📺 Stream EntrepreneurTV for Free 📺

New York Takes Another Stab at Getting Airbnb User Info A day after a New York judge stalled a subpoena seeking data on Airbnb users, the state attorney general has filed a revised subpoena.

By Amy Langfield

entrepreneur daily

This story originally appeared on CNBC

One day after a New York judge stalled a subpoena seeking data on Airbnb users in New York, the state attorney general's office refiled the request with a slightly more narrow focus it hopes complies with the judge's ruling.

"Since the judge rejected all of AirBnb's arguments except for a narrow technical matter, our office has served the company with a new subpoena that addresses that issue," Matt Mittenthal, spokesman for Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, said in an email sent late Wednesday to CNBC. "The judge specifically found evidence that a 'substantial' number of Airbnb hosts may be violating the tax laws and the law that prohibits illegal hotels. The time has come for Airbnb to stop shielding hosts who may be violating a law that provides vital protections for building residents and tourists."

The peer-to-peer home rental site allows people around the world to rent out all or parts of their homes through its website. New York City law, the attorney general's office said in filings with the court, prohibits residents of multiple-dwelling buildings to rent out their apartments for any period of time less than 30 days unless they are also present in the apartment.

#insert RSS here#

While Schneiderman's office had asserted that about 15,000 users were likely in violation in New York, Airbnb last month said it voluntarily purged 2,000 inappropriate listings.

"The Airbnb community wants to pay New York more than $20 million in additional taxes this year, bring more travelers to the state, and support more jobs. And when we discovered that some people were abusing our platform, we removed them from our site altogether," the company said in a statement to CNBC on Thursday morning. "It is certainly disappointing that the Attorney General's office continues to demand private information about thousands of Airbnb hosts, so many of whom struggle every day just to make ends meet. We are reviewing this new demand, but remain eager to work with the Attorney General and we will continue to advocate for New Yorkers who simply want to share their homes."

Airbnb previously said it's willing to start collecting hotel-type taxes on behalf of its hosts if New York state law is modified to let it do the collection rather than require individual users handle the taxes. The total tax on a typical New York City hotel room is 14.75 percent plus $3.50 per room per night, according to NYC & Company, the city's official tourism group. Currently there are more than 500 hotels in the city.

Content Editor for CNBC

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Growing a Business

This Is the Overlooked Partnership You Need to Overhaul Your Growth Strategy

One beneficial relationship could make the difference when it comes to engaging more customers and lifting your company to new heights.

Devices

Working Late? This Charging Pad and Nightlight Combo is $60 Off.

Get your bedside table up to snuff with this clever device.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Marketing

How New Businesses Can Create a Content Marketing Strategy

Follow these steps to develop and execute an effective content marketing plan for your business.

Business News

James Clear Explains Why the 'Two Minute Rule' Is the Key to Long-Term Habit Building

The hardest step is usually the first one, he says. So make it short.