🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - El Paso County, TX
Short-Term Rentals Under the Tax Radar in El Paso County
A Deep Dive into Your Area’s STR Updates — Helping You Navigate the Ever-Changing Rental Landscape.
Short-Term Rentals Under the Tax Radar in El Paso County
El Paso County may be sitting on a goldmine and it’s not buried in the desert. It’s tucked away in thousands of short-term rentals that aren't fully paying their share of hotel occupancy taxes.
County Commissioner David Stout is sounding the alarm on what could be millions in uncollected hotel occupancy taxes (HOT), especially from Airbnb and VRBO properties. With big-ticket projects like the proposed Downtown Deck Plaza over I-10 looming, Stout wants to find funding solutions that don't leave local taxpayers footing the bill. His idea? Get serious about STR tax collection.
Currently, El Paso County charges a 2.12% occupancy tax on nightly stays. But while traditional hotels routinely pay this tax, many short-term rental hosts are slipping through the cracks. Why? Because unlike in some cities, El Paso County doesn’t have active collection partnerships with booking platforms like Airbnb and VRBO. That means the tax isn’t automatically collected—and only a handful of hosts are voluntarily submitting payments.
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“We’re missing out on probably millions of dollars,” Stout said, highlighting the sheer number of STRs operating in the county without contributing to local revenues. He’s now pushing to team up with the county’s tax assessor-collector to tighten enforcement and close the gap.
This renewed interest in STR tax compliance isn’t just about numbers—it’s about possibilities. If El Paso can successfully start collecting those taxes, that revenue could help pay for major projects like the deck park, all without needing new bonds or tax hikes. In a city where every dollar counts, that’s a big deal.
Residents seem to be on board. Many told local news they support the plan, seeing it as a fair way to generate funds for community upgrades.
“If they’re renting out their properties, they should be paying like everyone else,” one El Pasoan said.
With tourism and STR usage on the rise, this is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for El Paso County. Stout’s proposal may not be a formal ordinance—yet—but the groundwork is being laid. Talks with STR platforms are ongoing (though they’ve remained silent so far), and county officials are actively exploring next steps.
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