Tourist tax in France A complete guide
Known for its iconic landmarks, rich culture, and culinary excellence, France attracts travelers from all over the globe. In our tax guide, we inform you about everything you need to know about the tourist tax (Taxe de séjour) — what the rates are, who pays it, how compliance works, and how to manage it as easily as possible.
Why do municipalities in France levy tourist taxes?
Municipalities maintain many public facilities that are taxed by tourists. Examples include cleaning beaches, parks and streets, the development of public transport, as well as maintaining them. Many municipalities levy a tourist tax as a contribution to these costs.
Tourist tax by municipality in France
Do you want to know the rules around tourist tax by municipality in France? Trippz collects all data on tourist tax. Through the overview below you can read more about the specific tourist tax rules of municipalities in France:
- Bordeaux
- Cannes
- Capbreton
- Dijon
- La Rochelle
- Lille
- Lyon
- Marseille
- Montpellier
- Nice
- Paris
- Sainte-Maxime
Is the municipality you are looking for not listed? Let us know, and we'll send you more information.
For Tourists
Why do you pay tourist tax?
You are considered a tourist if you stay overnight for a fee in a municipality where you do not live. If this is the case, the accommodation provider is required to collect a tourist tax from the guest(s), and remit it to the municipality where the accommodation is located.
The structure of the tourist tax in France
Although each municipality in France may set its own tourist tax rates, the same structure is used everywhere. This means that the same types of accommodation are categorized everywhere, namely:
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Campsite
Les terrains de camping
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Hostel
Auberges collectives
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Furnished tourist accommodation
Les meublés de tourisme
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Bed & Breakfast
Chambres d'hôtes
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Holiday Village
Villages de vacances
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Hotel
Hôtes
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Marina
Les ports de plaisance
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Luxury hotel
Les palaces
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RV site
Parcs de stationnement touristiques
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Tourist residences
Les résidences de tourisme
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Unclassified accommodation
Meublé non classé
Tourist tax in Paris triples
Most towns in France increase their tourist tax rates every year. Most municipalities use a fixed rate per person per night, and raise it annually, to compensate for inflation. Paris's 2024 tourist tax increase is notable. In fact, it has tripled. This is because of the Olympics taking place, and the large investments (€500 million) in public facilities made to facilitate an optimal experience for spectators and athletes.
Frequently asked questions from tourists
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Am I, as a guest, responsible for properly remitting the tourist tax?
No, as a guest, you are not directly responsible for remitting the tourist tax. The accommodation provider is responsible for collecting the tourist tax from you and remitting it to the municipality.
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At what point do I have to pay the tourist tax?
You typically pay the tourist tax when you arrive at your hotel. This is usually added to your bill by the accommodation provider, who collects it on behalf of the municipality. If you book through an online platform, like Airbnb, Booking.com or Expedia, they mostly collect the tourist tax at the time of your booking. So pay attention, and do not pay it again, at the moment of arrival!
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Do I have to pay the tourist tax in cash to the accommodation provider?
Not necessarily. The method of payment for the tourist tax can vary depending on the accommodation provider and the local regulations. In many cases, the tax can be paid by credit card, debit card, or other electronic payment methods. However, some smaller or independent accommodations might prefer or require cash payments. It's best to check with your accommodation provider in advance.
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I need to register upon arrival at my hotel. Is this mandatory?
Yes, registering upon arrival at your hotel is mandatory, especially if you are a foreign guest. The hotel is required by law to record basic information about you, including your name, date of birth, nationality, and other relevant details.
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May the hotel where I am staying make a copy of my passport for guest registration?
No. The accommodation provider is not allowed to make a copy of your passport, without your consent. They need to register your details but are not required to have an actual scan of your passport.
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I have canceled my stay. Do I still have to pay tourist tax?
No, if you have canceled your stay, you are not required to pay the tourist tax. The tax is only applicable for stays that actually occur. If you have paid the tourist tax in advance, the accommodation provider has to pay you the tourist tax back.
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Upon arrival at the hotel, I am asked to pay tourist tax. But surely I have already done this through the booking platform?
If you have already paid the tourist tax through the booking platform, you should not be required to pay it again upon arrival. The booking platform usually remits the tax directly to the municipality, but you may want to confirm this with the accommodation provider.
For hosts
Renting out in France: there is a lot involved
Do you rent to tourists in France? If so, it is important to understand what is coming your way. You will probably have to classify your accommodation, keep a guest registration, and collect and remit tourist tax.
This can seem complex and overwhelming. Fortunately, we are here to help you get started!
Classification of an accommodation in France
In many accommodations in France you will see a classification. This classification guarantees the quality of the accommodation, and the tourist tax is, among other things, based on it. Based on 219 criteria, all tourist accommodations in France can receive a classification. The classifications are published on the Atout France website, where they can always be viewed. The classification is valid for five years.
The first step in the process is an accommodation provider's own evaluation, based on a questionnaire. With this self-assessment, the accommodation provider can contact an inspection agency certified by COFRAC. An inspector from this organization will then visit the accommodation, to go through the evaluation. The inspector's findings will be shared with Atout France, after which the accommodation will receive a classification.
The accommodation provider is required to show the received classification of the accommodation at the accommodation.
Benefits of classifying your accommodation
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Lower tourist tax rate
If your accommodation is marked as "unclassified accommodation," the highest rate of tourist tax applies. You pass this cost on to the guests. That means their stay will be more expensive. With a classified accommodation, you most likely fall into a lower rate, and can therefore charge lower prices to your guests.
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Marketing purposes
An official classification gives potential guests confidence that they are getting quality. You are also obliged to hang an official sign, issued by the ministry, at your accommodation. So great advertising with a good classification!
Guest registration in France
When you rent out furnished accommodation In France, it is required by law to record basic information of foreign guests on a police form. The following information is mandatory to note in this regard:
- First & last name
- Place & date of birth
- Nationality
- City of Residence
- Cell phone number
- Date of arrival & expected date of departure
Children under fifteen may be written on the form with a parent. No extensive data needs to be registered for them. If you rent out unfurnished accommodation, the guest registration rules do not apply.
Keeping guest registration data
Since 2015, it is no longer mandatory to share all registrations directly with local authorities. These records only need to be shared when requested by a government official. This can be up to six months after the guest's stay. As an accommodation provider, you are therefore obliged to store the data for six months.
Don't want to keep your own Excel files, but get everything automatically in one overview?
Handling of tourist tax
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Remittance of tourist tax
Although the exact rules of tourist tax vary by municipality in France, everywhere it is the accommodation provider who remits the tourist tax to the municipality. In most municipalities this is done every (half) year, but municipalities may decide in which period the tourist tax should be remitted.
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Collecting tourist tax
Tourist tax has many different rates. These depend on the municipality in which your accommodation is located and what classification your accommodation has. These factors are not very complicated, as they remain the same continuously. However, the rate also depends, for example, on the age of the guests, how long they stay, and in some cases in which period the guests stay with you.
Are guests leaving earlier than initially planned? Then they are entitled to a refund of the overpaid tourist tax. -
Tourist tax when renting through an online booking platform
Do you rent out your accommodation through a booking platform, such as Airbnb, Booking.com or Expedia? Then they will collect the tourist tax on your behalf, and remit it to the municipality. If, in addition to a booking platform, you also rent out your accommodation under your own management (for example, through your own website), you will still have to collect and remit the tourist tax on these bookings yourself.
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Keeping your administration for tourist tax
As with guest registration, your records for tourist tax can be audited. So you will need to keep good records of who stayed in your accommodation, on what date, for how many nights, and how much tourist tax was paid for this. It is recommended to keep these records for several years.
Don’t want to worry about remitting the correct amount of tourist tax?
That’s possible, with the use of Trippz!
Frequently asked questions from hosts
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Can you receive fines if you don't pay tourist tax?
Yes, failing to pay the tourist tax can result in fines and penalties. Municipalities are responsible for enforcing tourist tax regulations, and non-compliance can lead to financial penalties, legal action, or other consequences as revoking your permit to rent.
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Am I required to request a rating for my accommodation?
While it is not mandatory to request a rating for your accommodation, doing so can be beneficial. A classification can lower the tourist tax rate for your guests and enhance your property’s marketability.
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Do I have to pay tourist tax if I don't have a classification?
Yes, if your accommodation does not have a classification, you must still pay tourist tax. However, the rate might be higher compared to classified accommodations.
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To whom should I pay the tourist tax?
The tourist tax should be paid to the municipality where your accommodation is located. The municipality will provide specific instructions on how and when the tax should be remitted.
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Should I enclose the guest registration as proof when remitting tourist tax?
Generally, you do not need to enclose the detailed guest registration when remitting the tourist tax. You do need to enclose the general information, stating the number of people who stayed at your accommodation, for specific periods. However, you must keep accurate records, as these may be requested by local authorities during audits.
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Does my municipality have a special form for tourist tax remittance?
Yes, many municipalities provide a special form for remitting tourist tax. You should check with your local authorities or use Trippz to ensure compliance with the correct procedure.
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How do I process the guest's earlier departure and tourist tax refund?
If a guest departs earlier than planned, you should refund the overpaid tourist tax for the nights not stayed. The amount refunded should be documented in your records.
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Do I declare per accommodation, or combine them all together?
This depends on the specific requirements of your municipality. Some municipalities may require a declaration per accommodation, while others might allow a collective declaration. The best advice we can give you, is to check with your local government.
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Do I also have to pay tourist tax on cancelled bookings?
No, tourist tax is only due for actual stays. If a booking is cancelled, no tourist tax is owed. If your guest has paid the tourist tax in advance, they are allowed a refund
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How do I make this all as simple as possible?
By using Trippz! Instead of keeping track of everything by hand, by yourself we automate the guest registration and tourist tax collection for you, ensuring compliance with local regulations and reducing administrative burden.
Easily comply with laws and regulations
Organize your administration simply
Classifying your accommodation, keeping a guest registry, collecting and remitting the correct amount of tourist tax; besides taking good care of your guests' travel, there is a lot of administrative work involved in renting out your accommodation. Work that you may not have even thought of initially when you started, and that you probably want to spend as little time on as possible. Therefore, you want to organize your administration as simply as possible. And fortunately you can, with Trippz!
All in one overview
Trippz is here to make your life as easy as possible, while complying with all regulations. Through our (web)app you automate your guest registration, and you can even prepare your administration for the tourist tax. You don't have to worry about collecting the tourist tax either. Because we keep track of all local regulations, we know exactly what rate your guests have to pay. On arrival day, your guests will automatically receive a message from us to pay their tourist tax. At the end of their stay, the money will be automatically deposited into your account. All you have to do is periodically transfer the total amount to the municipality. Simple!
Automatically sync all Airbnb bookings
You can now synchronise all your Airbnb bookings with Trippz on your account. This means you have to do even less yourself. Ideal for hosts who rent out a lot via Airbnb. Do you rent through another platform? We expect to complete more integrations in the near future. Get in touch to find out if your platform will soon be added to Trippz.
Frequently asked questions about the use of Trippz
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Is it difficult to start using Trippz?
Not at all! Trippz is designed to be user-friendly. It is developed as a web application, so you do not need to download an app. You can start right away!
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What does the use of Trippz cost?
At the moment, it is free of charge!
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Can I import all my bookings from Airbnb?
Yes, you can! We have worked on an integration with airbnb, through which you can automatically import all your bookings. Thereby, the messages about guest registration will also be send automatically through our platform.
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Can I import all my bookings from my own booking system?
After the integration with Airbnb, we are now working on all other sorts of integrations. Integrating your own platform is not yet available, but will be in the future!
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What if a guest doesn’t want to register digitally?
This is an unfortunate situation, that does happen from time to time. If a guest does not want to enter digitally, you can manually enter their details into Trippz afterwards.
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What if my municipality changes the tourist tax rates?
At Trippz, we actively follow all tax rates in areas that we cover. When a new tax rate is implemented, we will update the rates accordingly. Still missing something? Please reach out to us!
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What happens if my municipality collaborates with another one?
No problem. As said, we actively follow all municipalities and their rules. We will automatically update this for you. If you want to be sure, you can always message us in advance, so we are even more on top of things!
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How does it work if another organization manages the tax in my municipality?
With Trippz, you can export all the information you need. You can easily copy the needed information towards the file the tax organization requires from you.
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