More than $32.1 million collected — that’s a wrap on Manatee County’s 2024-25 bed tax.
The Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office reported Nov. 3 collecting $32,180,502 in tourist development taxes in 2024-25 compared with $30,540,104 in 2023-24 and $30.8 million in 2022-23.
The tourist development tax or bed tax is levied on accommodations of six months or less in the county.
In January, following a referendum in 2024, the tax rate was raised from 5% to 6%. So, in the first quarter of the fiscal year, which began Oct. 1, the tax rate was 5% and, the remainder of the year, it was 6%.
The tax collector also released tax revenue numbers for September, the final month in the 2024-25 fiscal year.
For September, the tax collector reported $1,673,914 in taxes. That’s a 66.5% increase from the $1,005,355 recorded in September 2024, when two storms — Debby in August and Helene in September — impacted revenues. Also, the tax rate back then was 5%.
Historically, unincorporated Manatee County and Holmes Beach top the collection of TDT dollars and that trend held in September. Unincorporated Manatee accommodations yielded $675,101 or 40.33% of the earnings pie, while Holmes Beach accommodations generated $367,727 in tax dollars or 21.97%.
Anna Maria sleepovers produced $248,705 or 14.86% and Bradenton Beach accommodations generated $80,480 or 4.81%.
Bradenton generated $183,880 or 10.98%, Longboat Key generated $80,700 or 4.83% and Palmetto produced $37,402 or 2.23%.
Minus the 3% fee for the tax collector’s office, the net amount in September was $1,623,697.
The bed tax dollars do not go directly to the county of the municipalities where the accommodations generating the taxes are located, but instead go into a money pot to get portioned out by the county board of commissioners with advice from the tourist development council.
Per state law, the tax dollars must be used to drive tourism-bolstering initiatives and locally they have funded beach renourishment projects on the island, as well as reconstruction of the Anna Maria City Pier and the commissioning of boats for the ferry service.
Bed tax dollars also support the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Bradenton Area Convention Center, Realize Bradenton and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
October tax revenues will be released in early December.
The next TDC meeting will be at 9 a.m. Monday, Dec. 15, at the county administration building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.
Did you know?
The total tax on tourist accommodations in Manatee County is 13%, including:
- The Manatee County Tourist Development Tax is 6%. The tax is remitted directly to the Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office. The rate increased from 5% on Jan. 1.
- The Florida Sales and Use Tax is 7%. This is the state portion of the total tax, which includes a 1% county surtax. It is remitted to the Florida Department of Revenue.
Property owners or managers are responsible for collecting both portions of the tax.
September 2021: $1,400,018
September 2022: $1,543,920
September 2023: $1,495,995
September 2024: $1,005,355
September 2025: $1,673,914
Source: Manatee County Tax Collector