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Understanding the French City Tax (Taxe de Séjour)

The French city tax, known as "taxe de séjour" or tourist tax, is a local tax imposed on visitors staying in tourist accommodations. It plays a crucial role in funding local tourism infrastructure and services. Here's everything you need to know to manage it smoothly.

Who Pays the City Tax?

This tax is paid by individuals staying in taxable accommodations such as hotels, campsites, and vacation rentals.

• Guests are responsible for paying the tax at the time of booking
• Certain groups are exempt, including minors, seasonal workers, and people in emergency shelters

Who Collects the City Tax?

As an intermediary, Holidu is responsible for collecting this tax from your guests and submitting it to the local municipality.

• Holidu collects the tax during the booking process
• The platform handles the declaration to your municipality on your behalf
• For Airbnb bookings, the platform handles the collection and declaration of the City Tax to your municipality independently

How is the City Tax Calculated?

The tax is typically charged per guest per night. Rates depend on several factors:

• Accommodation type and classification (higher classification usually means a higher tax)
• Each municipality sets the rate, adhering to legal limits
• Rates may be adjusted annually by local authorities
• Some cities impose an additional regional tax of up to 15 percent on the base tourist tax

Example Rates (as of 2025)

Source: https://entreprendre.service-public.fr/vosdroits/F31635

How is the City Tax Paid?

Guests pay this tax directly to the booking channel at the time of reservation. You don't need to worry about collecting or processing this tax.

• Guest Payment: Guests pay the tax directly to Holidu at the time of booking
• Holidu Responsibility: Holidu collects, pays, and declares the tax to local authorities and the French Tax Collector
• Host Responsibility: As an accommodation provider, you may have an additional declaration obligation. For further details, please contact your municipality

Reporting and Payment to Authorities

Holidu declares and transfers the city tax directly to the competent authorities, not to the host. This ensures compliance with French regulations.

Please note: Holidu does not provide hosts with proof of tax payment to the French government. No tax receipt or report is issued to the host; the reporting is sent directly to the authority twice a year.

Check and/or Modify Your Ratings on Holidu

To ensure you're adhering to all requirements and making the process smooth, please check and update the ratings configured in your Holidu Host Account. Your property's star classification directly affects the tax rate applied.

Follow these steps:

1. Log in to your Holidu Host Account
2. Select your property
3. Click on "Configuration" on the top-left side
4. Navigate to the "General Information" menu
5. In the "Property Information" section, click on "Edit"
6. Review and update the information in "Stars (classification)" if needed
7. Click on "Save" to confirm your changes

Keeping your property classification accurate ensures that the correct tax rate is applied to your guest bookings and helps you remain compliant with local municipal requirements.