When do I charge sales tax in California?
You need to charge sales tax in California if you have a sales tax nexus in the state.
A sales tax nexus means different things in different states. It can mean having a physical location (e.g. a brick and mortar store), or someone in the state working for you. For ecommerce it can also mean having an ‘affiliate’ or click through sales tax nexus.
To know for certain if you should be charging sales tax in California, check the California government sales tax website.
Which goods are exempt from sales tax in California?
Some goods are exempt from sales tax in California, for example medical supplies and most food items. You’ll also find California sales tax exemptions which can be applied because the seller or purchaser meets certain criteria.
For a full list of exemptions, check the California government tax website.
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California sales and use tax question
Take a day to read all the FAQs on how to properly charge tax in CA on the FTB website. It is complicated and everyone's situation is unique, meaning Reddit advice will likely steer you wrong.
Even if you are not turning a profit, the expense of a CPA will often help you get to profit quicker; it's also almost always a lot cheaper than paying penalties to FTB.
More on reddit.comEbay sales in California, the CDTFA, sales tax return, etc.
Help Needed: Sales Tax California
No. You are no longer under the remote seller nexus, as you have physical nexus. There is no exemption for small sellers if they have physical nexus.
More on reddit.comSales tax in Sacramento, CA 8.75%, NYC8.875%, Olathe 9.475%, Shawnee 9.5%% Wyandot 9.13
States keep lowering the income tax rate, so cities need to raise their sales tax rates to pay for local infrastructure projects that used to be paid for by the state. Plus, we need to pay local government workers a fair, competitive wage to convince them to work for government instead of private industry.
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