Reconcile the stay to the settlement
Direct bookings and platform reservations can settle on different dates and carry different charges. We preserve the original booking details, amendments, cancellations, fees and payout reports. A tax withheld by a platform needs evidence of who collected and remitted it.
Alberta's tourism levy is a provincial obligation, separate from Calgary business licensing. The rate rose to 6% on April 1, 2026 with transition rules for earlier bookings and certain contracts. Do not replace all historical bookings with a single current-rate assumption.
Keep the property administration distinct
Calgary's current short-term rental licensing framework distinguishes primary from non-primary residences and requires a fire inspection before a licence is issued. Municipal licensing duration and provincial accommodation-tax exemptions are different tests. We retain relevant records without assuming a listing or platform account proves eligibility.
Illustrative example: spring bookings, summer stays
A Calgary host has summer reservations made on both sides of the April rate change. Keeping original booking timestamps and later amendments allows the tax reviewer to apply the transition rules. Matching the resulting guest balances to platform payouts then explains the difference between gross booking income and cash received.
Questions about this work
Will a booking platform handle every obligation?
No assumption should be made. Confirm the platform's role, which amounts it collects and what reporting remains with the operator, using the actual arrangement.
Can you confirm a property may operate as a short-term rental?
That requires the applicable City and other approvals. Bookkeeping support can organize records and costs but does not grant operating permission.
Put this into practice
Sources and current guidance
A practical next step
Bring the records you have.
We can identify missing information, agree on the scope and organize the next bookkeeping step.
Request a bookkeeping review