Interesting Read

Came across an ad for hunting exotics. In his ad, he said that he doesn't have a Hotel Tax Permit for the state of Texas so he can't charge a fee for lodging at his ranch. and he doesn't have permit to serve food, so he can't charge for meals.
Never came across this, as a lot of guys have charged for meals and lodging. Any of you all ever heard of this?
How do you get around it?

He can get around it by offering free meals and lodging and charging more for the hunt.

Lodging and meals are subject to the state and local sales taxes. If they charge, they should be collecting the fees, Trying to circumvent that by choosing to say that they are free and charging more for the hunt could comeback and bite them with the taxes and penalties and interest. But the state comptroller office would have to make that decision. Hunting and fishing guide fees are exempt from sales taxes.

Are you saying that I can't sell you a hunt and offer you a meal and bed without being taxed for the meal and bed? If you are, that's not a problem. I'll charge you to be in my company, and you can hunt, eat, and sleep for as long as you pay to be in my company. There are only 10,000 ways to dodge the meal and lodging tax. I'm not saying they are ethical.

No what I am wondering is that if these guys offering hunts and quoting extra for meals and lodging are subject to taxation by the state and must have a permit for lodging and meals. I know there are tons of ways around this and to each his own, but I was just curious how many outfitters that offer lodging actually have the permits.

Hotel taxes and Car rental taxes can be huge revenue generators for local governmental entities. And hotels get audited by The State, County or City on a regular basis.

The high Hotel and Car rental taxes are a couple reasons a lot of shows have been not coming to venues in the City of Dallas for the past few years.

I am in the hotel business. We track hotel data for the state. We do track numerous camps, marinas and lodges that collect and pay lodging tax. It is pretty seasonal, with some higher and some lower reports. It is not uncommon for places like this not to report at all, and unless the city calls them out on it, nothing ever comes of it. If you rent out a house on a short term basis (under 30 days) you are supposed to report as well, but many don't know the rules, or just don't think anybody will find out and pursue it if they don't. I don't think the State will beat you up if you charge for hunts, and do not specifically have a room charge. If you rent longer than 30 days, are military, church, or are tax exempt for some other reason, you can rent with no tax charged. As Hunt Dog said above, where you are most likely to get caught is when the local municipalities start realizing there is no money coming in and they know you are renting rooms. But it is easy for a business to say they charged $10 for the room and charge more for other services like hunts or golf or water parks and keep the lodging tax really low, but that is just creative accounting.

I didn’t know that either.