California Sales Tax Calculator

California charges a 7.25% state sales tax rate. On top of that, local jurisdictions (counties, cities, special districts) add their own taxes, bringing the average combined rate to 8.82%. That means on a $1,000 purchase, you'd pay approximately $88.20 in sales tax for a total of $1088.20.

The California state rate of 7.25% applies uniformly across the state, but local surtaxes vary significantly by location. The average local rate across CA is 1.57%, but some cities and counties charge more or less than this average. This calculator uses the average local rate, but you can override it with your specific city rate for a more accurate calculation.

Good news: California exempts groceries, prescription drugs from state sales tax. However, clothing are still subject to sales tax in California. These exemptions can make a real difference in your annual spending, especially on groceries which are a recurring expense for every household.

Need to work backwards? If you have a total receipt and need to find the original price before tax, use the reverse sales tax formula: divide the total by (1 + tax rate). For example, a $1088.20 total with 8.82% tax means the original price was $1,000 ($1088.20 ÷ 1.882). This is useful for expense reports and bookkeeping.

Since the 2018 South Dakota v. Wayfair Supreme Court decision, online retailers must collect California sales tax on purchases shipped to CA residents. Most online purchases now include California sales tax based on the buyer's location, including any applicable local taxes.