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Lyft, Uber, Airbnb and Municipalities: Maximizing Tax and Licensing Revenue Opportunities

Navigating Legal, Regulatory and Tax Issues in the Peer-to-Peer Economy

Note: CPE credit is not offered on this program

Recording of a 90-minute CLE webinar with Q&A

This program is included with the Strafford CLE Pass. Click for more information.
This program is included with the Strafford All-Access Pass. Click for more information.

Conducted on Thursday, April 18, 2019

Recorded event now available

or call 1-800-926-7926

This CLE course will help counsel to local governments face the challenges--and leverage the financial and control opportunities--presented by the rise of the "sharing economy." The panel will address the legal and regulatory issues raised by peer-to-peer businesses like Uber, Lyft, Airbnb and HomeAway. The panel will outline safety, zoning, competition and consumer protection issues, and provide perspectives on leveraging the revenue generating opportunities through taxation and regulatory fees.

Description

"The sharing economy" businesses, such as Uber, Lyft, Airbnb, HomeAway and others, continue exponential growth. Airbnb rooms available worldwide exceed that of the largest hotel businesses in the world, with over a million listings. Uber operates in 785 metropolitan areas worldwide and claims to be worth $50 billion. These companies represent unparalleled rapid growth for startup businesses in the peer-to-peer economy.

While consumers have eagerly embraced "disruptive businesses," municipalities face unprecedented challenges from companies offering services that cities currently regulate, license and tax, such as hotels and taxis. These industries allege the peer-to-peer businesses are anti-competitive because they don't pay the same taxes or licensing fees and aren't subject to zoning and safety regulations.

The sharing economy raises safety and zoning issues and threatens to deprive local governments of significant revenue. The New York State Attorney General estimates that New York City has lost out on $33 million in unpaid taxes from Airbnb rentals. And in some cities, home sharing threatens to reduce available rental housing stock and drive housing prices up.

Listen as our distinguished panel outlines strategies for local governments to face the challenges--and leverage the opportunities--presented by the rise of the sharing economy. The panel will explore the new revenue streams Uber, Airbnb and other peer-to-peer businesses offer, and discuss legal and regulatory issues and ways to balance the interests of local governments, residents, and traditional businesses and industries to profit in a 21st-century economy.

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Outline

  1. Overview of ride-sharing issues
  2. Overview of home-sharing issues
  3. Review of recent developments, cases
  4. Enforcing, drafting regulations and ordinances
  5. Strategies for recovering and maximizing revenue

Benefits

The panel will review these and other key issues:

  • How can local governments enforce existing tax codes to maximize revenue?
  • What code enforcement approaches are most useful for minimizing problems associated with short-term rentals?
  • What steps can municipalities take to ensure the safety of residents who use ride-sharing services?
  • Which cities have successfully adapted current regulatory regimes to fit emerging businesses--and how?

Faculty

Huerta, Jonathan
Jonathan M. Huerta

Atty
King Spry Herman Freund & Faul

Mr. Huerta concentrates his practice in the areas of litigation and education law.

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Stemler, Abbey
Abbey Stemler

Assistant Professor of Business Law and Ethics
Indiana University

Professor Stemler is a leading scholar on the sharing economy and has published multiple articles on the subject,...  |  Read More

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