economyEconomic Development

Local Hotel Occupancy Tax Overview

The variety of lodging options available in Texas is as diverse as the Lone Star State itself, ranging from traditional hotels and motels to trendy treehouses and tiny houses. But no matter the differences in these accommodations, they all have one thing in common: they are all subject to Texas’ State Hotel Occupancy Tax.

In addition, cities and counties in Texas can levy a Local Hotel Occupancy Tax. Both taxes are commonly referred to as HOT.

The purpose of the local hotel occupancy tax is to promote tourism and the convention and hotel industry. Municipalities are authorized to levy a tax on a person who pays for the use of a hotel room (Tax Code Chapter 351, Tax Code Chapter 352).

Definition of Hotel

Any business considered a hotel must charge state HOT. Local HOT is required within those jurisdictions that levy the tax.

This definition includes a hotel, motel, tourist home, tourist house, tourist court, lodging house, inn, rooming house, or bed and breakfast, as well as short-term room rentals such as Airbnb and HomeAway. For details, refer to Tax Code Chapter 156 and Rule 3.161.

When Does Local HOT Apply?

Local HOT applies to rooms used for sleeping. It does not apply to food sales, meeting spaces or banquet rooms.

However, when the bill to the customer is a lump sum, the entire amount is subject to hotel tax. Examples of lump sum packages are honeymoon packages at a hotel, hunting packages at a lodging house, staying at a meal-inclusive bed and breakfast, etc.

When the bill separately states the room charge from the other package items, only the room charge is subject to hotel tax. (The other separately listed package items may be subject to different taxes, such as sales or mixed beverage taxes.)

How is Local HOT Revenue Used?

Local HOT revenue may only be used to promote tourism and the convention and hotel industries. The following projects may be funded with local HOT revenue:

• Constructing, improving, enlarging, equipping, repairing, operating and maintaining a convention center or visitor information center;
• Furnishing of facilities, personnel and materials for the registration of convention delegates or registrants;
• Advertising and conducting promotional programs to attract tourists and convention delegates or registrants;
• Encouragement, promotion, improvement and application of the arts;
• Historical restoration and preservation projects or advertising and conducting promotional programs to encourage tourists to visit preserved historic sites or museums;
• Expenses related to a sporting event in which a majority of participants are tourists;
• Enhancement and upgrading of existing sports facilities or fields;
• Constructing, improving, enlarging, equipping, repairing, operating and maintaining a coliseum or multiuse facility; and
• Signage directing public to sights and attractions that are visited by hotel guests.

Refer to the Texas Municipal League's The Hotel Tax Two-Step (PDF) for details.

Cities and counties may also pledge local HOT revenue to pay for bonds used for eligible projects, as well as contract project management services to manage their HOT projects.

Sports and Community Venues

Local HOT may be adopted to acquire, construct, improve and equip a venue project that is a convention center facility or related infrastructure.

These include:

• An arena, coliseum, stadium or other type of facility that is used for professional or amateur sports events, community events or other sports events, livestock shows, agricultural expos, promotional events and other civic or charitable events;
• A convention center, convention center facility or a related improvement such as a civic center hotel, theater, opera house, music hall, rehearsal hall, park, zoo, museum, aquarium or plaza; and
• A watershed protection and preservation project.

See Local Government Code Chapter 334 Secs. 334.001 and 334.251-334.258 for details.

Local HOT revenue may not be treated like general revenue or spent on general expenditures.

Tax Rates and Adminstration

The state HOT rate is 6 percent of the price paid for lodging.

The combined rates of state, county, municipal and sports and community venue taxes cannot exceed 17 percent.

A 2016 survey by the Comptroller’s office found that most cities may impose a rate up to 7 percent. Certain cities that fund a convention center may collect an additional 2 percent. Most counties may also charge up to 7 percent.

Cities may impose a local HOT by passing an ordinance. A county may impose a local HOT by adopting an order or resolution; however, it must first be added into the law by the state legislature.

A sports and community venue (PDF) may impose a local HOT only with voter approval.

Who administers HOT?

The Comptroller’s office administers the state portion of the hotel tax. Each local government determines its local hotel tax rate, based on the statutes listed above, and the tax collected is sent to the local government entity.

HOT Exemptions

• Federal employees traveling on official business with a valid government ID card are exempt from both state and local hotel taxes. This includes military personnel.
• Foreign diplomats issued a hotel tax exemption card are exempt from state and local hotel taxes.
• Designated Texas state employees are issued a special hotel tax exemption photo ID or card, making them exempt from all HOT. This applies primarily to judges, agency heads, members of state boards, commissions and the Texas legislature.
• Other Texas government employees are not exempt from paying HOT, but their employer may request a refund from the Comptroller for the HOT.
• District attorneys, as well as district judges, are eligible to receive a card from the Comptroller’s office, making their stays at hotels in Texas exempt from the state and local taxes.

30-Day Permanent Resident Rule

HOT does not apply to permanent residents. Anyone who rents a room for 30 or more consecutive days is considered a permanent resident and is not required to pay the hotel tax.

By law, a permanent resident is a person who has the right to use or occupy a room or space in a hotel for at least 30 consecutive days without interruption. A person is defined as an individual, organization or entity (Rule 3.161). Any interruption in the term of occupancy will void the exemption.

Guests who notify the hotel in writing of their intention to stay 30 or more consecutive days will be exempt from the date of notification as long as they stay for 30 days afterward. Guests who do not notify the hotel must pay the tax for the first 30 days and thereafter will be exempt.

A hotel is liable for tax if a guest fails to stay for 30 consecutive days. In this case, a hotel may prefer to collect tax and then later give the guest a refund or credit.

HOT Resources

Videos are to be used for informational purposes only. Continuing education (CE) credit for these topics will be available only for live events and participation.

• Local and State Hotel Occupancy Tax Video Tutorial
• Local and State Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) Programs Webinar
• State and Local Hotel Occupancy Tax FAQs
• Hotel Occupancy Tax Exemptions
• Hotel Occupancy Tax Rules
• Municipal Hotel Occupancy Tax Reporting
• Quick Reference Guide for Hotels
• Taxpayer Seminars

Fiscal Notes

• Paying for Texas Convention Centers (August 2018)
• The Hotel Occupancy Tax: A Short History of a Complex Levy (Summer 2016)

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Need Help?

For additional information, contact the Data Analysis and Transparency Division via email or at 844-519-5672.