# Tourist taxes — Malta eco-contribution, Kurtaxe and more

Tourist taxes differ a lot. Malta has one **country-wide** eco-contribution. In Germany each **town** sets its own Kurtaxe or Gästebeitrag — or none at all. Some places charge per person and night, others a percentage of the price. The guest portal handles this with **tax definitions** that you assign to each property.

## How a property finds its tax

Each property has a **Tourist tax** setting (**Settings → Properties → Settings**):

- **Automatic — country default** uses the definition the platform marks as default for the property's country. For Malta this is the eco-contribution.
- **No tourist tax** — nothing is charged.
- **A specific definition** — one of the platform definitions or one you created.

The amount is calculated with the rate valid on the **check-in date**, from the adults (and, if set, children) of the booking. If the guest reports more adults in the online check-in, the higher number counts; a lower number only counts when you correct it on the booking.

![Settings → Tourist taxes](/site/img/docs/d-settings-taxes.webp "Settings → Tourist taxes")

## Malta eco-contribution (built in)

| Check-ins | Rate | Cap |
|---|---|---|
| from 1 July 2026 | €1.50 per guest aged 18+ per night | 15 nights (max €22.50 per person per stay) |
| until 30 June 2026 | €0.50 per guest aged 18+ per night | 10 nights (max €5.00 per person per stay) |

Under-18s are exempt. The contribution is collected by the accommodation provider and paid to the Malta Tourism Authority every quarter — the dashboard prepares the [MTA eco return](/docs/mta-eco-return) for you.

**Announced for 2027:** Malta's Budget 2027 (26 October 2026) announced €10 per guest aged 18+ per night for short lets, capped at €80 per person per stay (8 nights), and €8 / €64 for hotels, from 1 January 2027. The built-in definition switches once the legal notice is published.

> **Important:** Changes announced in a budget only apply once they are law. The platform operator updates the Malta definition when a new rate takes effect, with the date it starts — your bookings then use the right rate automatically.

## Zero tax (built in)

A ready-made definition that charges nothing. Useful for properties outside any tax area or while you check the local rules.

## Create your own definition (e.g. a Kurtaxe)

1. **Settings → Tourist taxes → + New tax definition**.
2. Name it (for example *Kurtaxe Westerland*), enter who receives it (*Gemeinde Sylt*), the country and the town.
3. Add one or more **rate periods**:
   - **Valid from / until** — add a new line when the rate changes; old bookings keep their rate.
   - **Basis** — *per person per night*, *per night (whole booking)*, *per stay*, or *% of the booking price*.
   - **Rate**, **Max nights** (0 = no cap), **Adult from age** (for example 16 or 18) and a **Child rate** (0 = children exempt).
4. Save, then assign it to the property under **Settings → Properties → Settings → Tourist tax**.

Seasonal rates (summer/winter) are simply several periods with *from* and *until* dates.

> **Important:** *% of the booking price* needs the booking's total price — imported from your channel or entered in **Edit booking**. Without a price nothing is charged, so check those bookings.

![Platform tax definitions (operator console)](/site/img/docs/d-admin-taxes.webp "Platform tax definitions (operator console)")

## Report

**Settings → Tourist taxes → Tourist tax report** sums up due, collected and absorbed (waived) amounts per definition for any date range, with a CSV download for your municipality or accountant.

## Frequently asked questions

### What if the guest corrects the number of adults at check-in?

More adults than booked: the tax goes up and the guest pays the difference. Fewer adults: the booked number still counts until you check it and correct the booking — so nobody can lower the tax by typing a smaller number.

### Can I charge the tax but show it under another name?

Yes. The guide editor's **Tourist tax text** controls what guests read; the definition's name appears on receipts and in reports.

### Who maintains the Malta rates?

The platform operator. Platform definitions are shared by all hosts, so one update keeps everyone correct.