Food and Sales Tax 2020 in California

California sales tax details
The California state sales tax rate is 7.25%. This rate is made up of a base rate of 6%, plus California adds a mandatory local rate of 1.25% that goes directly to city and county tax officials. Depending on local sales tax jurisdictions, the total tax rate can be as high as 10.25%.

Food and prescription drugs are exempt from sales tax.

Amazon owns and operates a number of fulfillment centers in California. This physical presence, or nexus, creates a sales tax obligation for Amazon and many sellers participating in Amazon’s Seller Central and Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) programs.

Businesses with nexus in California are required to register with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) and to charge, collect, and remit the appropriate tax.

Generally, a business has nexus in California when it has a physical presence there, such as a retail store, warehouse, inventory, or the regular presence of traveling salespeople or representatives. However, out-of-state sellers can also establish nexus.

California state sales tax rate

California Sales Tax Rate Guide7.25%

Base state sales tax rate6.0%
Mandatory local rate1.25%
Local rate range0.15%–3%
Total rate range*7.25%–10.25%

* Due to varying local sales tax rates, we strongly recommend using our California sales tax calculator to determine the exact sales tax rate for your location.

 

 

 

 

California sales tax changes effective April 2019

The following sales tax rate changes are set to go into effect April 1, 2019 in California. For specific details including effective rate date changes, please refer to document L-595 from the California BOE.

City County Prior Rate Rate Change New Rate
Alameda Alameda County 9.250% 0.500% 9.750%
Angels Camp Calaveras County 7.250% 0.500% 7.750%
Antioch Contra Costa County 8.750% 0.500% 9.250%
Bakersfield Kern County 7.250% 1.000% 8.250%
Barstow San Bernardino County 7.750% 1.000% 8.750%
Burbank Los Angeles County 9.500% 0.750% 10.250%
Carpinteria Santa Barbara County 7.750% 1.250% 9.000%
Chowchilla Madera County 7.750% 1.000% 8.750%
Coalinga Fresno County 7.975% 1.000% 8.975%
Cotati Sonoma County 9.125% 0.125% 9.250%
Covina Los Angeles County 9.500% 0.750% 10.250%
Cudahy Los Angeles County 9.500% 0.750% 10.250%
Culver City Los Angeles County 10.000% 0.250% 10.250%
Fowler Fresno County 7.975% 1.000% 8.975%
Garden Grove Orange County 7.750% 1.000% 8.750%
Glendale Los Angeles County 9.500% 0.750% 10.250%
Healdsburg Sonoma County 8.625% 0.125% 8.750%
Hollister San Benito County 8.250% 1.000% 9.250%
Kerman Fresno County 7.975% 1.000% 8.975%
King City Monterey County 8.250% 0.500% 8.750%
La Puente Los Angeles County 9.500% 0.500% 10.000%
Lawndale Los Angeles County 9.500% 0.750% 10.250%
Lodi San Joaquin County 7.750% 0.500% 8.250%
Los Banos Merced County 8.250% 0.500% 8.750%
Los Gatos Santa Clara County 9.000% 0.125% 9.125%
Marina Monterey County 8.750% 0.500% 9.250%
Martinez Contra Costa County 8.750% 0.500% 9.250%
Murrieta Riverside County 7.750% 1.000% 8.750%
Norco Riverside County 7.750% 1.000% 8.750%
Oceanside San Diego County 7.750% 0.500% 8.250%
Oroville Butte County 7.250% 1.000% 8.250%
Pasadena Los Angeles County 9.500% 0.750% 10.250%
Placentia Orange County 7.750% 1.000% 8.750%
Pomona Los Angeles County 9.500% 0.750% 10.250%
Port Hueneme Ventura County 7.750% 1.000% 8.750%
Porterville Tulare County 8.250% 1.000% 9.250%
Redwood City San Mateo County 8.750% 0.500% 9.250%
Rohnert Park Sonoma County 8.625% 0.125% 8.750%
Roseville Placer County 7.250% 0.500% 7.750%
Sacramento Sacramento County 8.250% 0.500% 8.750%
San Juan Bautista San Benito County 8.000% 1.000% 9.000%
Santa Ana Orange County 7.750% 1.500% 9.250%
Santa Fe Springs Los Angeles County 9.500% 1.000% 10.500%
Santa Maria Santa Barbara County 8.000% 0.750% 8.750%
Santa Rosa Sonoma County 8.625% 0.375% 9.000%
Seal Beach Orange County 7.750% 1.000% 8.750%
Sebastopol Sonoma County 8.875% 0.125% 9.000%
Sonoma Sonoma County 8.625% 0.125% 8.750%
Wildomar Riverside County 7.750% 1.000% 8.750%

Source: Avalara (https://www.avalara.com/taxrates/en/state-rates/california/rate-changes.html)