HELENA – A study commissioned by Montana’s lodging industry says rentals by Airbnb, the on-line lodging giant, generated $69 million of revenue last year in Montana, but likely didn’t pay state lodging taxes on that amount.
Industry spokesmen this week that the Montana Legislature should pass a law to clarify taxation of Airbnb and other online lodging services, and to ensure that full taxes are being collected.
“It’s enough money that it matters to our state economy,” Stuart Doggett, executive director of the Montana Lodging and Hospitality Association, told MTN News on Wednesday. “We just think there’s some money that’s not being collected, that would benefit our government.”