Sales tax in Los Angeles is 9.5%, but the exact rate depends on which city you're in
Los Angeles County has a base sales tax of 9.5%, but that number shifts slightly depending on your location. The state of California sets a minimum of 7.25%. Los Angeles County adds a 0.25% tax on top of that. Then your specific city or district may add another 1% to 2.25% for local services like transit, homelessness programs, or parks. So when you buy something in downtown Los Angeles, you pay one rate; in Santa Monica, you pay another.
The difference matters most on large purchases. A $100 item costs $95 in tax at 9.5%, but $97 at 9.75% or $98 at 9.875%. Over a year of shopping, those fractions add up. If you live near a city border, knowing which side you're on can change what you actually pay.
Key Takeaways
- Los Angeles County's base rate is 9.5%, but rates range from 9.5% to 10.25% depending on which city you're shopping in.
- California sets the state minimum at 7.25%; Los Angeles County adds 0.25%; your city adds the rest.
- Online purchases to a Los Angeles address are taxed at the rate for that specific address, not the seller's location.
- You can find your exact local rate by entering your zip code on the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration website.
How the sales tax is built, layer by layer
Sales tax in California is stacked. The state collects 7.25% on every purchase. Los Angeles County then collects an additional 0.25%. Your city or special district collects between 1% and 2.25% more, depending on what local measures voters have approved.
This layering means two people shopping in the same county can pay different rates. Someone in Los Angeles city pays 9.5%. Someone in Long Beach pays 10.25% because Long Beach has approved additional local taxes. Someone in Pasadena pays 10.25% for the same reason. The variation is real and permanent—it reflects local ballot measures that fund specific services.
The county portion (0.25%) goes to county services. The city or district portion funds things like the Los Angeles Metro system, homelessness initiatives, or parks. When you see a sales tax rate, you're looking at the sum of all these layers combined.
Sales tax rates by major Los Angeles area cities
Here are the rates for some of the largest cities in the county. These rates change only when voters approve new local measures, which happens infrequently:
| City | Sales Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 9.5% |
| Long Beach | 10.25% |
| Pasadena | 10.25% |
| Santa Monica | 10.25% |
| Glendale | 9.5% |
| Torrance | 9.5% |
| Burbank | 10.25% |
| West Hollywood | 10.25% |
If your city is not listed here, you can find your exact rate by zip code on the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration website at cdtfa.ca.gov. Enter your zip code in the sales tax rate lookup tool, and it will show you the combined rate for your location.
What items are taxed and what are not
Most things you buy are taxed, but some are not. Groceries—fresh produce, meat, dairy, bread—are not taxed in California. Prepared food, restaurant meals, and hot food are taxed. Medicine you buy with a prescription is not taxed; over-the-counter medicine is taxed.
Clothing and shoes are taxed. Diapers and feminine hygiene products are taxed. Gasoline is taxed at the pump, but that tax is separate from sales tax—it's a state excise tax. Digital goods like e-books, streaming subscriptions, and software downloads are taxed. Services like haircuts and car repairs are taxed.
The rule is not always obvious. If you are unsure whether something will be taxed, ask the cashier or check your receipt. The receipt will show the tax amount and the taxable total separately.
How online purchases are taxed
When you order something online and have it shipped to a Los Angeles address, you pay sales tax at the rate for that address. The seller collects the tax based on where the item is being delivered, not where the seller is located. So if you order from a company in another state and have it sent to your home in Los Angeles, you pay Los Angeles sales tax.
This applies to most major retailers. Amazon, Walmart, Target, and other large sellers collect sales tax on orders shipped to California. Smaller sellers may not, depending on their sales volume and state agreements, but the trend is toward universal collection. If you do not see tax on your receipt, it may have been added at checkout or may be owed separately.
Digital goods—apps, e-books, streaming services—are taxed based on the billing address you provide, not the shipping address. If you live in Los Angeles but use a billing address in another state, the tax rate may differ.
When sales tax rates change
Sales tax rates in Los Angeles County change only when voters approve new local tax measures. This does not happen often. The last major change in the city of Los Angeles was in 2017, when voters approved Measure H, which added 0.5% to the sales tax to fund homelessness services. Before that, the rate had been 9.5%.
You can learn about a new measure is on the ballot by checking your city's website or the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder website before an election. Tax rate changes take effect on the date specified in the measure, usually the first day of a month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sales tax the same everywhere in Los Angeles?
No. The rate is 9.5% in some cities and 10.25% in others. It depends on which city you are in and what local tax measures that city has approved. Enter your zip code on the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration website to find your exact rate.
Why is sales tax higher in some cities than others?
Cities add local sales taxes when voters approve ballot measures to fund specific services. Long Beach, Santa Monica, and Burbank have higher rates because voters in those cities approved additional taxes for transit, parks, homelessness programs, or other local needs. Los Angeles city voters approved a 0.5% tax in 2017 for homelessness services.
Do I pay sales tax on groceries?
Fresh groceries like produce, meat, dairy, and bread are not taxed. Prepared food, hot food, and restaurant meals are taxed. If you are unsure whether an item is taxed, check your receipt—it will show the taxable amount separately.
Do I have to pay sales tax on online orders shipped to Los Angeles?
Yes. Most major online retailers collect sales tax based on the delivery address. If you order something shipped to Los Angeles, you pay the sales tax rate for your specific location in Los Angeles County.
What happens if a store does not charge me sales tax?
If a store fails to charge sales tax, that is an error on the store's part, not your responsibility. Keep your receipt. The store is required by law to collect and remit the tax. You do not owe it separately as a customer.