Savannah Hotel-Motel Tax Calculator
Estimate the tax on a short-term rental stay in Savannah, GA (Chatham County). Every rate below comes from an official state, county or town source and is quoted on this page. At a glance: 15% plus $5 per night.
Verified total: 15% plus $5 per night. Every rate below is quoted from an official source, checked Oct 27, 2026.
Airbnb hosts: Airbnb's Georgia tax page says it collects the 4% state sales tax, county and local sales tax, the $5 per night hotel-motel fee for the first 30 nights, and all locally imposed occupancy taxes. On direct bookings you collect and remit all of it yourself.
Results
Savannah short-term rental tax rates
| Tax | Rate | Official source and quote |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia state sales tax (Georgia DOR) | 4% | Georgia DOR sales and use tax rate chart, effective October 1, 2026: "The state sales and use tax rate of 4% is included in all jurisdictions" |
| Chatham County local sales taxes: LOST, ESPLOST and SPLOST (Georgia DOR) | 3% | Georgia DOR sales and use tax rate chart, effective October 1, 2026: "025 Chatham 7 LE S" |
| City hotel/motel excise tax (City of Savannah) | 8% | City of Savannah, Local and State Taxes: "The new Hotel/Motel Excise Tax Rate is 8 percent (8%) effective September 1, 2023" |
| Georgia state hotel-motel fee (Georgia DOR) | $5 per night (first 30 nights) | Georgia DOR State Hotel-Motel Fee FAQ: "$5.00 per night fee on each calendar night" |
| Total | 15% plus $5 per night (verified) |
How the totals check out:
- Georgia DOR sales and use tax rate chart, effective October 1, 2026 states 7% for Georgia state sales tax (Georgia DOR) plus Chatham County local sales taxes: LOST, ESPLOST and SPLOST (Georgia DOR): "025 Chatham 7 LE S"
- City of Savannah, Local and State Taxes states 7% for Georgia state sales tax (Georgia DOR) plus Chatham County local sales taxes: LOST, ESPLOST and SPLOST (Georgia DOR): "the 7% State Use and Sales Tax must be remitted to the Georgia Revenue Department"
In the rate chart, Chatham's 7 is the combined state and local rate, and the letters stand for LOST, Educational (ESPLOST) and SPLOST. Georgia DOR sales and use tax rate chart, effective October 1, 2026: "S = SPLOST T = TSPLOST 1 Tf = Fulton TSPLOST L = LOST"
The Georgia fee stops on the 31st night of one continuous stay. Georgia DOR State Hotel-Motel Fee FAQ: "On the 31st day of uninterrupted continuous occupancy, the fee is no longer collected"
Cleaning fees
The Georgia rate pages used here do not say how a separate cleaning fee is treated. Airbnb's Georgia tax page says it charges sales tax on the listing price including any cleaning fees, so the calculator includes a mandatory cleaning fee by default. If you book direct, confirm with the Georgia Department of Revenue and the City before leaving it out.
Source: Airbnb Help: tax collection in Georgia: "State Sales Tax: 4% of the listing price including any cleaning fees"
How it works
Taxable amount = nightly rate x nights + other mandatory charges + the cleaning fee when it is mandatory. Tax = taxable amount x the sum of the rates (plus any additional local rate you enter). Georgia also charges a flat $5 per night state hotel-motel fee for the first 30 nights of a stay, added on top.
FAQ
What is the short-term rental tax rate in Savannah?
15% plus $5 per night in total for a short-term rental in Savannah (Chatham County), checked Oct 27, 2026. Every component is listed on this page with a quote from its official source.
Who do I pay the tax to in Savannah?
Sales tax and the $5 fee are filed with the Georgia Department of Revenue. The 8% City tax goes to the City of Savannah Revenue Department by the 20th of the following month.
Is the cleaning fee taxable?
The Georgia rate pages used here do not say how a separate cleaning fee is treated. Airbnb's Georgia tax page says it charges sales tax on the listing price including any cleaning fees, so the calculator includes a mandatory cleaning fee by default. If you book direct, confirm with the Georgia Department of Revenue and the City before leaving it out.
Does Airbnb collect the tax in Savannah?
Airbnb's Georgia tax page says it collects the 4% state sales tax, county and local sales tax, the $5 per night hotel-motel fee for the first 30 nights, and all locally imposed occupancy taxes. On direct bookings you collect and remit all of it yourself.
Is this tax advice?
No. It is an estimate from public sources. Rates and rules change, so confirm with the Georgia Department of Revenue and the local tax office.
Sources
- Georgia DOR sales and use tax rate chart, effective October 1, 2026 (checked Oct 27, 2026)
- City of Savannah, Local and State Taxes (checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Georgia DOR State Hotel-Motel Fee FAQ (checked Oct 27, 2026)
- Airbnb Help: tax collection in Georgia (checked Oct 27, 2026)
Who pays where: Sales tax and the $5 fee are filed with the Georgia Department of Revenue. The 8% City tax goes to the City of Savannah Revenue Department by the 20th of the following month. City of Savannah, Local and State Taxes: "Short-term vacation rentals are required to remit a local hotel/motel tax to the City’s Revenue Department by the 20 th day of the following month."
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Estimates, not tax or financial advice. Confirm rates with the Georgia Department of Revenue and your local tax office before filing.