Why Can't You Find the Lodging Tax (ISH) in Your Airbnb Breakdown? (And How to Calculate It)
If you've ever tried to check how much lodging tax you're paying on your Airbnb, you probably ran into some frustration: your reservation breakdown doesn't show the word "ISH" anywhere, or the famous 6%. All you see is a line that says "Taxes," with a number that doesn't add up to anything.
You're not losing it, and Airbnb isn't calculating it wrong. The tax is there — but it's hidden and mixed in with another tax. In this guide we'll show you, with real examples, where the ISH is, why you can't see it, and how to calculate it yourself in a minute.
In short: in Airbnb's breakdown, the word "Taxes" means different things depending on which view you're looking at. Under "You earn," it's just VAT (16%). Under "Guest paid," it's VAT (16%) plus ISH (6%) combined, without a split. To isolate the ISH: multiply your base (room rate + cleaning fee, after discounts) by 6%. In Quintana Roo, Airbnb collects it from the guest and pays it to the state on your behalf.
What is the ISH, and why should I care?
The ISH (Lodging Tax) is a state tax — not federal, not SAT — that exists because you're hosting guests. The guest pays it, but it passes through your account, so as a host you need to understand it.
In the Riviera Maya (Quintana Roo), for houses, apartments, and villas rented through digital platforms, the rate is 6%. Traditional hotels pay 5%, but Airbnb-style vacation rentals pay 6%.
The good news for hosts in Quintana Roo: Airbnb already handles it. It collects the ISH directly from the guest and pays it to the state's Ministry of Finance on your behalf. You receive a confirmation. You don't have to remit it yourself (though you still need to report it).
So why don't I see the ISH in my breakdown?
Here's where all the confusion starts: Airbnb uses the word "Taxes" to mean different things depending on which tab you're looking at. And it never spells out "ISH" or "6%" separately.
Your reservation breakdown has two views: "You earn" and "Guest paid." Notice what "Taxes" means in each one:
In the "You earn" view, the "Taxes" line is VAT only (16%). That VAT isn't your profit: it's money the guest paid that passes through your account so you can report it to SAT. The ISH isn't in this line.
In the "Guest paid" view, the "Taxes" line is VAT (16%) plus ISH (6%) added together into a single number, with no breakdown.
That's why, when you go looking for the 6% and can't find it: it's not missing, it's just mixed in with the VAT under a generic label. No one tells you this.
How do I calculate the ISH myself?
It's easier than it looks. Everything is calculated on what we'll call your base: the room rate (after discounts and adjustments you've financed) plus the cleaning fee.
Using that base:
VAT = base × 16% → this is what "You earn" calls "Taxes."
ISH = base × 6% → this is the one you were looking for.
The "Taxes" the guest paid = VAT + ISH = base × 22%.
So, to isolate your ISH, you have two options: the direct route — multiply your base by 6%; or the subtraction route — take the "Taxes" figure from the "Guest paid" view and subtract the VAT (base × 16%). What's left is the ISH.
A real example, with numbers
Take a 2-night reservation where the base (room rate after discounts + cleaning fee) is $11,839 MXN:
What "You earn" shows as "Taxes": $1,894.24. That's exactly 16% of $11,839 — in other words, VAT. Not ISH.
What the guest paid as "Taxes": $2,604.58.
How much of that is ISH? Subtract: $2,604.58 − $1,894.24 = $710.34.
And $710.34 is exactly 6% of $11,839. There's your ISH.
We verified this against reservations with different commission types (both the 16% "Host-Only" and the 4% "Split Fee") and in every case the ISH comes out to an exact 6% of the base. Airbnb calculates it correctly — it just doesn't label it clearly.
The mistake that costs many hosts money
Now that you understand the "Taxes" line under "You earn" is actually the VAT passing through your account, watch out for this: that money isn't yours. It's VAT the guest paid that you have to report and remit to SAT.
Plenty of hosts see that amount land in their account, think it's part of their profit, and spend it — only to get a nasty surprise when their accountant tells them it should have been remitted. Don't confuse passed-through VAT with your actual earnings.
In summary
The 6% ISH on your Quintana Roo Airbnb is calculated correctly and you are paying it — Airbnb just doesn't show it by name. It's hidden inside the word "Taxes," mixed with the VAT, and the meaning of that word changes depending on which view you're looking at.
Now you know how to break it out: your base × 6% is your ISH; your base × 16% is the VAT (which isn't yours). With that, you can stop wrestling with a breakdown that seems not to add up, and know exactly where every peso goes.
Tired of decoding Airbnb's breakdowns by hand? MRHOSTMX's Real Profit Calculator separates out the VAT, the ISH, the withholdings, and the commissions for you, and shows you clearly what you actually keep.
Calculate your real profit here →
This guide is informational and uses rates in effect as of 2026 under Quintana Roo's Lodging Tax Law. It does not constitute tax or accounting advice; your situation may vary. Always confirm with your accountant. MRHOSTMX specializes in digital sales and revenue strategy for vacation rental properties in the Riviera Maya.
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