Universal City, TX Short-Term Rentals: Taxes & Fees (2026)
Key Facts
- State Hotel Tax
- 6 percent of room receipts
- Local Hotel Tax Cap
- Up to 7 percent (Tax Code 351)
- Rental Threshold
- Stays under 30 days are taxable
- City Contact
- (210) 658-5365
Summary
Universal City STR operators must collect 6 percent Texas hotel occupancy tax plus applicable local hotel taxes authorized under Texas Tax Code Chapter 351.
Sec. 351.002. TAX AUTHORIZED. (a) A municipality by ordinance may impose a tax on a person who, under a lease, concession, permit, right of access, license, contract, or agreement, pays for the use or possession or for the right to the use or possession of a room that is in a hotel, costs $2 or more each day, and is ordinarily used for sleeping. (b) The price of a room in a hotel does not include the cost of food served by the hotel and the cost of personal services performed by the hotel for the person except for those services related to cleaning and readying the room for use or possession. (c) The tax does not apply to a person who is a permanent resident under Section 156.101 of this code.
Full Breakdown
Short-term rentals in Universal City are subject to the 6 percent Texas state hotel occupancy tax under Tax Code Chapter 156 and may be subject to a local hotel occupancy tax authorized by Tax Code Chapter 351, which allows Texas cities to levy up to 7 percent on room receipts. Operators must register with the Texas Comptroller, collect the state tax, and file returns (typically monthly or quarterly depending on volume). Platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo collect and remit state hotel occupancy tax in Texas, but local hotel tax collection often remains the operator's responsibility. Contact Universal City finance to confirm current local hotel tax rate, filing schedule, and any STR-specific permit fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Airbnb collect all my taxes?
What about federal income tax?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Universal City
How Universal City compares: Cities with the Highest Short-Term Rental Taxes·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Universal City to another location·View the Texas short-term rentals overview
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