Transaction Privilege Tax
Although commonly referred to as a sales tax, the Arizona transaction privilege tax (TPT) is actually a tax on a vendor for the privilege of doing business in the state. Various business activities are subject to transaction privilege tax and must be licensed.
If a business is selling a product or engaging in a service subject to TPT, a license from the Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) would likely be needed as well as a transaction privilege tax or business/occupational license from the city or cities in which the business is based and/or operates.
ADOR collects the tax for the counties and cities; however, tax rates vary depending on the type of business activity, the city and the county.
Please note that businesses with multiple locations or business lines can opt to license and report for each location separately or have a consolidated license (and report aggregate sales). The cost for each license per location is $12.
TPT and Use Tax:
Individuals are subject to use tax when a retailer does not collect tax for tangible personal property used, stored or consumed.
Those individuals and businesses subject to use tax include the following:
- An out-of-state retailer or utility business making sales of tangible personal property to Arizona purchasers.
- Arizona residents who purchase goods using a resale certificate, and the goods are used, stored or consumed in Arizona contrary to the purpose stated on the certificate.
- Arizona residents who purchase goods in which another state’s sale tax or other excise tax was imposed and the rate of that tax is less than Arizona’s use tax rate.
See our Reporting Guide for convenient access to TPT-related guidance and resources.
What’s New with TPT?
Short-Term Rentals for Events
Short-term residential rentals are lodging rental stays for less than 30 days. The income from short-term rental stays is subject to Arizona transaction privilege tax (TPT). See Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) § 42-5070 and the Model City Tax Code (MCTC) -444 and -447.
If a property owner is only renting their residence for an event coming to the valley, they will need a seasonal Arizona TPT license. They may also need a business license for the city where the residence is located, which is different from a TPT License. Please contact the specific city for the business license, as the Arizona Department of Revenue does not issue city business licenses. A seasonal TPT license is obtained from the Department’s website, AZTaxes.gov, and choosing the seasonal filing frequency option on the application. The license should be active for the month of February (the TPT return would be due in March) or the length of renting the home. This license will be active until it is cancelled. In addition, a property owner/operator is required to include the TPT license number on any advertising associated with the short-term rental.
An owner/operator or property manager of the short-term rental that takes bookings directly should use business code 025 to report lodging bookings for fewer than 30 days for the state/county. The business code used to report these types of transactions for the cities is 044 for Hotels. Some cities impose an additional hotel tax; please use business code 144 to report the additional hotel for those cities. See the Arizona Department of Revenue’s Tax Rate Table for more information on which city has an additional hotel rate.
An owner/operator or property manager of a short-term rental that uses an online lodging marketplace (OLM) should report income using the business codes as outlined above for reporting to the state/county and the city where the property is located. However, 100% of the income received from the OLM should be deducted using deduction code 775. The OLM is responsible for collecting and remitting the TPT due from the rental income. For more information, please see the OLM Factsheet.
Owners who will not continue in the short-term rental business should cancel their seasonal TPT license.
Arizona Business One Stop is an online portal that provides a single online location with personalized tools to plan, start, grow, move and close businesses in Arizona. It is a secure digital experience that does not require in-person interaction.
Arizona-based businesses should visit Business One Stop (B1S) if forming their business for the first time. Please note: New Business One Stop TPT licenses submissions will direct you to pay at AZTaxes.gov. TPT filings, payments, and renewals are only available at AZTaxes.gov at this time.
Businesses needing updated information on transaction privilege tax can access ADOR’s monthly newsletter, TPT Tax Rate Table and Model City Tax Code changes here by clicking on the appropriate month and year. For older information, please visit our archives.