California sales tax calculator
The California state sales tax rate is 7.25%. City, county and special-district taxes stack on top, so set the combined rate if you know it. The highest state-level rate in the country before local additions.
- Tax added
- 7.25
- Total for the quantity
- 107.25
- Price before tax, working backwards
- 100.00
- Tax inside a tax-inclusive price
- 7.25
- Tax as a share of the total
- 6.7599 %
- Multiply the net price by this
- 1.072 500
Show the working
- Price before tax = 100
- Sales tax rate = 7.25
- Or a price that already includes tax = 107.25
- Quantity = 1
- Tax added = 100 * 7.25 / 100 = 7.25
- Total with tax = 100 + 7.25 = 107.25
- Total for the quantity = 107.25 * 1 = 107.25
- Price before tax, working backwards = 107.25 / (1 + 7.25/100) = 100
- Tax inside a tax-inclusive price = 107.25 - 100 = 7.25
- Tax as a share of the total = 107.25 > 0 ? 7.25 / 107.25 * 100 : 0 = 6.759 91
- Multiply the net price by this = 1 + 7.25/100 = 1.0725
Values are shown to six significant figures here; the arithmetic itself runs on exact fractions and is only rounded where a number is printed.
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The formula
- tax = price x rate
- total = price x (1 + rate)
- to remove tax: net = gross / (1 + rate), never gross x (1 - rate)
Removing a tax is division, not subtraction. Taking 7.25% off a tax-inclusive price undercharges you every time.
Rates change and local additions vary by address. Treat the prefilled rate as a starting point and check the current combined rate for the exact jurisdiction.
The highest state-level rate in the country before local additions.
Frequently asked
What is the sales tax rate in California?
The state base rate is 7.25%, before any city, county or district additions.
How do I work out the price before tax?
Divide the tax-inclusive price by 1 plus the rate. At 7.25% that means dividing by 1.0725.
Where the numbers come from
- State base rates as published by state revenue departments; local additions are not included.