Okaloosa County, FL (Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa Island): short-term rental tax and permit guide
Last checked Oct 26, 2026 from official sources. Not tax advice.
Own a rental in Okaloosa County, FL? See in two minutes what you owe and whether your platform already pays it. Free, private, no sign-up.
Check my countyReserve a founding place| Lodging tax | 6% countywide (Ord. 25-03), plus FL state sales tax + surtax (Okaloosa County Tourist Development Tax) |
|---|---|
| Does Airbnb collect it? | No. The Clerk says Okaloosa is "NOT contracted with ANY platform" (Airbnb, HomeAway, Vrbo). Okaloosa is not on Airbnb's Florida list. The old DOR collection contract ended Dec 31, 2021. |
| Who files | The person receiving the rent, remitting to the Okaloosa Clerk of Circuit Court. |
| How often / due | Monthly, due the 1st, delinquent if not postmarked by the 20th. Quarterly allowed for small accounts (Clerk: quarterly tax not over $250; FAQ: $1,000/yr or less). |
| Zero returns? | Yes, a return is due even with no rentals. |
| Late penalty | 10% of tax or $50, whichever is greater, plus daily interest; allowance lost. |
| Registration / permit | No county STR registration found on myokaloosa.gov (it lists DBPR license + TDT only). City of Destin annual STR registration $500/$600/$700 by size, late fees $100 after Mar 31, $500 after Jun 1 (cityofdestin.com FAQ, from Oct 25 research). State DBPR license required. |
| Other fees / rules | Online filers keep 2.5% of the first $1,200 of tax (max $30). No cash. Managers must report gross, exempt and taxable amounts per unit. |
| Where to file | okaloosatouristtax.munirevs.com (GovOS) |
Common mistakes
- Trusting third-party claims that Airbnb collects Okaloosa TDT. The Clerk says no.
- Filing by mail and losing the allowance.
- Destin owners forgetting the separate city registration.
Sources
- Okaloosa Clerk, TDT (fetched Oct 26, 2026)
- Okaloosa Clerk TDT FAQ (fetched Oct 26, 2026)
- Ordinance 25-03 (fetched Oct 26, 2026)
- Okaloosa County STR info (fetched Oct 26, 2026)
- Airbnb Help 2301 (fetched Oct 26, 2026)
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