Edinburgh's 5% Visitor Levy Now in Effect
The 5% tourism tax on the first 5 paid nights applies from 24 July 2026. Register on visitorlevy.scot, configure your booking system, and prepare your first quarterly return due October 2026.
Regulation Radar
Edinburgh’s 5% visitor levy on short-term lets is now in force from 24 July 2026, making Scotland’s capital the first UK city to operate a mandatory city-wide scheme. Hosts must collect the levy on the first 5 paid nights of every stay and remit it to the City of Edinburgh Council. Paid bookings made before 1 October 2025 are exempt. The council projects the levy will raise up to £50 million per year (City of Edinburgh Council, July 2026).
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Edinburghsweeping 1 marketssources checked Oct 8, 2026
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6 sources cited in this catch
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- industry
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