criminal charges for willful evasion. Cities can revoke STR permits for non-payment and impose daily operating fines of 500 to 2,000 dollars.
Frequently Asked Questions
What taxes do I owe on a short-term rental in Tarrant County?
Does Airbnb collect Tarrant County hotel taxes automatically?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tarrant County
How Tarrant County compares: Cities with the Highest Short-Term Rental Taxes·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Tarrant County to another location·View the Texas short-term rentals overview
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