Everything you need to know about taxes as an Outdoorsy Host – Outdoorsy Help Center

Well hello there, partner! Welcome to the business side of the open road. Renting out your rig on Outdoorsy makes you a small business owner, and just like you keep your engine tuned and your tires aired up, you’ve gotta keep your financial records in good working order.

Whether you’re hosting right here in the States or from across the pond, staying on top of your local tax obligations is part of being the boss. Here is the trail map for everything you need to know about taxes as an Outdoorsy Host.

What do I need to know about taxes as a Host?

RV rentals in the U.S. are typically subject to two types of taxes:

Income tax
Transactional tax (sales tax, motor vehicle rental tax, etc.).

When you’re using our platform to rent out your rig, you’re doing it for business purposes and are considered an independent contractor, not an employee. What that means is you’re officially a business owner, and you’re the one in the driver’s seat when it comes to reporting your own earnings and paying those self-employment taxes.

Income Tax

Whether you are operating your rental business locally or hosting from abroad, your specific tax requirements depend on your location.

For our U.S.-based hosts, there are essential tax forms to complete to ensure your payouts remain uninterrupted and exempt from mandatory withholding. If you are an international host, your requirements are significantly streamlined; because your business operates outside of the U.S. tax system, you can focus on your local reporting without the need for additional U.S. tax documentation.

For U.S. Hosts:

To comply with federal law and ensure your payouts are processed without automatic tax withholding, Outdoorsy requires all U.S.-based hosts to submit their taxpayer information. We use your W-9 info to generate a Form 1099-K at the end of the year, which notifies the IRS of your gross earnings and serves as your official record for tax filing.
For Non-U.S. Host:

You do not need to provide Outdoorsy with any tax information. Since your business operates outside of the U.S. tax system, we advise that you consult a local tax professional or authority for advice on how to best file your income taxes in your home country.

Transactional Tax

While income tax is about what you earn, transactional taxes—like sales tax or motor vehicle rental tax—are about the booking itself.

Depending on where you keep your rig, Outdoorsy may be required to collect and remit these taxes automatically for your bookings. However, tax laws can change from one town to the next, so here is the breakdown of the trail ahead:

Outdoorsy’s Role: In many states and localities, Outdoorsy handles the collection and payment of these taxes directly to the tax authorities.
Your Role: Depending on your specific location, you might still be responsible for collecting and remitting certain local transactional taxes yourself.
- U.S. Hosts: In most states, Outdoorsy automatically manages the marketplace taxes. If your listing is in a facilitator state, you will not be able to add custom tax rates because the system handles it for you to prevent double-taxing guests.
- Canadian (excluding Quebec) & International Hosts: You are responsible for managing your own custom tax rates and remitting them to your local authorities. For more information on how to add your custom tax rate, please see this section: Outdoorsy is not collecting sales tax for my area. How do I set a custom rate?
- Quebec, Canada Rentals: Currently, Quebec requires the collection of sales taxes as follows:
  - How does this affect Quebec Guests: Outdoorsy may collect 9.975% QST from the Guest on platform-retained charges, such as renter fees, insurance, and roadside assistance, etc.
  - How does this affect Quebec Hosts: Outdoorsy may collect 9.975% QST by withholding it from your total earnings before payout. To exempt your host fee from this collection, you must provide your QST number in your Account page's Taxes tab.
    
    Note: By adding your QST number, you are asserting that you are an active registrant paying QST on your bookings. For instructions on how to update this, see the section: I am renting out from Quebec, Canada. How do I add my QST to avoid QST tax withholding?
Stay Informed: Because every "campsite" has different rules, we recommend checking out our Sales Tax FAQ and chatting with a local tax expert to make sure you’re covered for your specific area.

I am a U.S.-based Host. Why do I need to submit my tax information?

Under federal law, Outdoorsy is required to collect taxpayer information from every one of our U.S.-based hosts. Providing this information ensures that your rental business stays compliant and allows us to issue your Form 1099-K if you meet the specific criteria set by the IRS. You can also refer to this Help Center article for more details: Why does Outdoorsy need my tax info?

What is Form 1099-K?

Form 1099-K is officially titled "Payment Card and Third Party Network Transactions." The IRS uses this form to ensure that "gig economy" income and online marketplace earnings are being reported correctly.

You will be issued an IRS 1099-K form if:

You received more than $20,000 in total reportable payments in 2025 and hosted more than 200 bookings on the platform in 2025.
Or, Outdoorsy withheld taxes from your payouts for some or all of 2025.

If you meet the requirements above, Outdoorsy will prepare a 1099-K tax form for your personal or business income taxes. Your form will be ready by January 31st for the prior tax year, and is available within the Taxes tab of your account.

We’ll also notify the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of your reportable payments.

As always, we encourage you to consult a tax professional for assistance reporting your income.

Where can I see my earnings for tax reporting?

No matter how much you make on the platform, you can always find your earnings right inside your Outdoorsy account. While that 1099-K is the official document for the IRS, the Analytics tab is your best friend for tracking your actual cash flow and getting your own records ready.

Follow these steps to view your Outdoorsy earnings:

Log in to the Outdoorsy website.
Navigate to your dashboard's Insights tab to open the "My Insights" page.
Select the Analytics tab.
Filter your earnings based on the date range you need:
- All time: View your total earnings since your first booking.
- This year / 6 months / 3 months: Quickly toggle between these standard windows.
- Select Range: Use the Start and End date fields to enter a custom range (perfect for matching your personal fiscal year or quarterly tax payments).

Note: We recommend consulting with a tax professional to determine your actual tax liabilities. Remember, you may be able to reduce your taxable income by keeping track of expenses like rig maintenance, insurance, and those little upgrades that keep your guests happy!

What does tax withholding mean for a Host like me?

Providing your tax information is a standard requirement for operating on a digital marketplace in some regions. If we cannot verify this information, we are mandated by authorities to perform backup tax withholding to ensure compliance.

If you are a U.S.-based Host: To avoid withholding, Outdoorsy is required by the IRS to collect your Form W-9. This facilitates Form 1099-K issuance should you meet the reporting criteria at the end of the tax year.
If you are a Quebec, Canada-based Host: To avoid withholding on payouts, Outdoorsy is required to collect your QST registration number.

What happens if earnings are withheld?

For U.S. Hosts:

Mandatory 24% Deduction: Outdoorsy is required by federal law to withhold 24% of your gross earnings from every booking.
Credit Issues: Because these funds are sent to the IRS without a completed W-9 on file, it can be difficult for the IRS to properly attribute these payments to your tax account.
Irreversibility: Once these funds are sent to the IRS, Outdoorsy cannot issue a refund. You will need to claim these amounts as a tax credit when you file your annual return.

For Quebec Hosts:

9.975% Provincial Withholding: Outdoorsy will withhold 9.975% of your total earnings from your payout and remit it to the governing tax authority on your behalf.
Direct Impact on Payout: This is a compliance deduction that reduces the actual amount deposited into your bank account. It is not an additional fee charged to the guest; it comes directly out of your take-home pay.
Permanent Remittance: Once processed and sent to the provincial tax authority, Outdoorsy cannot refund these funds to you.

I want to stop tax withholding on my earnings. What should I do?

If your payouts are currently subject to backup withholding, the solution is straightforward. To stop the 24% mandatory deduction from your future payouts, you must provide verified taxpayer information.

Follow these steps to resolve withholding:

Log in to your Outdoorsy account or the Outdoorsy App.
Click/tap on your Avatar or initials.
Select Account from the dropdown menu.
Navigate to the Taxes section of your host dashboard.
Complete the digital W-9: Ensure your legal name and Taxpayer Identification Number (SSN or EIN) match your official IRS records exactly.

It typically takes less than five minutes to complete. Once your information is successfully verified, Outdoorsy will stop withholding income tax from all future payouts.

Pro Tip: Once funds have been withheld and sent to the IRS, Outdoorsy cannot refund them. However, those funds are not "lost"—they are sent to the IRS as a credit in your name. You can consult a tax professional or the IRS for advice on how to claim the total amount withheld as a tax payment when you file your annual tax return.

How will I receive a Form 1099-K if I qualify?

If you meet the reporting criteria set by the IRS, Outdoorsy provides two ways to receive your form:

Traditional mail
Digital "paperless" delivery

You have total control over your preferred delivery method through the Taxes tab in your account. To update your preference, follow these steps:

Log in to your Outdoorsy account or the Outdoorsy App.
Click or tap on your Avatar/initials and select Account from the dropdown menu.
Navigate to the Taxes tab of your host dashboard.
Scroll down to the Tax docs section to choose your preferred method:
- Go Paperless (Recommended): If you choose this method, you will receive an email notification as soon as your 1099-K is ready. You can then download it immediately by:
  1. Navigating to the Tax docs section.
  2. Selecting the relevant form from the Available tax docs field.
  3. Clicking the Download PDF button.
- Get my next 1099-K by mail: Selecting this option ensures a physical copy is sent to the mailing address on file in your tax profile.
  
  Note: Regardless of your choice, your 1099-K will always be available for digital download in your dashboard by January 31st for the prior tax year. Going paperless is the fastest way to get your information and start your filing process.

Who is responsible for collecting Transactional or Sales taxes?

Navigating state and local taxes can feel like a maze, but it mostly depends on where your RV is located.

Outdoorsy’s Role: In most U.S. states, Outdoorsy acts as a Marketplace Facilitator. This means we are legally required to calculate, collect, and remit sales taxes directly to the state on your behalf. If we are handling this for you, you will see that you don't even have the option to manually add tax rates to your listing—we've got it covered.
Your Role: Depending on your specific state or local "home rule" laws, there may be additional taxes—such as local motor vehicle rental taxes or excise taxes—that Outdoorsy is not authorized to collect. In these cases, you are responsible for:
- Determining the correct tax rate for your area.
- Adding that rate to your listing manually.
- Remitting those specific funds to your local tax authority.

For a detailed breakdown of which states we cover and where you might still have local obligations, check out our sales tax FAQ.

How do I check if Outdoorsy collects sales taxes on my bookings?

Based on where your listing is located, Outdoorsy may automatically collect and remit marketplace taxes on your behalf.

To check if Outdoorsy collects sales taxes on your booking:

Log in to your Outdoorsy account or the Outdoorsy App.
Click or tap on your Avatar/initials and select Account from the dropdown menu.
Navigate to the Taxes tab of your host dashboard.
Scroll down to the Tax rates section:
- If your listing name is listed: Outdoorsy is automatically collecting and remitting marketplace taxes for that vehicle. You don’t need to take further action for those specific tax types.
  
  Pro tip: If you see your listing's name under the section and wants to
- If your listing is NOT listed: Outdoorsy is not currently collecting marketplace taxes for that location. You may need to manually set your own custom tax rates to stay compliant with your local authorities.

Note: If Outdoorsy does not collect taxes in your area, you may set your own custom tax rates.

Outdoorsy is not collecting sales tax for my area. How do I set a custom rate?

If you have checked your Tax rates section and do not see your listing name, it means Outdoorsy is not currently required to collect sales taxes for your specific location. In this case, "taking the wheel" on local taxes becomes your responsibility.

If you are required by your local or state authority to collect and remit taxes, you can set a custom rate directly in your account.

How to set a custom tax rate:

Log in to your Outdoorsy account or the Outdoorsy App.
Click or tap on your Avatar/initials and select Account.
Navigate to the Taxes tab of your host dashboard.
Scroll down to the Tax rates section.
Look for the option to Add Custom Tax Rate
Enter the required details:
- Name: This is the name that will appear on customer receipts and emails (e.g., "State Rental Tax").
- Description: An optional field for your own internal records or additional guest clarity.
- Tax rate amount (%): Enter the specific percentage required by your local tax authority.
- Set as default: Tick this box to automatically apply this tax rate to all future bookings.
Note: Enabling the "Set as default" option will only apply the rate to bookings created after the rate is activated.

I am renting out from Quebec, Canada. How do I add my QST to avoid QST tax withholding?

Log in to your Outdoorsy account or the Outdoorsy App.
Click or tap on your Avatar/initials and select Account.
Navigate to the Taxes tab of your host dashboard.
Scroll down and locate the Quebec Sales Tax section.
Use the QST ID field to enter your QST registration number.
Click Save.

Important Details for Quebec Hosts:

Verification: Adding your QST number serves as a legal assertion that you are an active registrant paying QST on your bookings.
Effective Timing: Changes to your tax settings will take effect on succeeding bookings made after the update is saved; it will not retroactively apply to existing or past bookings.
Outdoorsy’s Collection: If you do not provide a QST ID, Outdoorsy may collect QST (9.975%) from your earnings, withheld from your payout.
Outdoorsy’s Registration: For your records, Outdoorsy’s QST Registration Number is NR00097811.

Pro Tip: While Outdoorsy handles the collection of specific platform fees, you remain responsible for reporting your overall rental income to the appropriate Canadian authorities.

Does Outdoorsy provide tax, legal, or accounting advice?

No. Outdoorsy does not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Any business reports or information provided in your dashboard are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be relied on for tax, legal, or accounting decisions.

Because every host’s financial situation and local tax laws are unique, we strongly recommend that you consult with your own tax, legal, and accounting advisors before filing your returns or engaging in any tax-related transactions.

Outdoorsy tax information articles