Airbnb invoices explained by the concierge agency Cavalaire-sur-Mer, the rules to follow as hosts
Airbnb rental is increasingly used by tourists and is a serious competitor to the hotel industry. However, depending on the location of your property, you can accommodate a different clientele such as self-employed workers or employees on the move. Anyway, as a lessor, you must be able to issue an invoice to your tenants, if they so request. Our Cavalaire-sur-Mer concierge explains everything you need to know about Airbnb invoices.
Why edit an Airbnb invoice
According to the regulations in force, you are required, as a lessor, to be able to issue an invoice that complies with your tenants. You are under no circumstances obliged to issue invoices for seasonal rentals except for the following two conditions:
- If your tenant is a professional staying as part of a business trip.
- If your tenant is an individual and requests an invoice.
Your Cavalaire-sur-Mer concierge informs you that issuing an Airbnb invoice cannot be the responsibility of the Airbnb platforms. In addition, receipts issued by Airbnb platforms should not be confused with invoices. Although these documents serve as a summary and are detailed, they are not sufficient for a professional who wishes to use them for his expense reports. An Airbnb rental invoice issued by the owner is therefore mandatory.
What information should appear on the invoice
To help you fill in the information for your invoice, you can use the documents sent by the Airbnb platforms. For example, the commission invoice will be useful for you to know the service charges as well as the VAT attributed to them.
Mandatory mentions
To edit a compliant Airbnb invoice, your document must mention:
- Reservation and billing numbers;
- The identity of the tenant as well as his contact details;
- Your identity and contact details as the owner;
- The address of the accommodation provided;
- The terms of the rental (start and end date of occupancy as well as the price)
- The date of payment of the invoice (estimated or actual)
- The terms and conditions in the event of late payment (costs and deadlines)
- The total amount excluding tax, the applicable VAT rate and the final price including tax.
You will also need to show the words “Seasonal rental invoice” or “Holiday rental invoice”.
In addition to its mandatory formulations, your Airbnb invoice must include the services associated with your rental (cleaning costs, rental and cleaning of linens, breakfast option, etc.). You must notify the options chosen, their date as well as the quantities and the applicable price.
If there are, you are also required to mention price reductions.
The application of VAT
In Airbnb rental, VAT is, in principle, not applicable. Indeed, the seasonal rental benefits from an exemption from VAT. Your Airbnb invoice should, in this case, show a rate of 0%.
However, your rental will be considered as a para-hotel activity from the moment you offer these options:
- access to breakfast;
- cleaning service during the stay;
- supply of household linen;
- existence of a reception service (electronic or real)
Be careful when applying VAT rates on your Airbnb invoice: a 20% rate applies on all your options while a reduced VAT of 10% may only apply on pure rental costs (check that your offer meets the conditions). This step is crucial and may seem quite abrupt for people unaccustomed to the field of invoicing. Do not hesitate to refer to your concierge Cavalaire-sur-Mer for all information concerning your Airbnb invoices.
The tourist tax
The tourist tax applies to all tenants staying in your property. However, there are exceptions:
- minors;
- seasonal contract workers in the municipality;
- people relocated in emergency;
- occupants of dwellings whose rent is lower than the base determined by the municipal council.
The tourist tax must appear on your Airbnb invoice clearly and precisely. The exact amount is calculated based on the length of stay and the total price of the reservation.
Can an Airbnb invoice be modified?
Unfortunately, an Airbnb invoice serving as proof, it cannot be modified, once edited.
When the reservation is made by the tenant, the Airbnb reservation platform provides a receipt that cannot be modified. This includes all the information that the hosts provide.
However, once the reservation has been validated, it is possible to make some changes to the summary of your stay. The names as well as the numbers of the tenants can be changed until the end of the stay, as well as the professional addresses used for invoicing.
Other information can be added such as: passport numbers, travelers' dates of birth, tax identification numbers for professionals.
French legislation is not outdone regarding seasonal rentals. In order to comply with government obligations, a lot of information must appear on your invoices: contact details, details of services, taxes, etc. To help you, you can use the documents provided by the Airbnb platforms chosen by your Cavalaire-sur-Mer concierge. In addition, many Airbnb invoice templates exist to guide you and provide your tenants with the supporting documents they need.
