The City of Geneva collects a Hotel/Motel Use Tax (Hotel Operators' Occupation tax) at the rate of 5% of 94% of the gross rental receipts upon people and entities who engage and operate in the business of renting, leasing, or letting rooms (including short term rentals such as Airbnb and Vrbo) in a hotel or property (inns, motels, tourist homes or courts, lodging houses, rooming houses, and apartment house).

The Hotel/Motel Use Tax is a local tax that is in addition to any tax imposed and collected by the Illinois Department of Revenue. The tax collected is used by the City to promote tourism, conventions, and other special events within Geneva that attract visits to the community. The City has elected to levy the Hotel/Motel Use Tax since 1987 and is under the City Code Ch. 1-9B.

Filing and Payment

• The Hotel/Motel Use Tax is a local tax and is only collected monthly or quarterly through the Hotel/Motel tax form. Short-term rental websites and apps do not collect this tax at the time of booking.
• The Hotel/Motel Use Tax is due on a monthly basis. 
  • Any operators whose monthly tax liability does not exceed $100 may opt to submit their taxes on a quarterly basis.
  • Payments are due by the last day of the calendar month after the reporting period. Any payments made after the due date are assessed a late filing penalty, late payment penalty, and daily interest.
  • Any operator with no or zero rental receipts for the period must submit a tax form reporting no or zero rental receipts. Operators may submit a Hotel/Motel No Receipt Tax Form online or submit a paper copy of the tax form.
• A "Permanent Resident" is any person who occupies or has the right to occupy any room or rooms in a hotel for at least 30 consecutive days and shall not be subject to the hotel/motel use tax.
• You may submit your payment via eCheck or debit/credit card online without filing and remitting a paper copy of the tax form.
• Alternatively, you may remit the tax form and payment to the City of Geneva Finance Department, 15 S. First St., Geneva, IL 60134.

Forms

The forms are to be completed by the operator and submitted to the Finance Department with remitted payment.