Airbnb fee legacy solutions comparison

There are a few different ways to send your fees and taxes to Airbnb. You can review the legacy options below and decide which one works the best for you. Before you do that, make sure to read How does Airbnb work with taxes?.

How does Airbnb work with taxes?

Airbnb always collects the tax amount from the guests. However, due to various agreements and legal requirements, Airbnb may pay all or some of the tax amount directly to the government. So there are tree ways how Airbnb treats taxes and they are dependent on the property location. Remember that you cannot change the way how Airbnb works in your location.

Airbnb pays all your taxes to the government on your behalf
Airbnb does not transfer any tax amount to the government on your behalf
Airbnb pays only some taxes to the government on your behalf

So before you attempt to set any taxes in Rentals United, read this Airbnb article and check what taxes are collected and remitted by Airbnb in your locations. In particular, if you rent your properties in the USA market, the tax policy may change even across counties.

This is important because if Airbnb already remits some taxes on your behalf and you set them again in Rentals United, it may result in double taxation and your guests being charged higher price than you intended. In order to avoid double taxation in Airbnb, read the detailed instructions below.

Example: Your property is located in Pinellas, Florida, the USA. You are required to collect County Tax of 6% in this location, but Airbnb already collects it there.

Manual user: You need to select a tax type, which is not supported by Airbnb, but is supported by other channels you are connected to.

PMS: You If you are using a PMS, check if the tax mapping between it and Rentals United is fixed or customer-specific. You can do that at PMS Integrations or contact the Rentals United Support Team.

Fixed mapping: Make sure that the duplicated tax is mapped to a Rentals United tax type which is not supported by Airbnb. This will prevent from sending it to Airbnb again. Also make sure that the tax type that you just selected is supported by other channels you are connected to.
Custom mappings: Request the Rentals United Support Specialist to change your mapping and select a tax type in Rentals United which is not supported in Airbnb. Again, make sure that other channels support the selected tax type.

Example: Your property is located in Edinburgh. Airbnb does not collect any taxes in this location.

In this case, you should make sure that the taxes you are required to collect in this collection are assigned a tax type in Rentals United which is supported by Airbnb.

Cleaning fee only

If you select this option, Rentals United will provide Airbnb with cleaning fee and security deposit exclusively.

Note: If you have any additional fees set in Airbnb and select this option, we will not remove them. Go to Airbnb and remove any unwanted fees manually or select different option.

With this option, you have a few ways to handle your additional charges:

Fees: Increase the mark-up for Airbnb, so that its amount covers for the amount of fees.
Taxes: Let Airbnb collect and remit taxes on your behalf according to their rules.

Rentals United

Airbnb ID

Accepted collection time

Accepted calculation type

Cleaning fee

PASS_THROUGH_CLEANING_FEE

Upon booking,

Upon arrival

Amount per stay

Short term cleaning fee

PASS_THROUGH_SHORT_TERM_CLEANING_FEE

Upon booking,

Upon arrival

Amount per stay

Security deposit

PASS_THROUGH_SECURITY_DEPOSIT

Upon arrival

Amount per stay

Fees v1 mappings

Rentals United	Airbnb v1 ⁽¹⁾	Accepted collection time ⁽²⁾	Accepted calculation type ⁽³⁾
Air-conditioning fee	-	Upon arrival	Amount per stay
Airport shuttle fee	-	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
Bed linen fee	PASS_THROUGH_LINEN_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay,
Book Direct service fee	-	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
Booking fee	PASS_THROUGH_MANAGEMENT_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
Children extra fee	-	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
Cleaning fee ⁽⁶⁾	PASS_THROUGH_CLEANING_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay
Short term cleaning fee ⁽⁶⁾	PASS_THROUGH_SHORT_TERM_CLEANING_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay
Club card fee	-	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
Conservation fee	-	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
Credit card fee	-	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
Destination fee	-	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
Electricity fee	-	Upon arrival	Amount per stay
Environment fee	PASS_THROUGH_COMMUNITY_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
Extra bed fee	-	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
Gas fee	-	Upon arrival	Amount per stay
Heating fee	-	Upon arrival	Amount per stay
Housekeeping fee	-	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay
Insurance	-	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
Internet fee	-	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
Kitchen linen fee	-	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay,
Linen package fee	PASS_THROUGH_LINEN_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay,
Oil fee	-	Upon arrival	Amount per stay
Parking fee	-	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
Pet fee ⁽⁴⁾	-	Upon booking	Amount per stay
Resort fee	PASS_THROUGH_RESORT_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
Sea plane fee	-	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
Airbnb fee legacy solutions comparison⁽⁵⁾	-	Upon arrival	Amount per stay
Service fee	PASS_THROUGH_MANAGEMENT_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
Shuttle boat fee	-	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
Ski pass	-	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
Tourism fee	PASS_THROUGH_COMMUNITY_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
Towels fee	PASS_THROUGH_LINEN_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay,
Transfer fee	-	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
Unknown fee	-	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
Visa support fee	-	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
Water park fee	-	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
Water usage fee	-	Upon arrival	Amount per stay
Wood fee	-	Upon arrival	Amount per stay
Wristband fee	-	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
City tax	PASS_THROUGH_COMMUNITY_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
Local tax	PASS_THROUGH_COMMUNITY_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
Tourist tax	PASS_THROUGH_COMMUNITY_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage

Fees v2 mappings

Rentals United	Airbnb v2 ⁽¹⁾	Accepted collection time ⁽²⁾	Accepted calculation type ⁽³⁾
Air-conditioning fee	PASS_THROUGH_AIR_CONDITIONING_FEE	Upon arrival	Amount per stay
Airport shuttle fee	PASS_THROUGH_RESORT_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per night, Amount per person & night, Amount per person & stay, Percentage
Bed linen fee	PASS_THROUGH_LINEN_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per person & stay
Book Direct service fee	PASS_THROUGH_MANAGEMENT_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per night, Amount per person & night, Amount per person & stay, Percentage
Booking fee	PASS_THROUGH_MANAGEMENT_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per night, Amount per person & night, Amount per person & stay, Percentage
Children extra fee	PASS_THROUGH_RESORT_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per night, Amount per person & night, Amount per person & stay, Percentage
Cleaning fee ⁽⁶⁾	PASS_THROUGH_CLEANING_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay
Short term cleaning fee ⁽⁶⁾	PASS_THROUGH_SHORT_TERM_CLEANING_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay
Club card fee	PASS_THROUGH_RESORT_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per night, Amount per person & night, Amount per person & stay, Percentage
Conservation fee	PASS_THROUGH_COMMUNITY_FEE	Upon booking __________________ Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per night, Amount per person & night, Amount per person & stay, Percentage _________________ Amount per stay, Amount per person & stay, Percentage
Credit card fee	PASS_THROUGH_MANAGEMENT_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per night, Amount per person & night, Amount per person & stay, Percentage
Destination fee	PASS_THROUGH_COMMUNITY_FEE	Upon booking __________________ Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per night, Amount per person & night, Amount per person & stay, Percentage _________________ Amount per stay, Amount per person & stay, Percentage
Electricity fee	PASS_THROUGH_ELECTRICITY_FEE	Upon arrival	Amount per stay
Environment fee	PASS_THROUGH_COMMUNITY_FEE	Upon booking __________________ Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per night, Amount per person & night, Amount per person & stay, Percentage _________________ Amount per stay, Amount per person & stay, Percentage
Extra bed fee	PASS_THROUGH_RESORT_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per night, Amount per person & night, Amount per person & stay, Percentage
Gas fee	PASS_THROUGH_UTILITY_FEE	Upon arrival	Amount per stay
Heating fee	PASS_THROUGH_HEATING_FEE	Upon arrival	Amount per stay
Housekeeping fee	PASS_THROUGH_RESORT_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per night, Amount per person & night, Amount per person & stay, Percentage
Insurance	PASS_THROUGH_MANAGEMENT_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per night, Amount per person & night, Amount per person & stay, Percentage
Internet fee	PASS_THROUGH_RESORT_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per night, Amount per person & night, Amount per person & stay, Percentage
Kitchen linen fee	PASS_THROUGH_LINEN_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per person & stay
Linen package fee	PASS_THROUGH_LINEN_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per person & stay
Oil fee	PASS_THROUGH_UTILITY_FEE	Upon arrival	Amount per stay
Parking fee	PASS_THROUGH_RESORT_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per night, Amount per person & night, Amount per person & stay, Percentage
Pet fee ⁽⁴⁾	PASS_THROUGH_PET_FEE	Upon booking	Amount per stay, Amount per night
Resort fee	PASS_THROUGH_RESORT_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per night, Amount per person & night, Amount per person & stay, Percentage
Sea plane fee	PASS_THROUGH_RESORT_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per night, Amount per person & night, Amount per person & stay, Percentage
Airbnb fee legacy solutions comparison⁽⁵⁾	PASS_THROUGH_SECURITY_DEPOSIT	Upon arrival	Amount per stay
Service fee	PASS_THROUGH_MANAGEMENT_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per night, Amount per person & night, Amount per person & stay, Percentage
Shuttle boat fee	PASS_THROUGH_RESORT_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per night, Amount per person & night, Amount per person & stay, Percentage
Ski pass	PASS_THROUGH_RESORT_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per night, Amount per person & night, Amount per person & stay, Percentage
Tourism fee	PASS_THROUGH_COMMUNITY_FEE	Upon booking __________________ Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per night, Amount per person & night, Amount per person & stay, Percentage _________________ Amount per stay, Amount per person & stay, Percentage
Towels fee	PASS_THROUGH_LINEN_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per person & stay
Transfer fee	PASS_THROUGH_RESORT_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per night, Amount per person & night, Amount per person & stay, Percentage
Unknown fee	PASS_THROUGH_RESORT_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per night, Amount per person & night, Amount per person & stay, Percentage
Visa support fee	PASS_THROUGH_RESORT_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per night, Amount per person & night, Amount per person & stay, Percentage
Water park fee	PASS_THROUGH_RESORT_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per night, Amount per person & night, Amount per person & stay, Percentage
Water usage fee	PASS_THROUGH_WATER_FEE	Upon arrival	Amount per stay
Wood fee	PASS_THROUGH_UTILITY_FEE	Upon arrival	Amount per stay
Wristband fee	PASS_THROUGH_RESORT_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Amount per night, Amount per person & night, Amount per person & stay, Percentage
City tax	PASS_THROUGH_COMMUNITY_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
Local tax	PASS_THROUGH_COMMUNITY_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage
Tourist tax	PASS_THROUGH_COMMUNITY_FEE	Upon booking, Upon arrival	Amount per stay, Percentage

v1 and v2 comparison

Fees in v1 and v2 differ mainly by the number of mappings and supported calculation types. While in fees v1 there are only 13 fees that you can operate on, the v2 fees version has 43 operational fees. The v2 fees version also offers more advanced calculation type options. Therefore, the v2 fees allows you to create more complex fee set-ups and adjust them to the actual pricing you operate on.

General rules for fees in v1 - v3

⁽¹⁾ There are a few rules you should be aware of in case you have two or more fees that are displayed in Airbnb under the same name and:

if you have different calculation types, e.g. percentage and amount per stay, then we will send the one set as amount per stay
if you have the same calculation types, e.g. all are percentage, then we will sum them up
if you have the same calculation types, but the collection time is different, e.g. one of them is charged upon arrival and the other upon booking, then we will set it as upon booking
v2 & v3: if you have different calculation types, e.g. amount per stay and amount per person & stay, then we will sum them up

⁽²⁾ Collection time (upon booking / upon arrival):

if both values are accepted by Airbnb, fees will be charged by Airbnb according to the setting
if Airbnb accepts only one value and you selected the other one, we will send the required setting anyway

⁽³⁾ Calculation type

percentage fees are calculated only from the base rent price

only the following calculation types are supported (charges with other calculation types may not be sent correctly to Airbnb or can be skipped):

Version	Rentals United calculation type	Airbnb
v1 & v2 & v3	Amount per stay	Amount per stay
v1 & v2 & v3	Percentage	Percentage
v1 & v2 & v3	Cumulative percentage	Percentage
v1 & v2 & v3	Independent percentage per day	Percentage
v2 & v3	Amount per person & stay	Amount per person & stay

v2 & v3: if Airbnb does not accept per person & stay calculation type, but you select it anyway, we will take this fee and multiply it by the maximum number of guests - see here

Tip: In case many guests can sleep at the property (e.g. 14), but the property is rented in fact by just a few guests (e.g. 4), then this workaround may result in a difference in price, which cannot be accepted by the host. The solution is to change the calculation type to whatever is more accurate. Also, note that Airbnb accepts some charges to be per person & stay (e.g. bed linen), so you can also try to find a better mapping.

⁽⁴⁾ Pet fee

v1: pet fee is not sent to Airbnb
v2 & v3: even when it is set as optional, it is always shared with Airbnb. Airbnb applies it only if there is any pet in the reservation. If you define the pet fee, Airbnb also requires a Pets are welcome amenity to be added to your property. If your property does not have this amenity, we will automatically add it.
v2 & v3: pet fees sent as per stay or per night charges will be charged by Airbnb on each pet in the reservation

⁽⁵⁾ Security deposit is sent to Airbnb regardless on the fee & tax version you are on

⁽⁶⁾ Cleaning fees are always sent to Airbnb regardless on the fee & tax version you are on

Short term cleaning fee applies to reservations with a length of only 1 or 2 nights; it must be used together with the cleaning fee, and its amount must be lower than the cleaning fee
Short term cleaning fee is marked as optional in Rentals United, however it will not show up as optional in Airbnb. In fact, if the conditions are met, it will be applied with priority over the regular cleaning fee.

⁽⁷⁾ Taxes

v1 & v2: taxes you have in Rentals United are passed to Airbnb as fees - see legacy solutions here
v3: we send occupancy taxes to Airbnb - see here

⁽⁸⁾ Optional fees

v1: Airbnb does not accept optional fees in any way.
v2 & v3: Airbnb does not accept optional fees in any way. The only exception is pet fee.

How to switch between legacy options

See Sending fees and taxes to learn how to change the option you are using.

Upgrading to v3

Legacy solutions are no longer developed. We recommend upgrading to Airbnb fees and taxes v3. Airbnb fees and taxes v3 is a complete option to synchronise your fees and taxes with Airbnb. Read more about it here.