Ashtabula County

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Short-Term Rental? 

A Short-Term Rental, also known as a vacation rental, is the rental of a legally-licensed dwelling unit for periods of less than 30 consecutive days per occurrence. A Short-Term Rental License is required prior to advertising and renting your property.

Who needs to apply for a Short-Term Rental License?

Any owner renting a property for a period of 30 consecutive days or less is required to apply for a Short-Term Rental Permit. It is the owner(s)' responsibility to know and comply with all ordinances, resolutions and regulations that apply to short term rentals within Ashtabula County.

When is the Lodging Tax due?

Lodging Tax payments are due monthly on the last day of the month following the end of the prior month. If there was no rental activity for the entire month, you are still required to submit the completed Lodging Tax form.

How is penalty and interest calculated on late payments?

PENALTIES: Delinquent payments incur a 10% penalty of the tax due. Add $100/month if 6 months late or more.

My village/township/city also charges a lodging tax. Can I pay both at the same place?

As of June 2022, you can complete and file combined reports for the county and Ashtabula City, Austinburg Township, Conneaut City, Geneva City, and Saybrook.

You must complete and file separate reports for the county and Geneva on the Lake and Harpersfield Township.

Do I also need to obtain a separate business license?

No. The STR Business License is all you need to begin advertising your rental and remitting taxes.

Does my short-term rental license apply to multiple properties?

No. You are only allowed to short-term rent one dwelling unit per license. An owner is permitted a maximum of one "whole home" rental and one "partial home" rental but each STR requires its own license. 

Do I have to display my license number?

Yes. The STR License number must all be posted in a conspicuous place within the short-term rental unit at all times. Your STR License PDF can be found in the Business Center by clicking your account name under "Manage Your Account(s)".

Is the County working with Airbnb?

No. Airbnb does not collect or remit lodgers' tax to Ashtabula County Ridge on behalf of property owners and/or authorized agents.

Is the County working with Vrbo?

No. Vrbo does not collect or remit lodgers' tax to Ashtabula County on behalf of property owners and/or authorized agents.

 Can I pay by credit card?

Yes! We are able to take Visa, Mastercard, Amex and Discover. Ashtabula county does assess a convenience fee.

Can I pay by e-check ?

Yes! You can select your e-check during checkout. In doing so, you authorize you bank to send the payment electronically to Ashtabula County. The County does not pull the money from your account, ever. 

I need to close my account. What do I do?

Please email Ashtabula County at cacoffield@ashtabulacounty.us. Please include the closure date and the reason you are closing the account.

How do I amend a return?

Please email cacoffield@ashtabulacounty.us letting us know you need to file an amended return. In the email please include:

1) What city the amendment is for along with your six digit license/account number, and owner name

2) Period you need to amend (i.e. January Return)

3) If you overpaid or underpaid your original form

4) Brief explanation as to why the form needs to be amended

Once we receive this email we will review your account and send you further instructions.

What types of assistance can GovOS provide to me?

GovOS can assist you with all your system and account questions. Whether you have a question about your account or technical questions about how to do something in GovOS, please reach out to our support team. We can always reach out to the County on your behalf if we need their assistance with one of your questions. You can reach GovOS at blt.str.support@govos.com and by phone at (888) 751-1911.

Where are my tax forms? My Action Center is empty. 

Your tax forms will be available on the 1st day of the month following the last day of the tax period. For example, the January taxes will be available on February 1^st. If you do not see the forms you expected, simply contact GovOS support for assistance.

Can I manage multiple properties with one login?

Yes - to do so, click Add accounts from your user login under Manage Your Account(s). You will need your 6 digit Account Number and the GovOS Activation Code to connect to an existing property record.

Can a property have more than one user?

Yes, each property can have an unlimited number of users. Each user is required to provide the 6 digit Account Number and the GovOS Activation code to be authorized to connect to an existing property record. 

I did not receive or I misplaced the letter with my activation code. What do I do?

Contact GovOS blt.str.support@govos.com or by phone at (888) 751-1911 for assistance. You will need to confirm account details to be verified for the account. To protect the security on property accounts, you will need written (e-mail) permission from a registered owner or officer of the property for us to provide you with a new activation code. 

Do I need to file a Zero File tax return through GovOS?

Yes, you must file a zero return. To file a zero tax form, select your tax form from your Action Center. Then, complete the required information on the remittance, including Gross Rents and any deductions. You will be prompted to confirm your desire to complete the return as a Zero File return.

What payment types are accepted by the County through GovOS?

The County accepts ACH Debit, or e-check as well as the following major credit cards: Visa, Mastercard, Amex and Discover. 

Can I schedule a payment in GovOS?

For your security, GovOS does not store any payment information in the system. You will need to enter your desired payment information each time you check out. 

How do I change the User on a Property?

All users need to register, just as you did, by going to the home page for that jurisdiction (i.e. https://ashtabulacounty.munirevs.com). They will click on the "Go" button under "New Users". They will also need the 6 digit account number and Activation Code for the property.

I forgot my password. What do I do? 

From the Log In page, click the "Forgot your password" link and follow the instructions that will be e-mailed to the User's registered e-mail address.

Do I have to login to GovOS to see my alerts and reminders?

No. All alerts are e-mailed to your authenticated e-mail address. When you login to the system, you will also see any open alerts that need to be addressed in your Action Center. 

For Assistance, Contact
 GovOS Support

blt.str.support@govos.com

(888) 751-1911

 When contacting support, be sure to include the jurisdiction (Ashtabula County) and your account number in all emails or voicemails. This will help us assist you as promptly as possible. Thanks!