Sales tax by state · California
California Sales Tax Rate
The statewide sales tax in California is 7.25%, the highest statewide rate. With local taxes added, shoppers in Los Angeles pay 9.5%. Here’s how that compares nationally and what you pay in the state’s major cities.
- California state rate 7.25% statewide base rate
- National rank 1st of 51, highest first
- Los Angeles combined 9.5% state + local, ZIP 90012
- Tax on $100 $9.50 in Los Angeles
Sales tax in California
California charges a statewide sales tax of 7.25%, 2.23 percentage points above the 5.02% average across all states. Counties, cities and special districts can add their own taxes on top, so the total at the register is usually higher than the state rate.
Combined rates in California’s major cities
The combined rate for one downtown ZIP code in each city, broken down by who charges it:
| City | State | County | City | Special | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles 90012 | 7.25% | 0.25% | 0% | 2% | 9.5% |
| San Francisco 94102 | 7.25% | 0.25% | 0% | 1.125% | 8.625% |
What sales tax adds in Los Angeles
At the 9.5% combined rate in Los Angeles, sales tax adds:
For any other address in California, enter its ZIP code in the sales tax calculator to get the exact combined rate.
How California compares
Among all 51 states and DC, California’s 7.25% is the highest statewide rate. The average statewide rate is 5.02%, and the highest is California’s 7.25%, which includes California. See every state ranked on sales tax by state.
California sales tax — FAQ
What is the sales tax rate in California?
The statewide sales tax rate in California is 7.25%. That is the highest statewide rate and 2.23 percentage points above the 5.02% average across all states. Local taxes can add more depending on where you shop.
What is the sales tax in Los Angeles, California?
The combined sales tax rate in downtown Los Angeles (ZIP 90012) is 9.5%: 7.25% state, 0.25% county, 2% special district. Rates in other parts of the city can differ.
How do I calculate sales tax in California?
Multiply the price by the combined rate where you buy. In Los Angeles, a $100 purchase carries $9.50 in tax (9.5%), for $109.50 total. For any other location, enter the ZIP code in the sales tax calculator.
Is California's sales tax high compared with other states?
Among all 51 states and DC, California’s 7.25% is the highest statewide rate, 2.23 percentage points above the 5.02% average across all states. The highest is California’s 7.25%.
Rates as of September 2026. City rates are for one downtown ZIP code and can differ elsewhere in the city. California’s state rate: 6% state + 1.25% mandatory statewide local rate.
Data: State departments of revenue, via APIVerve. Our tables, charts and text are licensed CC BY 4.0: reuse them freely, including commercially, as long as you credit us. Cite as: Digest Your Finances, “Sales Tax by State”, https://digestyourfinances.com/studies/sales-tax-by-state/california/ — based on State departments of revenue. CC BY 4.0.
