Transient Guest/Hotel Tax
For University employees:
Hotel tax is also known as bed tax, room tax, occupancy tax, and transient guest tax. This is the tax imposed by cities, counties, and states for overnight stays.
Ohio University is exempt from this tax in the City of Columbus. If you are planning to stay in Columbus, please obtain a copy of the form. In order to be exempt from the tax, you must present the form and pay for your stay using your PCard.
We are required to pay hotel tax anywhere outside of the City of Columbus. Ohio University is not exempt from this tax in other locales.
For guests staying at the University:
A Transient Guest Tax is charged on transient guests of establishments where sleeping accommodations are offered to guests, in which five or more rooms are used for the accommodation of guests. A Transient Guest is a person occupying a room or rooms for sleeping accommodations for less than 30 days.
Ohio University is required to collect a 3.00% tax to the City of Athens and a 3.00% tax to Athens County for all transient guests.
Note: Any organization that is exempt from sales tax is also exempt from transient tax.
