Airbnb said it has reached an agreement with French authorities on collecting the tax through its platform in a "fully automated process". It will start charging tax in Paris from 1 October, and will then extend this to other cities across France, it said.
The move comes after the French government published a decree demanding that internet platforms take on this role, Airbnb said. Previously, home-sharing hosts were expected to collect the tax and send this to the authorities themselves.
"We are grateful for our strong relationship with the French authorities and are proud to launch this simplified tax process in our number one city," said Nicolas Ferrary, director of Airbnb in France. "More people share their homes in Paris than anywhere else in the world and this new process will ensure Paris receives more revenue from our community. We appreciate the opportunity to work with the French government to make tourist taxes simpler for everyone."
Guests will see a €0.83 item per person, per night, on their bill for “meublés touristiques non classés”.
The announcement follows the introduction of the Bill ALUR in France in 2014, which simplified the legal rules around home sharing in France, Airbnb said.
Airbnb already collects and remits hotel and tourist taxes on behalf of its hosts in San Francisco and Portland, and is working on similar initiatives with authorities in Amsterdam, Philadelphia, Chicago, Malibu, San Jose, San Diego and Washington DC, it said.
"This is a complicated venture as tax rules vary in nearly every jurisdiction where we do business, but we are committed to extending this programme and look forward to working with more cities on this matter," Airbnb said.
Founded in August of 2008, Airbnb allows people to list and book accommodation around the world online.