Why are these tax rate files free?

Avalara offers state sales tax rate files for free as an entry-level product for companies with basic tax calculation needs. For companies with more complicated tax rates or larger liability potential, we recommend automating calculation to increase accuracy and improve compliance.

How do I download the sales tax rate tables for a state?

Visit our state sales tax rate table download page Select all the states you'd like to download rate tables for (selected states appear in orange, unselected states appear in blue) Click Continue Fill out the form and click Download rate tables Click the link for each state to begin the download

What's the file format?

State tax rate downloads are provided in comma-separated values (CSV) files. They can be opened in a spreadsheet application such as Excel or Google Sheets for direct reference, or converted to a compatible format for uploading into your accounting, ERP, or ecommerce software. Note: Because the files are downloaded, they do not update automatically. We recommend downloading new tables at least once a month or automating your tax calculation process with a cloud-based solution .

What fields are provided in state sales tax rate files?

Each state sales tax rate file includes fields for: State, ZIP Code, Tax Region Name, Tax Region Code (Unique Identifier), Combined Rate (Total Sales Tax Rate), State Rate, County Rate, City Rate and Special Rate

Are all special taxing jurisdictions included in the Special Rate field?

Yes. Each additional taxing level beyond city, county, and state is included in the Special Rate field as a combined value. For additional taxing level information, please contact the Avalara support team .

How often are sales tax rates updated and how can I receive them?

Rates are updated at the end of each calendar month for the upcoming month. We recommend replacing tables with each update. To simplify the download process, sign up for an Avalara Community account, which enables you to save your selected states as part of your account.

Who do I contact with additional questions I have about state sales tax rates?

A tax professional can answer tax questions as they relate to your business. For information on automating rate calculations or other parts of the sales tax process, take a look at our compliance solutions .

Should I automate tax calculation?

Tax rates are incredibly difficult to track at scale. There are more than 13,000 sales and use tax jurisdictions in the United States alone, and each one is subject to ongoing rate and taxability updates. A solution like Avalara allows you to offload the process of researching and applying the tax rates and rules valid at the point of sale. Automation both improves your tax compliance and reduces the amount of time and effort you or your staff have to put into determining product taxability and rates.

California sales tax rates

Rates updated monthly

California sales tax range for 2024

7.25%–10.25%

Base state sales tax rate

6.0%

Mandatory local rate

1.25%

Local rate range*

0.15%–3%

Total rate range

7.25%–10.25%

*Rates are rounded to the nearest hundredth. Due to varying local sales tax rates, we strongly recommend our lookup and calculator tools on this page for the most accurate rates.

Sales tax rate lookup and sales tax item calculator

Look up the current rate for a specific address using the same geolocation technology that powers the Avalara AvaTax rate calculation engine.

Tax rates can vary within a county, a city, or even a ZIP code. Using a street address helps to ensure more accurate rates and calculations when compared to relying on broader geographic indicators.

*Rates are rounded to the nearest hundredth.

Enter your U.S. address to get the sales tax rate for your exact location

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California tax jurisdiction breakdown

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Automate your calculations

AvaTax offers street-level precision at the point of sale, eliminating the need to look up rates or maintain a database. Rate updates are pushed to your system automatically, based on the latest jurisdiction rules and regulations.

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Additional resources

All about sales tax

Tax calculation 101

Sales and use tax solutions

2024 rates for California cities and counties

Note: There can be variations within city and county lines. For more accurate rates, use the sales tax calculator.

City sales tax rates

Los Angeles San Diego San Jose San Francisco Fresno Sacramento Long Beach Oakland Bakersfield Anaheim Santa Ana Riverside Stockton Chula Vista Fremont Irvine San Bernardino Modesto Oxnard Fontana Moreno Valley Glendale Huntington Beach Santa Clarita Garden Grove Santa Rosa Oceanside Rancho Cucamonga Ontario

County sales tax rates

Alameda Alpine Amador Butte Calaveras Colusa Contra Costa Del Norte El Dorado Fresno Glenn Humboldt Imperial Inyo Kern Kings Lake Lassen Los Angeles Madera Marin Mariposa Mendocino Merced Modoc Mono Monterey Napa Nevada Orange Placer Plumas Riverside Sacramento San Benito San Bernardino San Diego San Francisco San Joaquin San Luis Obispo San Mateo Santa Barbara Santa Clara Santa Cruz Shasta Sierra Siskiyou Solano Sonoma Stanislaus Sutter Tehama Trinity Tulare Tuolumne Ventura Yolo Yuba

Download rate tables

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 sales tax guide

This free, online guide covers managing California sales tax compliance, including business registration, collecting tax returns, and state nexus obligations.

Visit the guide

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