The City of Owensboro is reminding short-term rental owners to register their properties and comply with tax reporting requirements ahead of an upcoming deadline.
Property owners operating short-term rentals, including those listed on platforms such as Airbnb, must register with the city by March 1, 2025, to avoid penalties. The required registration form is available on the city’s website or through the Finance Department. Officials emphasized that this registration is separate from obtaining a business license.
In addition to registering, short-term rental owners must submit a Monthly Return of Transient Room Tax form and remit payments to the city. The form must be filed each month, even if no taxes are due. Property owners are responsible for ensuring that their brokers, such as Airbnb, are collecting and remitting the required taxes. Late payments are subject to penalties and interest.
Owensboro’s transient room tax, established in 2022 through Ordinance 17-2022, applies a 4% tax to rental charges for all temporary lodging within city limits, including hotels, motels, and short-term rentals. The ordinance was amended in December 2024 to clarify definitions and deadlines.
Property owners with questions about compliance can contact Owensboro Finance Director Angela Waninger at [email protected] or 270-687-8534.
