D.C. officials on Tuesday announced plans to sue popular online hotel-booking firms such as Travelocity, Expedia and Priceline in order to recoup millions of dollars in unpaid taxes.

Taking a cue from destination municipalities as far away as San Diego and San Antonio, as well as nearby Montgomery and Arlington counties, Mayor Vincent C. Gray made the announcement at a time when the citys tourism industry, which pumps more than $5.2 billion a year into the District, begins warming up with the annual cherry blossom festivities.

The D.C. Superior Court complaint is similar to an estimated 200 lawsuits across the nation, which accuse leading online travel companies of basing their tax receipts on wholesale prices paid by the online booking agency — not the retail rate that guests actually pay. The practice has deprived the D.C. government of tens of millions of dollars.

Read the full Washington Times story, “D.C. to sue online firms for unpaid taxes.”

D.C. officials on Tuesday announced plans to sue popular online hotel-booking firms such as Travelocity, Expedia and Priceline in order to recoup millions of dollars in unpaid taxes.

Taking a cue from destination municipalities as far away as San Diego and San Antonio, as well as nearby Montgomery and Arlington counties, Mayor Vincent C. Gray made the announcement at a time when the citys tourism industry, which pumps more than $5.2 billion a year into the District, begins warming up with the annual cherry blossom festivities.

The D.C. Superior Court complaint is similar to an estimated 200 lawsuits across the nation, which accuse leading online travel companies of basing their tax receipts on wholesale prices paid by the online booking agency — not the retail rate that guests actually pay. The practice has deprived the D.C. government of tens of millions of dollars.

Read the full Washington Times story, “D.C. to sue online firms for unpaid taxes.”