Hi there,
I guess it’s very country specific but might be helpful for the future,
In Italy (finally) we’re having some regulation to contrast the abuse of AirBnb,
what I’m not sure about is if our kind of exchange is free and in my rights as owner of the house or I might fall into some regulation, like at least paying daily tourist tax (Tassa di soggiorno) ?
I’m also looking on the internet but found nothing, being this approach very niche I guess I should also ask here, maybe somebody already put the effort in understanding
I am tempted to answer you in Italian (it’s a tricky topic also in my native language ), but let’s try in English
I have conducted research over the last few months about both Tourism Tax and Prefecture Registration. The first is regulated differently by each town, the second it’s a national law (in case we can open a thread a part about it).
So the best is to ask the town you live or exchange in.
A preliminary question, before answering you: are you also a rental host?
I’m sorry I took some time to get back to you - I wanted to make sure I was sharing the right information!
About the tourist tax, we have consulted several municipalities, some of which are Bologna, Florence and Milan and thye have informed us that guests staying for free do not need to pay the tourist tax. Generally, the tourist tax varies according to the category of accommodation and its rates, so if the accommodation is not a rental unit and the rate is zero, the tax should also be zero
We used to be also AirBnb host but since we’re not away most of the year we were thinking of stopping AirBnb on staying only on HE, so maybe I’ll try to ask properly to the municipality but I guess it might be ok to do like this.
I already sleep a little better
Hello - I have just confirmed an exchange in Rome, Italy and have been asked to pay a Tourist Tax. Has homeexchange got any definitive advice to offer for tax payable or not in Rome. Thank you in advance.
It is probably an apartment used for tourist rentals, in which case the owners are expected to have previously contacted the competent authority to obtain an official response about the Tourist Tax. You could ask them to provide you with a copy of that response and, in addition, when in Italy request the invoice or receipt confirming the payment, in order to avoid any abuse.
We are spending a week in Italy right now and have not had to pay anything, but that is because it’s the hosts’ primary residence
Hello,
It is not due if the guests are staying for free, BUT if you also rent your home, some hosts prefers to ask for it anyway, to avoid incurring penalties (because it’s difficult to demonstrate that those guests are friends / home exchangers, and not under-the-table clients, i.e. tax evasion). I agree that asking for a receipt is a good way to avoid any abuse.
Thanks everyone for your assistance. As it turned out, after asking for/confirming that I would receive a receipt for the tax (that I was willing to pay - so no questions there), my booking was cancelled, with no reasoning. After expressing my disappointment at the cancellation, the response offered was “I am sorry, but the discussions that have taken place have revealed an incompatibility that makes the exchange unfeasible”. Disappointing to say the least. Thankfully we’ve been able to secure another booking with a primary home exchange host. We’ve had a lovely video meet up and everything is finalised. We’ve had over 20 exchanges in our first 18 months on HE and have loved exploring the world with our children through this platform, so given this Rome tax issue has been our only hitch so far, I can’t really complain. Thanks again everyone for your help.
Glad it worked out. I do however find the answer from the host an issue, and wonder why that question would lead to a cancellation. If it was a legit fee, why wouldn’t one just answer and provide a receipt?
Did you ask member service? I think that perhaps they could get the question regarding this listing, so that if this a repeating issue for them, the dots could be connected, so to speak.
The cancellation AFTER asking a receipt looks like a punishment.
If paying, a bill or receipt is mandatory.
Cancelling or threatening to cancel because a member asked for it looks like a blackmail.
Please contact HE. Copy paste this discussion (url).
It is serious.
It violates the Homeexchange rules
Commitment to Agreed Exchanges
Do not cancel an Exchange without a valid reason.
*** Acceptable valid reasons include force majeure situations (e.g. serious illness, death in the family, natural disaster, breach of trust — lack of transparency or respect), supported by documentation.**
Reciprocal Exchanges are binding: if you have benefited from a stay, you are required to host in return unless otherwise agreed. If you are forced to cancel, you are required to compensate the Guest Member (GuestPoints or alternative accommodation).
Ensure that the Home is fully available to the Guest Member during the Exchange, with no third-party presence, unless previously agreed.
Thanks Tailwag. I did seek member services for assistance with the cancellation, which I didn’t need in the end. I explained what had happened, but seeing as I now have an exchange finalised, I don’t think there will be any further follow up.
), but let’s try in English 
