Back to Sales Tax Updates

California Sales Tax

On this page you will find handy sales and use tax information about California.

How to use this page:

We’ve pulled in the information from all our Charts for a consolidated view by state.  Here you can see the sales tax rates and if the state has remote seller nexus rules. You can also see any sales tax holidays or amnesty programs that may exist, though these do not apply to all states.

Below the chart you can find any News & Tip item we have published that relates to California that you can filter by topic. This will help you get informed on current and past legislation that has passed in the state.

State Sales Tax Rates
State Rate

7.250% Note that the true California state sales tax rate is 6%.  There is a statewide county tax of 1.25% and therefore, the lowest rate anywhere in California is 7.25%.  We have listed the combined state/county rate as the state rate to eliminate confusion.
Range of Local Rates

0% – 9.5%
Local Rates Apply to Use Tax

Yes
Remote Seller Nexus Rules
CLICK-THROUGH NEXUS

9/15/2012 – repealed effective 4/1/2019
AFFILIATE NEXUS

9/15/2012 – repealed effective 4/1/2019
ECONOMIC NEXUS

4/1/2019 – see state notice
MARKETPLACE NEXUS

10/1/2019
Sales Tax Amnesty
Status

Inactive

Amnesty Filing Dates

September 1, 2013 - December 2, 2013

Go to City of Los Angeles Amnesty Page
AMNESTY INCLUSION PERIODS

TAX TYPES AND CONDITIONS

The following City of Los Angeles Taxes: Business, Utility Users Taxes (Telephone, Electricity, Gas), Commercial Tenant’s Occupancy, Transient Occupancy, and Parking Occupancy Taxes.
AMNESTY BENEFITS

Waiver of penalties.

Status

Inactive

Amnesty Filing Dates

October 4, 2011 - October 3, 2012

Go to City of Los Angeles Amnesty Page
AMNESTY INCLUSION PERIODS

From October 4, 2011 through October 3, 2012, look-back period for prior City of Los Angeles Business Taxes is three years. Beginning October 4, 2012, the period is limited to five years.

TAX TYPES AND CONDITIONS

City of Los Angeles Business Tax.
AMNESTY BENEFITS

Penalties on late payment of taxes may be waived.

Status

Inactive

Amnesty Filing Dates

Voluntary registration with the CDTFA and filing by September 25, 2019

Go to California Amnesty Page
AMNESTY INCLUSION PERIODS

A “qualifying retailer” will not be assessed tax by the CDTFA on sales made prior to April 1, 2016 and will be relieved of penalties for sales made for the period April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2019.

TAX TYPES AND CONDITIONS

Sales and use tax. Effective June 27, 2019, a “qualifying retailer” meets all of the following conditions:

• The retailer is not registered or has not registered with the CDTFA prior to December 1, 2018
• The retailer had not filed sales or use tax returns or made sales or use tax payments prior to being contacted by the CDTFA
• The retailer voluntarily registers with the CDTFA, and by September 25, 2019, files completed tax returns for all tax reporting periods on and after April 1, 2016, and pays in full the taxes due or applies for an installment payment agreement, but only if final payment under the terms of the agreement is paid no later than December 31, 2021
• The retailer is or was engaged in business in California solely because the retailer used a marketplace facilitator to facilitate sales for delivery in California and the marketplace facilitator stored the retailer’s inventory in this state
AMNESTY BENEFITS

Limited lookback and waiver of penalties for sales made for the period April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2019.

Administration Information
Streamlined Sales Tax Status

Advisory State
NUMBER OF TAXING AUTHORITIES

323 Sales Tax Jurisdictions
HOME RULE AUTHORITIES

N/A
Sales Tax Sourcing (Intrastate)

Origin *California is mixed. State, county, and city taxes are based on the origin, but district taxes are based on the destination (the buyer)
Sales Tax Return Due Date

Last day of the month following the reporting period
Exemption Information
RESALE CERTIFICATE

California Resale Certificate
TYPES OF EXEMPTIONS

California has many exemptions and exclusions, they can best be classified by categories as follows: Necessities of Life (food, health and housing related); General Public Benefit (alternative energy, pollution control, veteran vendors, etc.); Industry Based (transportation, entertainment, petroleum, manufactured housing, leasing); Other (electric power generation & distribution; printed materials and sales messages; space flight, sales of certain food plants and seeds, and sales of prescription medicine, various others).

 

Entity types of exemptions: General Public Benefit (museums and public arts; nonprofit, religious & educational; veterans organizations); Other (sales to the US Government)

 

California Exemption Certificate Forms
History & Fun Facts
HISTORY

  • California has the highest presumed state-level sales tax rate, at 7.25 percent which is actually made up of a 6.25% state rate and a state-wide 1% county rate. In addition, some cities and many special purposes authorities can impose sales tax.
  • As of July 1, 2017, the California Board of Equalization transferred the bulk of its tax duties to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) and the Office of Tax Appeals.
FUN FACTS
  • Every quarter, the CDTFA posts the Top 500 Sales & Use Tax Delinquencies in California, including an interactive map. Please, don’t be shamed into compliance in this way.
  • Beware of California’s definition and taxation of “fixtures.” This creates a lot of audit issues for construction and service providers.
  • Some exemptions exist in an attempt to promote certain types of consumer choices. For example, there is an exemption for “fresh,” but not prepared, foodstuffs.

California Adopts New Regulations to Clarify Marketplace Facilitator Responsibilities

California has added language to its Code of Regulations to clarify which businesses have responsibilities under their marketplace facilitator laws.

CA Appeals Court Sides with CDTFA And Amazon in Sales Tax Issue

The California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District released a decision on January 9,2023, confirming the CDTFA had the legal discretion to hold third party sellers responsible for the sales tax due on sales made through Amazon.

State Notices & Resources for Remote Sellers

Use this state by state guide to find each state\’s initial guidance on how to proceed post-Wayfair, state resources such as FAQs, and any state activity such as going through a legislative process that impacts remote sellers.

California Court Dismisses Amazon Seller Lawsuit against California Department of Tax and Fee Administration

An e-commerce trade group’s attempt to stop California from pursuing back sales taxes from sellers with inventory housed at in-state Amazon fulfillment centers was dismissed.

Economic Nexus State by State Chart

Key information such as effective dates, thresholds, and includable sales for out-of-state sellers making sales into states that have enacted economic nexus legislation both before and after the South Dakota v. Wayfair Supreme Court decision.

California Imposes New Marketplace Facilitator Requirements

A new law has extended the California marketplace facilitator and marketplace seller requirements to incorporate California’s “Fee Collection Procedures Law.”

Sales Tax Nuances of Trade Show Attendance

Trade show attendance in another state can create physical nexus and trigger sales tax obligations. Learn key nuances of trade show rules across the states.

How the West Has Responded to Wayfair

A whirlwind of sales tax changes have swept across the Western region of the U.S. following the Wayfair decision.

California Limits Lookback Period for Certain Marketplace Sellers

California has enacted legislation that limits the lookback period for assessing sales and use tax on certain out-of-state marketplace sellers making sales into California.

California Enacts Marketplace Nexus Provisions, Changes Economic Nexus Threshold

California has enacted legislation with marketplace nexus provisions and a change to the state’s economic nexus threshold.

California to Enforce Remote Seller Tax Collection Requirements

California will require out-of-state retailers that exceed an economic threshold to collect use tax on sales into California, effective April 1, 2019.

House Introduces Online Sales Simplicity and Small Business Relief Act of 2018

On September 13, 2018, Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and additional U.S. House members introduced the Online Sales Simplicity and Small Business Relief Act of 2018.

Remote Seller Resources

Comprehensive list of resources for remote sellers following the South Dakota v. Wayfair Supreme Court decision – including state notices, videos, articles, training opportunities, and more.

U.S. Supreme Court Issues Decision In South Dakota v. Wayfair

On June 21, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in the South Dakota v. Wayfair case, ruling in favor of South Dakota and overturning Quill’s physical presence rule.

South Dakota v. Wayfair Analysis & Predictions: Sales Tax Experts Weigh-In

Sales tax experts lend their insight into and predictions for one of the most important U.S. Supreme Court decisions regarding sales tax in decades, South Dakota v. Wayfair.

Record Number of Sellers Participate in 2017 MTC Amnesty Program

The volume of applicants for the 2017 online marketplace seller tax amnesty program overwhelmed the Multistate Tax Commission.

Multistate Tax Commission Announces Tax Amnesty Program for Online Sellers

The MTC organized a tax amnesty program for online sellers, running from August 17 to November 1, 2017. The voluntary disclosure program allowed sellers to start remitting sales tax on future sales without penalty or liability for unpaid, prior accumulated sales tax in 25 participating states.

No Regulation Without Representation Act of 2017 Introduced

Under the proposed House bill, a state may tax or regulate a person’s activity in interstate commerce only when the person is physically present in the state during the period in which the tax or regulation is imposed.

Congress Introduces Marketplace Fairness Act of 2017 and Remote Transactions Parity Act of 2017

Introduced on April 27, 2017, the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2017, if enacted, would authorize states meeting certain requirements to require remote sellers that do not meet a small seller exception to collect their state and local sales and use taxes.

Online Sales Simplification Act of 2016 Discussion Draft is Introduced

The proposed legislation would implement a “hybrid origin” approach for remote sales. States could impose sales tax on remote sales if the origin state participates in a clearinghouse.

No Regulation Without Representation Act of 2016 Introduced

Taking the opposite approach of the Marketplace Fairness Act and Remote Transactions Parity Act, the proposed bill would limit the ability of states to require remote sellers to collect use tax. However, the bill failed to pass.

House Introduces Remote Transactions Parity Act of 2015

U.S. House of Representatives introduced the Remote Transactions Parity Act of 2015 on 06/15/15. More…

Senate Introduces Marketplace Fairness Act of 2015

On March 10, 2015, a bipartisan group of senators introduced the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2015.

Federal Government Introduces New Remote Seller Bill

The federal Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 was introduced in the House of Representatives and the Senate on February 14, 2013.