Getting owners of vacation rental properties to pay taxes has come up as a problem in several WNC jurisdictions lately. Haywood County’s TDA discussed options at their recent meeting. In Haywood, a 4% tax on overnight lodging funds promotions of the county’s tourist trade.
The Haywood TDA had previously decided to launch an education campaign. In the past, the county had taken out liens against property and threatened legal action. The TDA’s finance chair, Ken Stahl, had tried on other occasions to cross-reference cabin addresses with NC Department of Revenue records, but the department refused to cooperate.
Another option considered was public humiliation. Discovered offenders would have their names published in the newspaper. The TDA would also blot the deadbeat names out of any promotional materials.
But it was the worst and weirdest idea that may have gotten the most traction. Some brilliant entrepreneur actually thought of going into business to find non-filing renters, and then charging the respective once-deprived tourism agencies a finder’s fee. The TDA’s director actually intends to explore options with representatives of the Virginia-based VRCompliance in the near future.
