Airline and hotel occupancy taxes and fees can run as high as 15 to 25 percent depending on the destination. To help taxpayers earn the greatest rewards bonus, Orbitz recommends booking packages to destinations with the highest taxes.
CHICAGO – Whether you're banking on a refund or preparing to pay up, one thing is certain: the 2018 tax season has been, well, taxing. In a recent online survey, 70 percent of respondents said they believe their tax return will be negatively impacted by tax law changes, and one in three say they're feeling more anxious about their refund this year as a result1.
That's why travel site Orbitz is matching taxes and fees2 on hotels or flight + hotel vacation packages booked at Orbitz.com/taxday on April 15. Travelers will receive Orbucks – travel dollars equivalent to $1 USD – for the amount they paid in taxes and fees at checkout, saving up to 25 percent.
"This tax season has been a tough one, with nearly 20 percent of taxpayers telling us they don't expect to see a refund at all this year due to tax reform changes," said Carey Malloy, director of brand and marketing at Orbitz brand. "Travel plans can be one of the first expenditures cut when people start to feel the pinch, so we're hoping to help people unwind from the stress of the season and still knock something off their bucket list."
Top Taxed Destinations
Airline and hotel occupancy taxes and fees can run as high as 15 to 25 percent depending on the destination. To help taxpayers earn the greatest rewards bonus, Orbitz recommends booking packages to destinations with the highest taxes.
International island hot spots in the British Virgin Islands and countries and cities in southeast Asia – India, Thailand, Singapore, Bali – have some of the highest overseas travel taxes. The Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Turks and Caicos have the highest taxes and fees of any destination on Orbitz.com3.
That Filing Feeling
Taxpayers are split on their strategies for dealing with tax season. Half of 18- to 24-year-olds (48 percent) said they still call their parents for advice before filing their return. Fifty percent of respondents report feeling so overwhelmed that they hire a tax professional to do it for them. And when faced with the decision between taxes or dentist, nearly half of taxpayers (47 percent) would rather get a tooth filled than file a return.
Tax Refund Real Talk
Taxpayers are taking their refunds to the bank this year. The majority of respondents said they plan to pay off debt or put their refund into savings (47 percent). At the same time, 18 percent said they expect to pay up due to tax reform changes this year. Just one-third of taxpayers said they were aware of the tax law changes, with 72 percent saying they heard about the changes via online news articles.
1 Report based on a survey conducted among 300 U.S. adults ages 18+ fielded between March 11 and March 13, 2019.
2 To be eligible for this Offer, you must be signed into your Orbitz Rewards member account at time of booking or, if you are not a member, join Orbitz Rewards at time of booking. On Monday, April 15, 2019 from 12:01 AM CT to 11:59 PM CT, book an eligible stand-alone hotel or hotel package (flight + hotel package only) on www.orbitz.com/lp/deals/taxday and receive Orbucks for the amount of taxes and fees paid at the time of booking ("Tax Day Orbucks") up to a maximum of $250USD. All taxes and fees that are paid for at the destination (i.e., resort fees or additional baggage fees collected at the airport) are not subject to this Offer. Limit one award of Tax Day Orbucks pursuant to this Offer per itinerary and per Orbitz Rewards account. Offer is non-transferable and not redeemable for cash. Tax Day Orbucks will be deposited into your Orbitz Rewards account within approximately 48 hours of booking. Tax Day Orbucks are promotional and expire if not redeemed within 60 days of issuance. If you cancel your eligible booking after the Tax Day Orbucks are deposited into your account, Orbitz reserves the right to remove the Tax Day Orbucks. Orbitz reserves the right to change or limit this Offer in its sole discretion. Usual booking terms and conditions apply (see https://www.orbitz.com/p/info-other/legal.htm) and all bookings are subject to availability. Orbitz Rewards Terms and Conditions apply (see http://www.orbitz.com/info/win?id=RewardsTerms).
3 Report based on taxes and fee data collected on Orbitz.com. Report current as of March 31, 2019.
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
