California Sales Tax Calculator (2026)
The California sales tax rate is 7.25% at the state level. Adding the 1.74% average local rate gives a combined 8.99%. On a $100 purchase that is about $8.99 in tax, for $108.99 total. Enter any amount below.
What is the California sales tax rate in 2026?
The California state rate is 7.25%. With an average local rate of 1.74%, the combined average is 8.99%.
How much tax on a $100 purchase?
About $8.99 at the combined 8.99% rate. Your $100 item costs roughly $108.99.
Where does California rank nationally?
California ranks #7 of 47 taxing states by combined rate. That is 1.46% above the 7.53% US average.
Are local rates included?
Yes. This calculator uses the state rate plus the population-weighted average local rate. Your exact city or county rate may differ.
How does sales tax work in California?
California charges a 7.25% state sales tax on most retail goods. Many cities and counties add a local tax on top. The population-weighted average local rate is 1.74%.
That brings the typical combined rate to 8.99%. Your real rate depends on the exact city or county. The calculator above uses the state plus average local rate.
What does California sales tax cost on common purchases?
| Purchase | State (7.25%) | Avg local (1.74%) | Total tax | You pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | $7.25 | $1.74 | $8.99 | $108.99 |
| $1,000 | $72.50 | $17.40 | $89.90 | $1,089.90 |
| $30,000 car | $2,175.00 | $522.00 | $2,697.00 | $32,697.00 |
How do you calculate California sales tax by hand?
- Take the pre-tax price of your item.
- Multiply it by the combined rate of 8.99% (7.25% state + 1.74% local).
- Add that tax to the price to get your total.
- To reverse it, divide the total by 1.0899.
How is car and vehicle sales tax handled in California?
Vehicles are generally taxed at the same 8.99% combined rate, applied to the purchase price. A $30,000 car costs about $2,697.00 in tax. Trade-in credits and county rules can change the figure.
How do you remove sales tax from a total (reverse calculation)?
Switch the calculator to reverse mode. It divides the tax-included total by 1.0899 to recover the pre-tax price. This is how you find the base price on a receipt.