Topeka, KS Short-Term Rentals: Taxes & Fees (2026)
Key Facts
- Current rate
- 7% through 2027
- 2028 rate
- Drops to 6%
- Applies to
- >2-bedroom rentals held out publicly
- Collected by
- Kansas Dept. of Revenue
Summary
Topeka levies a transient guest tax, currently 7 percent through 2027, on gross rental receipts collected by hotels, motels, tourist courts, or accommodations brokers for stays under 28 days, which covers larger home-share listings.
Effective November 14, 2015 and continuing through December 31, 2027, a transient guest tax of seven percent shall be levied in the City of Topeka, Kansas, upon the gross rental receipts derived from or paid directly or through an accommodations broker by transient guests for lodging or sleeping accommodations, exclusive of charges for incidental services or facilities, in any hotel, motel, or tourist court. Funds shall be distributed pursuant to resolution and agreement.
(b) Effective January 1, 2028, and continuing through December 31, 2032, a transient guest tax of six percent shall be levied in the City of Topeka, Kansas, upon the gross rental receipts derived from or paid directly or through an accommodations broker by transient guests for lodging or sleeping accommodations, exclusive of charges for incidental services or facilities, in any hotel, motel, or tourist court.
(c) Effective January 1, 2033, a transient guest tax of five percent shall be levied in the City of Topeka, Kansas, upon the gross rental receipts derived from or paid directly or through an accommodations broker by transient guests for lodging or sleeping accommodations, exclusive of charges for incidental services or facilities, in any hotel, motel, or tourist court.
Full Breakdown
Charter Ordinance provisions codified at TMC Appendix A §§ A15-16 through A15-25 impose a transient guest tax on lodging paid to any 'hotel, motel, or tourist court': defined broadly enough to include any structure with more than two bedrooms held out to the public for pay, booked directly or through an accommodations broker such as an online booking platform. The current rate is seven percent through December 31, 2027, stepping down to six percent in 2028 and five percent in 2033. Businesses collect the tax from guests and remit it to the Kansas Department of Revenue monthly.
Violations & Fines
A business that fails to collect, report, or remit the tax is subject to interest and penalties under K.S.A. 12-1698a, per TMC Appendix A § A15-22.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Topeka's transient guest tax apply to Airbnb-style rentals?
Is Topeka's guest tax rate permanent?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Topeka
How Topeka compares: Cities with the Highest Short-Term Rental Taxes·Compare Topeka to another location·View the Kansas short-term rentals overview
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