Why does Aspen have a lodging tax and how much is it?
  • Lodging tax, otherwise known as a visitor benefit tax, was enacted by the City Council for the promotion of tourism and transportation services within the Roaring Fork Valley.
  • A special fund, the City Tourism Promotion Fund, was created and 25% of the monies goes toward transportation while the other 75% goes toward tourism promotion. Funds dedicated to transportation services pay for regional transit services provided by the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) and for local public transportation within the City.
  • Funds dedicated to tourism promotion are appropriated by City Council to a professional marketing entity for advertisement, promotion, etc., which is currently the Aspen Chamber Resort Association.
  • The tax is imposed on the leasing or renting of rooms or other accommodations in commercial lodging establishments.
  • The person who is renting the accommodations is required to pay the tax and the person from whom the accommodations are rented is required to collect and remit the tax to the City.
  • The lodging tax is 2.0%.

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1. What are the due dates and monthly filing requirements?
2. When preparing my sales tax return, what supporting documents for my deductions should I retain?
3. If my business is service oriented, would I ever need to collect sales tax?
4. I over collected sales tax on several transactions. How do I account for this excess tax on my return?
5. What do I do if a purchaser insists they are exempt from tax but cannot produce the appropriate documentation?
6. Why does Aspen have a lodging tax and how much is it?
7. If I rent my house on a short-term basis, for example, through a vacation website or property management company, am I required to collect and remit sales and lodging taxes?
8. My lodging establishment charges a civic assessment / convenience / booking / service fee on each booking. Is that subject to sales and lodging tax?
9. Will I ever get audited?