SACRAMENTO – George Runner today announced a new
Board of Equalization heat map showing varying sales tax rates across California.
“California
has more than two hundred sales tax rate jurisdictions, which can be
confusing for taxpayers,” said Runner. “Our new map provides a picture
of these rates and should serve as a
helpful visual aid for taxpayers.”
The map complements the Board’s
tax rate lookup tool
that enables taxpayers to find a sales tax rate for a specific address.
“It’s
important to know the correct tax rates to make sure you’re not being
overcharged,” said Runner. “In some parts of California you’ll pay 7.5
percent on purchases while in some cities
you will be charged up to 10 percent.”
Only cities and counties can impose a higher local sales tax. Legislation on the Governor’s desk (AB
2119) could allow voters to extend higher city tax rates to unincorporated portions of counties.
The
highest sales tax rate of 10% can be found in the incorporated cities
of La Mirada, Pico Rivera and South Gate located in Los Angeles County.
Taxpayers
who believe they have been charged an incorrect rate should contact the
retailer to request a refund. In addition, they can report the
incorrect charge to the Board of Equalization
by calling 1-800-400-7115.
More information on California sales tax, including the latest county and city rates, is available at
boe.ca.gov/knowyourrate.
Elected
in November 2010, George Runner represents more than nine million
Californians as a member of the State Board of Equalization. For more
information, visit
www.boe.ca.gov/Runner.