Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Avalara Buys Vacation Rental Tax Filing Provider, Links With HomeAway

Bainbridge Island, Washington-based Avalara is seeing a boost today in its sales tax software business, via a link with vacation rental marketplace operator HomeAway--thanks to a little known acquisition by Avalara made in February. HomeAway said this morning that it has launched a new, rental tax information center--and referral to automated rental tax filing from Avalara--via a new HotSpot Tax Center. That new center is being powered by vacation rental tax filing company HotSpot Tax, which was acquired by Avalara in February. Avalara says it is in the midst of renaming HotSpot Tax to become Avalara MyLodgeTax. The tie between Avalara and HomeAway comes at an opportune time for the companies, as local governments across the country have started scrutinizing vacation rentals being made through such sites as HomeAway and Airbnnb. The deal helps vacation rental operators stay compliant with the myriad of local vacation rental tax regulations.