Vacation Rental Bookkeeping · Gulf Shores, AL
Your Rental Property.
Professionally Managed.
Tax-Ready.
Gulf Shores vacation rental and short-term rental owners have unique accounting needs. We know this market — because we live and work here too.
Why Vacation Rental Owners Need a Specialist
Short-term rental accounting
isn't like regular bookkeeping.
Gulf Shores is one of the top vacation rental markets in the Southeast — and the accounting is anything but simple. Are these questions keeping you up at night?
"Am I filing Alabama lodging tax correctly — and on time every month?"
"How do I reconcile what Airbnb and VRBO actually paid me versus what guests paid?"
"Which expenses can I deduct — and how do I handle the personal-use days?"
"My CPA doesn't understand short-term rental tax rules. Is there someone local who does?"
You need a CPA firm that understands both sides of your situation — the Gulf Shores rental market and the IRS rules that govern short-term rental income. That's exactly what Big Beach Books provides. We're local, we know this market, and we know the tax code that applies to it.
What We Handle For You
Everything your vacation rental
accounting requires.
From platform reconciliation to annual tax returns, we manage the full financial picture for Gulf Shores short-term rental owners.
Alabama Lodging Tax Filing
Gulf Shores and Baldwin County short-term rentals are subject to state, county, and local lodging taxes. We calculate, file, and pay these on your behalf — accurately and on time, every month.
Airbnb & VRBO Reconciliation
Rental platforms pay out net of their fees and taxes collected — which makes reconciliation tricky. We reconcile your platform payouts to gross rental income, fees, and taxes so your books are always accurate.
Rental Property Expense Tracking
We track and categorize every deductible expense — cleaning fees, supplies, maintenance, insurance, management fees, and more — so nothing is missed at tax time.
Personal vs. Rental Use Allocation
IRS rules on mixed personal and rental use are strict. We calculate the correct allocation of expenses based on your actual rental days so your deductions are maximized and defensible.
Schedule E & Tax Return Preparation
We prepare your annual rental property tax return (Schedule E or business return) with full knowledge of short-term rental passive activity rules, depreciation, and the Section 199A deduction where applicable.
Monthly Financial Reports
Know exactly how your rental is performing each month — revenue, expenses, net operating income, and occupancy-based trends — with clear monthly reports delivered through your secure client portal.
Why Local Beats National
National virtual firms don't know
Gulf Shores like we do.
National virtual bookkeeping firms target the short-term rental market, but they don't know Baldwin County lodging tax rules, local ordinances, or the seasonal revenue patterns of Gulf Shores properties. We do — because this is our community.
Local Baldwin County Knowledge
We understand Gulf Shores and Baldwin County lodging tax requirements, local rental regulations, and the seasonal patterns that drive your revenue — context no out-of-state firm can replicate.
A Real Person Who Knows Your Property
You'll work with a dedicated CPA who knows your property, your platform mix, and your goals. Not a ticket queue. Not a call center. A real professional who picks up the phone.
Secure Client Portal
Share documents, review reports, and communicate with your CPA securely from anywhere — ideal for rental owners who aren't always on-site in Gulf Shores.
Full-Service CPA Firm
Unlike bookkeeping-only services, we're a licensed CPA firm. We handle your taxes too — so your bookkeeper and your tax preparer are the same team, working from the same numbers.
Common Questions
Frequently asked
by rental property owners.
Yes — Alabama lodging tax (also called transient occupancy tax) is a separate monthly filing due to the state, Baldwin County, and the City of Gulf Shores. It is entirely separate from your federal and state income tax return. Many rental owners are surprised to learn all three layers apply. We handle all of it.
It depends on the specific tax and jurisdiction. Airbnb collects and remits some but not all lodging taxes in Alabama. VRBO's collection practices differ. We review your specific platform agreements and filing requirements so you're not double-paying or leaving gaps.
The IRS uses a specific formula to allocate expenses between personal and rental use based on the number of days in each category. If personal use exceeds 14 days or 10% of rental days, certain limitations apply. We calculate this precisely — getting it wrong is one of the most common audit triggers for rental property owners.
Yes, typically. Furniture and equipment may qualify for bonus depreciation or Section 179 expensing for immediate deduction. Structural improvements are depreciated over time. We identify the optimal treatment for every capital item so your deductions are maximized and properly documented.
Absolutely. We set up each property as a separate tracked entity in your books so you can see the performance of each one individually and in aggregate. Multi-property owners are some of our favorite clients to work with.
Yes. We've helped rental owners get current on late lodging tax filings without judgment. We'll assess what's owed, prepare the back filings, and get you on a clean monthly schedule going forward.
Own a Gulf Shores rental?
Let's get your books right.
Let's get your books right.
Book a free consultation with a local CPA who understands short-term rental accounting, Alabama lodging tax, and the Gulf Shores market. No obligation. No out-of-state call center.
Book a Free Consultation →
