Short Stay Levy: What Operators Need to Know
Victorian Short Stay Levy
What short-stay accommodation operators need to know
The Victorian Short Stay Levy has applied since 1 January 2025 to eligible short-stay accommodation in Victoria.
The levy is 7.5% of the total booking fee for stays of less than 28 consecutive days. The levy applies to eligible private residential accommodation, including properties offered through booking platforms and direct bookings.
Does the levy apply to your property?
The levy generally applies to short stays in private residential properties, including:
- Entire homes and apartments
- Private rooms where the property is not the owner's principal place of residence
- Granny flats and other separate dwellings
- Other eligible residential properties offered for short stays
Some accommodation is excluded, including a person's principal place of residence and certain commercial accommodation such as hotels and motels.
How is the levy collected?
If you use a booking platform such as Airbnb, Stayz or Booking.com, the platform is responsible for collecting and paying the levy on bookings made through its platform.
If you accept bookings directly, you are responsible for registering, calculating, lodging and paying the levy where it applies.
How much is it?
The levy is 7.5% of the total booking fee.
The booking fee generally includes the accommodation rate, cleaning fees and applicable GST. It does not include charges associated with a particular payment method, such as a credit card surcharge.
Example:
For a $1,000 eligible booking fee, the levy is $75.
What do I need to do?
If you accept eligible bookings directly, you may need to:
- Register for the Short Stay Levy.
- Calculate the levy on eligible bookings.
- Lodge your returns.
- Pay the levy by the applicable due date.
If your total annual booking fees are less than $75,000, you generally lodge annually. If they are $75,000 or more, you lodge quarterly.
Need help?
The State Revenue Office (SRO) is responsible for administering the Short Stay Levy and provides the most up-to-date information, including registration, exemptions, calculations, returns, payment and FAQs.
State Revenue Office: Understanding the Short Stay Levy
SRO: Short Stay Levy FAQs and calculations
Important: Tourism East provides this information as a general industry resource. Operators should check their individual circumstances and obligations directly with the State Revenue Office or their professional adviser.
Last updated: August 2026