AMSTERDAM: To improve the facilities for tourist in Netherlands, Airbnb and the city of Amsterdam signed an agreement to impose tax on tourism which takes effect from Jan. 1, 2015, and the 5% tax will start to be collected from the start of Feb. 2015.
In a joint statement, Airbnb said it will prominently display a summary of rules for hosts, who will have to actively declare that they understand and comply with the changes before they can post a listing.
“The tax agreement ensures that the rules apply equally and fairly to everyone,” “The tax agreement ensures that the rules apply equally and fairly to everyone,” city alderman Udo Kock said.
The company will also send email updates to its hosts twice a year to remind them of the rules and regulations around renting their homes. Airbnb currently has more than 1,000 rental properties on its website in Amsterdam.
“We are glad Amsterdam has enacted progressive rules that allow people to share their homes with respectful guests who want to experience new communities and live like locals,” co-founder of Airbnb Nathan Blecharczyk said.
Following news of the deal with Amsterdam, there were local reports elsewhere in the Netherlands of officials in The Hague seeking a similar arrangement with Airbnb.
In November, Airbnb announced it had started to work with the French authorities to examine ways to start collecting tax from its hosts. This followed moves by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo to crack down on peer-to-peer rentals.
