San Diego sales tax calculator
A Mission Valley shop pricing a $250 jacket and an Escondido shop checking a receipt need different rates. Pick the place of sale in the San Diego sales tax calculator, then add or remove tax.
Total with sales tax
- Price before tax
- Sales tax
- Total with tax
- California base rate
- San Diego County district tax
- City district tax
Rates operative October 1, 2026, from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) rate list.
How to calculate sales tax in San Diego
Multiply the price by the combined rate for the place of sale. CDTFA lists 7.75% to 8.75% across San Diego County as of October 1, 2026.
- 7.25% state base. California charges it everywhere in the state: 6.00% for the state and 1.25% for local governments.
- 0.50% county district tax. San Diego County adds this district tax, a local add-on to the state base, so sellers charge at least 7.75% on every taxable sale in the county.
- City district tax. Twelve cities add 0.50% to 1.00%, from El Cajon, Oceanside and Vista at 8.25% to eight cities at 8.75%. Sellers compare all 18 cities under San Diego sales tax rate.
To take tax out of a receipt total, divide the total by 1 plus the rate.
San Diego sales tax calculator examples
Two counter sales of taxable goods, at rates operative October 1, 2026:
- Vista bike shop, $1,500 e-bike: $1,500 × 8.25% = $123.75 in tax, for a $1,623.75 total
- Chula Vista receipt of $54.38: $54.38 ÷ 1.0875 = $50.00 before tax, so $4.38 of the receipt is tax
Which rate a San Diego seller charges
A store charges the rate where it does business, so a Carlsbad shop collects 7.75% from an El Cajon shopper at its counter.
Retailers engaged in business in a district, through a location there or over $500,000 in California sales this year or last, collect its rate on deliveries. CDTFA posts each street address's rate in its address lookup.
Dealers of vehicles and undocumented vessels, boats not documented with the U.S. Coast Guard, collect the district tax where the buyer registers them.
City of San Diego retailers of taxable goods need a CDTFA seller's permit and a San Diego business license, the City's Business Tax Certificate.