State of California Sales Tax The 2012-2013 California State Sales Tax

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What is the 2013 California Sales Tax Rate?

California Sales Tax Rate

7.25%

2013 California state sales tax
Exact tax amount may vary for different items

The California sales tax rate is 7.25%, and the maximum CA sales tax after local surtaxes is 9.75%.

  • Groceries and prescription drugs are exempt from the California sales tax
  • Counties and cities can charge an additional local sales tax of up to 2.5%
  • California has 2558 special sales tax jurisdictions with local sales taxes in addition to the state sales tax
  • California has a higher state sales tax than 100% of states

California has one of the highest sales tax rates in the country, and had the highest for years until a tax reduction in July 2011. Cities and municipalities can charge an additional local sales tax (known as a "District Tax") on top of the California state sales tax, which means California residents can pay as much as 9.25% combined state and local sales tax on their purchases. The California sales tax is as high as it is, relative to the other states, as compensation for reduced property taxes in California (which were introduced by Proposition 13 in 1978).

The California sales tax applies to all sales of tangible goods, but does not apply to the sale of services. In addition to general sales tax exemptions for groceries and some prescription drugs, the sale of items such as livestock, some farm supplies, and alternative energy equipment may also be exempted from sales tax by specific legislation.

California has introduced several bills to help increase sales tax revenues, including a recent 2011 law passed to force large Internet retailers like Amazon.com to start collecting the California sales tax from their customers. The so-called "Amazon Tax" has been temporarily suspended as of September 2011, and Amazon is set to start collecting sales tax from California residents in September 2012.

The California Board of Equalization provides the following table detailing the allocation of sales tax revenues:

Rate Jurisdiction Purpose Authority
3.6875% State Goes to State's General Fund
 Revenue and Taxation Code Sections 6051, 6201
0.25% State Goes to State's General Fund
 Revenue and Taxation Code Sections 6051.3, 6201.3 (Inoperative 1/1/01 – 12/31/01)
0.25% State Goes to State's Fiscal Recovery Fund, to pay off Economic Recovery Bonds (2004) Revenue and Taxation Code Sections 6051.5, 6201.5 (Operative 7/1/04)
0.50% State Goes to Local Public Safety Fund to support local criminal justice activities (1993) Section 35, Article XIII, State Constitution
0.50% State Goes to Local Revenue Fund to support local health and social services programs (1991 Realignment) Revenue and Taxation Code Sections 6051.2, 6201.2
1.0625 State Goes to Local Revenue Fund 2011 Revenue and Taxation Code Sections 6051.15 and 6201.15
1.00% Local 0.25% Goes to county transportation funds
0.75% Goes to city or county operations		 Revenue and Taxation Code Section 7203.1 (Operative 7/1/04)
Total:      
7.25% State/Local Total California Base Sales and Use Tax Rate  

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California Sales Tax Exemptions

California doesn't collect sales tax on purchases of most prescription drugs and groceries. In most states, necessities such as groceries, clothes, and drugs are exempted from the sales tax or charged at a lower sales tax rate.

Some items may not be eligible for these reduced sales tax rates, such as expensive clothing, unhealthy food or drinks like soda, and certain non-essential pharmaceuticals. Other items including gasoline, alcohol, and cigarettes are subject to various California excise taxes in addition to the sales tax.

In some states, items like alcohol and prepared food (including restaurant meals and some premade supermarket items) are charged at a higher sales tax rate. The CA sales tax applicable to the sale of cars, boats, and real estate sales may also vary by jurisdiction. California's sales tax rates for commonly exempted items are as follows:

Groceries: EXEMPT Clothing: 7.25% Prepared Food: 7.25% Prescription Drugs: EXEMPT Non-Prescription Drugs: 7.25%
California sales tax for a restaurant meal
$100 Restaurant Dinner
 California sales tax for groceries
$100 of groceries
 California sales tax for clothing
$100 in clothes
 California sales tax for general consumer products
$100 of consumer products
$7.25 sales tax
$107.25 total 		$0.00 sales tax
$100.00 total 		$7.25 sales tax
$107.25 total 		$7.25 sales tax
$107.25 total

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California Sales Tax Exemption Certificate

Unlike a Value Added Tax (VAT), the California sales tax only applies to end consumers of the product. Individuals and companies who are purchasing goods for resale, improvement, or as raw materials can use a California Sales Tax Exemption Form to buy these goods tax-free.

Companies or individuals who wish to make a qualifying purchase tax-free must have a California state sales tax exemption certificate, which can be obtained from the California Franchise Tax Board. On making an exempt purchase, Exemption Certificate holders may submit a completed California Sales Tax Exemption Form to the vendor instead of paying sales tax.

Sales tax exemption forms (as well as business sales tax id applications, sales tax returns, and the full California sales tax code) can be downloaded from the California Franchise Tax Board's website.

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California Sales Tax Calculator

Sales Tax Calculator
Purchase Details:
$ in zip code Enter the zip code where the purchase was made for local sales tax

Whenever you make a purchase at a licensed California retailer, your sales tax will be automatically calculated and added to your bill. To lookup the sales tax due on any purchase, use our California sales tax calculator.

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California Use Tax [View Main Article]

If you buy goods and are not charged the California Sales Tax by the retailer, such as with online and out-of-state purchases, you are supposed to pay the 7.25% sales tax (less any foreign sales tax paid) for these items yourself as the California Use Tax.

Your are expected to voluntarily list your liable purchases on a California Use Tax Return, which should be attached with payment to your California Income Tax Return. Historically, compliance rates with with the California Use Tax have been low.

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California Local Sales Tax

California allows counties and cities to collect a maximum local sales tax of 2.50% on all non-exempt purchases within their jurisdiction. The local sales tax is collected in addition to the California sales tax of 7.25%, so the actual sales tax you pay on purchases in California may vary between 7.25% and 9.75% depending on which county or city the sale is made in.

You can find local sales tax rates on our list of California local sales taxes by county, city, and zip code, or you can lookup your local sales tax rates with our free California sales tax lookup tool. If you need to download California local sales tax rates, visit the California sales tax database download page.

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