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California sales tax: 7.25% statewide base plus district tax, with exempt groceries, separately stated delivery and reverse mode.
This calculator builds California sales tax from its two parts: the 7.25% statewide base rate — 6.00% state plus a 1.25% uniform local share made of the 1.00% Bradley-Burns tax and the 0.25% county transportation tax — and the district transactions and use tax voted at the delivery address, which pushes combined rates as high as about 10.75%. It separates exempt grocery food under Revenue & Taxation Code section 6359 and exempt separately stated common-carrier delivery under Regulation 1628 from the taxable base. Sellers, marketplace sellers shipping into California and buyers checking a receipt all get the same state, local and district split.
Open US Sales Tax Calculator California on AltFTool — it loads instantly in your browser.
Enter the values you already know.
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Read the result and use it in your planning or reporting.
Shows the 6.00% state, 1.25% local and district shares separately, which is how the CDTFA return is laid out.
Common-carrier delivery at actual cost stays exempt while handling is taxed, matching Regulation 1628.
Backs tax out of a tax-inclusive till total so taxable gross receipts are reported accurately.
The statewide base is 7.25%, the highest state-level base rate in the United States. District taxes add anywhere from 0.10% to roughly 3.5% on top, so combined rates run from 7.25% in areas with no district up to about 10.75% in parts of Alameda and Los Angeles counties.
Not when the goods go by common carrier, the delivery charge is stated separately on the invoice, and the charge is not more than your actual cost of delivery. If you mark shipping up, deliver in your own vehicle, or bill a combined shipping and handling line, the charge becomes taxable — Regulation 1628.
Cold food products for human consumption sold for off-premises use are exempt under RTC 6359 — groceries, in effect. Hot prepared food, carbonated soft drinks, alcohol, candy sold at restaurants and dine-in meals are taxable, and the 80-80 rule can make cold food taxable at some food-service businesses.
No. Unlike many states, California taxes the full selling price of the vehicle with no deduction for a trade-in allowance, so a $30,000 car with a $10,000 trade-in is still taxed on $30,000. Use tax is then collected by the DMV at registration; check with the DMV or a tax professional for your situation.
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