Property owners renting out homes or apartments to tourists or locals should be prepared to face tax obligations, according to Luenne Gomez-Pieters, Director of the Department of Tax (DIMP).
As part of their mid-year review, DIMP reports that Aruba’s government has already collected 47 million florins in tourist tax through May 2025. Most of this is generated by hotels, but vacation rentals—such as Airbnbs—are now under increased scrutiny.
In collaboration with the Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA), DIMP is using specialized software to identify unregistered listings and match them against its records and those of AHATA. Owners of such properties can expect to be contacted.
Gomez-Pieters emphasized that offering property for rent—especially for short-term stays or events—constitutes economic activity and must be reported. Depending on the setup, rental income could be subject to turnover tax (BBO), corporate tax, or income tax.
The department notes the growing global shift toward private accommodations over hotels, and is working to better monitor and regulate this trend locally.
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