The issue is that the government failed to consult with the Bahamian real estate brokerages that specialize in vacation rentals prior to repealing the 10% hotel tax. The government failed to grasp the fact that foreign homeowners could not obtain a business license (they are foreign), could not obtain an N.I.B. employer number (because they are foreign) etc. etc. and therefore, when V.A.T. was implemented the second homeowners could not register for V.A.T. now the government (after years) has somewhat rectified the situation but it is too late... It is a catch me if you can attitude. Most rental homes do not generate over $100,000 in gross annual income and therefore are not obligated to register for V.A.T. and those that do choose to rent their houses with offshore brokerages and rental companies; which means The Bahamas does not collect one red cent of tax (really how is the government proposing to "police" this?) In last weeks Tribune the government admitted to losing over 85 million dollars with the repeal of the hotel tax. At least with the hotel tax every single rental was taxed and not just those houses that make over $100,000 in income. @ alfalfa believe me the realtors make nothing from Airbnb, V.R.B.O., etc. they are direct competition to law abiding Bahamian brokerages who pay their V.A.T. and undercut Bahamians every chance they get (because they are not obligated to pay V.A.T.). The government has allowed this to become the wild west and is losing millions of dollars (by their own admission) in revenue.