Town of Germantown

Town of Germantown

N7560 17^th Avenue, New Lisbon, WI 53950

608-562-5751

October 22, 2026

Dear Short Term Rental Owner/Manager:

The Town of Germantown has learned a great deal through the short-term rental and room tax ordinance processes.  Since learning is fluid, the town continues to be open and flexible, trying its best to be as helpful as possible.  Here is an update.  

On August 18^th the State of Wisconsin report was completed that implements the room tax here in the Town of Germantown. As a result, VRBO should have begun collecting room tax.  

AirBNB will begin automatically collecting room tax as of November 1.  Until then, owners/managers should manually collect the room tax until AirBNB begins collecting it for you. There may be a need for an accommodations tax registration number for the Town of Germantown.  For this number, please insert 29012. 

The town has also learned that due to some confusion with procedures, and issues including the possible need for the tax registration number, some owners may not have been able to comply with the collection start date of September 1.  The town understands and accepts that as a part of learning. Please be sure room tax is collected on all bookings going forward. 

To remind everyone, room tax reporting and due dates will be by calendar quarters: Quarter 1 is for collections received in Jan-Feb-Mar; Quarter 2 for Apr-May-Jun; Quarter 3 for Jul-Aug-Sep, and Quarter 4 for Oct-Nov-Dec.  Each quarterly report and payment will then be due to the town within 30 days of the end of the quarter.  The form is on the town’s website at www.townofgermantown.com under the Permits section.

In September, an Interim Tourism Commission was created (made up of the Town Board members and the Planning Commission members). The members decided on the creation of a new tourism entity to be known as the Town of Germantown Lakes Association or Corporation (depending on how the attorney suggests). In the future, a permanent board will be set. 

Once room taxes are collected, they will be split. Per state requirements 70% will go to the tourism entity to promote the area through projects and promotions. 30% will go to the Town of Germantown to support its budget.

To continue this process, the next meeting of the Interim Tourism Commission is tentatively scheduled for November 12th at 5:00 p.m. 

For those who have yet to apply for a short-term rental license with the Town of Germantown the deadline to do so has extended to November 1, 2026.  After that date, in accordance with town ordinance, a fee of $500 per day will be ticketed against your property.  Please use the enclosed application.

Town of Germantown Town Board and

Interim Tourism and Room Tax Committee