Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas The article titled Att. General Abbott Visits Displaced Texans Red Cross Shelter" posted as of 3:01 CST on Sept. 7 2011 needs a slight correction. In the second half of the article it reads ...
During declared disasters hotel occupancy taxes are waived and therefore should not be collected by hotel and motel operators. Improperly collecting those taxes constitutes a violation of state price gouging prevention laws."
This statement is not strictly true. Hotel occupancy taxes are waived only when the Governor specifically includes waiver of the hotel occupancy taxes in the disaster proclamation.
In the wildfire proclamation Gov. Perry did NOT waive hotel occupancy taxes and existing hotel tax law continues to apply.
The Texas Tax Code still stands as enforceable law and in fact hotels by law must continue to collect hotel occupancy taxes unless the guest qualifies for a tax exemption.
The OAGs staff have been contacted and their updated press releases removes reference to the hotel occupancy tax.
We bring this up only to avoid confusion for the public and for hotel operators.
On a separate note many local hotels are offering discounted room rates and even donating hotel room nights to evacuees. This hotel information is being placed in shelters in Bastrop County.
Our thanks to Justin R. Bragiel General Counsel Texas Hotel & Lodging Association for alerting us on the error. You may contact Mr. Bragiel for further questions at:
jbragiel@texaslodging.com
1701 West Avenue Austin Texas 78701
512.474.2996 - o
512.480.0773 - f
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas The article titled Att. General Abbott Visits Displaced Texans Red Cross Shelter" posted as of 3:01 CST on Sept. 7 2011 needs a slight correction. In the second half of the article it reads ...
During declared disasters hotel occupancy taxes are waived and therefore should not be collected by hotel and motel operators. Improperly collecting those taxes constitutes a violation of state price gouging prevention laws."
This statement is not strictly true. Hotel occupancy taxes are waived only when the Governor specifically includes waiver of the hotel occupancy taxes in the disaster proclamation.
In the wildfire proclamation Gov. Perry did NOT waive hotel occupancy taxes and existing hotel tax law continues to apply.
The Texas Tax Code still stands as enforceable law and in fact hotels by law must continue to collect hotel occupancy taxes unless the guest qualifies for a tax exemption.
The OAGs staff have been contacted and their updated press releases removes reference to the hotel occupancy tax.
We bring this up only to avoid confusion for the public and for hotel operators.
On a separate note many local hotels are offering discounted room rates and even donating hotel room nights to evacuees. This hotel information is being placed in shelters in Bastrop County.
Our thanks to Justin R. Bragiel General Counsel Texas Hotel & Lodging Association for alerting us on the error. You may contact Mr. Bragiel for further questions at:
jbragiel@texaslodging.com
1701 West Avenue Austin Texas 78701
512.474.2996 - o
512.480.0773 - f
