A map of some of the properties available in this area on Airbnb at present (prices are per night)
As many as 26 people who rent out local properties on Airbnb have been advised to pay tax on any income received from the site.
The peer-to-peer holiday rental site contacted users over the weekend telling them it had supplied Revenue with details of income generated by users in the Republic of Ireland going back to May 1st 2014.
It has also released the dates when people first registered with the site, allowing Revenue to more easily assess if back taxes are outstanding and, if so, how much.
Until earlier this year, many who registered with Airbnb – a site that allows you to rent out a property or room to people – did so believing the Government’s rent-a-room scheme allowing people to earn up to €12,000 tax-free a year applied to them.
Revenue clarified the situation though, making it clear that short-term lets to guests “including where such accommodation is provided through online accommodation booking sites,” did not fall within the terms of tax relief.
Once the clarification was confirmed, Airbnb entered into dialogue with Revenue, culminating in it releasing information on all rental income earned by Irish users for the past 15 month.
A Revenue spokeswoman said that if a Revenue “intervention” uncovered any business “engaging in shadow economy activity such as undeclared or under-declared income” people would have to pay all “outstanding tax together with full statutory interest and penalties.”
She warned Revenue could go back through several years of undeclared income and said there were “significant advantages to taxpayers in approaching Revenue early with regard to regularising matters.”
There are around 26 properties available in the Dundalk and north Louth area, ranging in price from €18 for a room for a night in St Patrick’s Terrace to €238 a night for an apartment in Carlingford.
