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California Businesses:

How to Identify and Report

California Use Tax Due



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California Businesses:  
How to Identify and Report  California Use Tax Due

This publication explains how to examine your records to establish the use tax due on your purchases of physical 
merchandise (for example, supplies, furniture, fixtures, and equipment) from out-of-state sellers. If your business 
purchases items for use, storage, or consumption in California from a seller located outside California that does not collect 
and report the California use tax, you may owe California use tax. The use tax rate is the same as your local sales tax rate.
The use tax is intended to protect California sellers who otherwise would be at a competitive disadvantage when 
out-of-state sellers make sales of physical products to California customers without charging tax. The use tax also assures 
that all businesses in the state contribute fairly to the funding of state and local programs whether they choose to make 
purchases in California or outside the state.

When do you owe use tax on your purchases from out-of-state vendors?
In general, you owe California use tax when you 
purchase physical merchandise from out-of-state 
sellers for use, storage, or consumption in California. 
If the out-of-state seller does not collect and report 
the California use tax on your purchase, then you 
must pay the use tax directly to us, the California 
Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA).
If an out-of-state seller charges you California tax, you 
should obtain a receipt. The receipt must describe the 
item and show the purchase amount, the tax amount, 
the seller’s name, address, and California seller’s 
permit number (or use tax registration number), and 
your name and address.
While out-of-state sellers often apply tax at the 
statewide rate (currently 7.25 percent), you are liable for use tax at the full rate in effect at the California location where 
you will first use the merchandise. When that location is within a special tax district, the full tax rate in effect for the 
district applies (statewide tax rate + district tax rate[s]). If the seller charged you tax at a rate lower than the rate in 
effect for your location, you owe the remaining use tax. For information about tax rates in specific areas, please see 
California City and County Sales and Use Tax Rates. 

How do you review your purchase invoices for California use tax due?
Generally, if sales tax would apply when you buy physical merchandise in California, use tax applies when you make a 
similar purchase from a business located outside the state.
Examine your purchase invoices from out-of-state retailers in detail to make sure the retailer collected California use tax 
when it was due and that it was the correct amount (see previous section). Review of the general ledger asset accounts and 
Federal Income Tax Return depreciation schedules may assist you in identifying purchases that may be subject to use tax.
The California use tax is generally the liability of the purchaser and must be paid either directly to us or to the seller from 
whom the physical merchandise was purchased, if such seller holds a seller’s permit or a Certificate of Registration—Use 
Tax. If you do not hold a permit or have an account with us for paying your use tax, you may report and pay use tax to the 
Franchise Tax Board (FTB) on your California income tax return.
If you believe that the out-of-state seller may have paid use tax on your purchase, thereby relieving you of responsibility 
for all or part of your California use tax liability, you may contact your out-of-state seller to verify their tax payment to us.

                      OCTOBER 2020   | CALIFORNIA BUSINESSES: HOW TO IDENTIFY AND REPORT CALIFORNIA USE TAX DUE                  1



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Are “Shipping and Handling” charges subject to California use tax?
Shipping charges are generally exempt from tax provided they are:
 1.  For delivery directly to the purchaser by common carrier, contract carrier, or U.S. Mail;
 2.  The invoice clearly lists delivery, shipping, freight, or postage as a separate charge; and
 3.  The charge is not higher than the actual cost for delivery.*
*To verify the actual shipping costs you should contact the seller. Without evidence of the actual cost, the consumer must 
pay use tax on the entire shipping charge related to the purchase of a taxable item.
If any of the three requirements are not met, the shipping charge is generally taxable. If “handling” is charged with 
shipping, the handling portion of the charge is subject to tax. Tax does not apply to charges for shipping and handling 
associated with nontaxable sales, for example, sales for resale (publication 100,Shipping         and Delivery Charges.)

How do I pay the California use tax?
 •  California seller’s permit
        If you hold a seller’s permit, you must pay use tax due when filing your sales and use tax return. You must enter 
        the amount of your purchase(s) under “purchases subject to use tax” on the return for the period that includes the 
        date when you first used, stored, or consumed the item in California. When you receive your seller’s permit, we will 
        instruct you to file your tax return either on a quarterly or quarterly prepay basis. Your tax return and payment are 
        due after the close of each reporting period. For example, if you are on a quarterly reporting basis, the reporting 
        period for the first quarter closes on March 31, your tax return and payment are due on April 30, the last day of the 
        following month.
 •  Required registration to report use tax
        California law requires a “qualified purchaser” to register with us and annually report and pay use tax 
        directly to us. You can register on our website at www.cdtfa.ca.gov, by selecting Register, and then select 
        Business Activity or Location under the title, Register or Apply for a New. You can also register to report use tax in 
        person at any of our offices. A qualified purchaser includes any business with at least $100,000 in annual gross 
        receipts from business operations. Gross receipts are the total of all receipts from both in-state and out-of-state 
        business operations. A qualified purchaser is required to file a return, and report and pay use tax on the total 
        purchase price of tangible merchandise that is subject to use tax during the preceding calendar year, and for which 
        tax was not paid to a retailer required to collect the use tax. The return along with payment is due by April 15 of the 
        following calendar year. For example, the return for 2013, along with the payment, is due by April 15, 2014. 
        For additional information, seepublication 126,Mandatory             Use Tax Registration for Service Enterprises.
 •  California income tax return
        If you do not hold a permit with us for paying your use tax as described above, you may report and pay use tax to 
        the FTB on your California income tax return. A Use Tax Table is included with the instructions for the FTB income 
        tax return; it is a tool to assist you in reporting use tax when filing your annual income tax return. The Use Tax Table 
        is only used for personal purchases less than $1,000, not for business purchases. Business purchases subject to use 
        tax should be reported using actual business purchase receipts. The due date for use tax is the same as the due 
        date for your state income tax return. The date the use tax liability was incurred must be within the tax year being 
        reported on your state income tax return. The FTB will forward the use tax collected to us. If you are a qualified 
        purchaser you are required to register with us to report and pay use tax. 
 •  Consumer use tax account
        If you make frequent taxable purchases from out-of-state sellers and are not required to register for a use tax 
        account as a qualified purchaser, you may register with us and obtain a consumer use tax account to report your 
        purchases subject to use tax. You can register on our website at www.cdtfa.ca.gov, by selecting Register, and then 
        select Business Activity or Location under the title, Register or Apply for a New. Once you have registered, you may 
        pay any use tax due by filing your return. You can also register to report use tax in person at any of our offices.

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We will give you an account number and instruct you to file your return either quarterly or quarterly prepay basis. 
Your tax return and payment are due after the close of each reporting period. For example, if you are on a quarterly 
reporting basis, the reporting period for the first quarter closes on March 31, your tax return and payment are due 
on April 30, the last day of the following month.
•  Vehicles, vessels, and aircraft
Special rules and reporting requirements apply to these purchases. Please see Regulation 1610, Vehicles, Vessels, 
and Aircraft and the following publications:
• Publication 52,Vehicles      and Vessels: Use Tax
• Publication 79,Documented        Vessels and California Tax
• Publication 79A,Aircraft     and California Tax
•  Purchase subject to use tax on one-time purchase 
If you do not have a seller’s permit and are not required to register for a use tax account as a qualified 
purchaser, you can report your purchase(s) subject to use tax on our website at www.cdtfa.ca.gov by selecting 
 Make a Payment or Prepayment, and then select Pay use tax for one time purchases from out-of-state retailer. Once 
you have registered, you can pay any use tax due by filing your return. You can also register to report use tax 
in person at any of our offices. Use tax is due on purchases made prior to 2012 by January 31, of the following 
calendar year. Use tax is due on your purchase(s) made after January 1, 2012, by April 15 of the following calendar 
year in which you first purchased and used the property in California. Penalty and interest applies to payments 
received after the due date. Please contact our Customer Service Center for assistance at 1-800-400-7115 (CRS:711).  

Are there any additional taxes or fees that are due on my purchases?
In addition to sales and use tax, as a consumer, you generally owe additional taxes or fees when you purchase: tires, 
lead-acid batteries, cigarette and tobacco products, lumber products, covered electronic devices (for example, laptops, 
monitors, tablets), or prepaid phones and cards (Prepaid Mobile Telephony Services (MTS)) from an out-of-state seller. If 
an out-of-state seller does not collect and report the tax or fee on your purchase, you must generally pay the additional 
taxes or fees directly to us. 

How do I pay the additional taxes or fees?
If you purchased tires, lead-acid batteries, cigarette and tobacco products, or covered electronic devices, you are required 
to register for an account, file a return and pay the applicable tax or fee for the purchase of tires, lead-acid batteries, 
cigarette and tobacco products or covered electronic devices. You can register on our website at www.cdtfa.ca.gov, 
by selecting Register, and then select 
Business Activity or Location. You can also 
register at any of our offices.
If you purchased Lumber products or prepaid 
MTS, you may make a one-time payment of 
the amount owed. For additional information 
on how to pay, you may visit our website at 
onlineservices.cdtfa.ca.gov. 
The tax and fee rates on specific products may 
be found on our website at www.cdtfa.ca.gov 
by selecting Tax and Fee Rates, and then select 
Special Taxes and Fees Rates.

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 For More Information

For additional information or assistance, please take advantage of the resources listed below.

                                                                                             INTERNET
                                                                                    www.cdtfa.ca.gov
        CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER                    You can visit our website for additional information—such as laws, regulations, 
           1-800-400-7115                          forms, publications, industry guides, and policy manuals—that will help you 
                   CRS:711                         understand how the law applies to your business.
 Customer service representatives are              You can also verify seller’s permit numbers on our website (see 
  available Monday through Friday from             Verify a Permit, License, or Account) or call our automated verification service at 
 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Pacific time), except     1-888-225-5263.
 state holidays. In addition to  English,          Multilingual versions of publications are available on our website at www.cdtfa.ca.gov.
 assistance is available in other languages.       Another good resource—especially for starting businesses—is the California Tax 
                                                   Service Center at www.taxes.ca.gov.
                   OFFICES
                                                                             TAX INFORMATION BULLETIN
 City                Telephone Number
                                                   The quarterly Tax Information Bulletin (TIB) includes articles on the application 
 Bakersfield                   1-661-395-2880      of law to specific types of transactions, announcements about new and revised 
 Cerritos                      1-562-356-1102      publications, and other articles of interest. You can find current TIBs on our website 
                                                   at www.cdtfa.ca.gov/taxes-and-fees/tax-bulletins.htm. Sign up for our CDTFA updates 
 Culver City                   1-310-342-1000      email list and receive notification when the latest issue of the TIB has been posted to 
 El Centro                     1-760-352-3431      our website.
 Fairfield                     1-707-862-3501                                FREE CLASSES AND SEMINARS
 Fresno                        1-559-440-5330      We offer free online basic sales and use tax classes including a tutorial on how to 
 Glendale                      1-818-543-4900      file your tax returns. Some classes are offered in multiple languages. If you would 
                                                   like further information on specific classes, please call your local office.
 Irvine                        1-949-440-3473
 Oakland                       1-510-622-4100                                       WRITTEN TAX ADVICE
 Rancho Mirage                 1-760-770-4828      For your protection, it is best to get tax advice in writing. You may be relieved of tax, 
                                                   penalty, or interest charges that are due on a transaction if we determine that we 
 Redding                       1-530-224-4729      gave you incorrect written advice regarding the transaction and that you reasonably 
 Riverside                     1-951-680-6400      relied on that advice in failing to pay the proper amount of tax. For this relief to 
 Sacramento                    1-916-227-6700      apply, a request for advice must be in writing, identify the taxpayer to whom the 
                                                   advice applies, and fully describe the facts and circumstances of the transaction.
 Salinas                       1-831-754-4500
                                                   For written advice on general tax and fee information, please visit our website at  
 San Diego                     1-858-385-4700      www.cdtfa.ca.gov/email to email your request. 
 San Francisco                 1-415-356-6600      You may also send your request in a letter. For general sales and use tax information, 
 San Jose                      1-408-277-1231      including the California Lumber Products Assessment, or Prepaid Mobile Telephony 
                                                   Services (MTS) Surcharge, send your request to: Audit and Information Section, 
 Santa Clarita                 1-661-222-6000
                                                   MIC:44, California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, P.O. Box 942879, 
 Santa Rosa                    1-707-890-6267      Sacramento, CA 94279-0044.
 Ventura                       1-805-856-3901      For written advice on all other special tax and fee programs, send your request 
 West Covina                   1-626-671-3702      to:  Program Administration Branch, MIC:31, California Department of Tax and Fee 
                                                   Administration, P.O. Box 942879, Sacramento, CA 94279-0031.
 Out-of-State Offices
                                                                             TAXPAYERS’ RIGHTS ADVOCATE
 Chicago, IL                   1-312-201-5300
                                                   If you would like to know more about your rights as a taxpayer or if you have not 
 Houston, TX                   1-713-739-3900      been able to resolve a problem through normal channels (for example, by speaking 
 New York, NY                  1-212-697-4680      to a supervisor), please see publication 70, Understanding Your Rights as a California 
                                                   Taxpayer, or contact the Taxpayers’ Rights Advocate Office for help at 1-916-324-2798 
 Sacramento, CA                1-916-227-6600      or 1-888-324-2798. Their fax number is 1-916-323-3319.
 Motor Carrier Office                              If you prefer, you can write to: Taxpayers’ Rights Advocate, MIC:70, California Department 
                                                   of Tax and Fee Administration, P.O. Box 942879, Sacramento, CA 94279-0070.
 West Sacramento, CA           1-800-400-7115

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Regulations, forms, publications, and industry guides
Lists vary by publication
Selected regulations,forms,publications, and industry guides that may interest you are listed below.  
Spanish versions of certain publications are also available online.

Regulations
 1628    Transportation Charges
 1684    Collection of Use Tax by Retailers
 1685    Payment of Tax by Purchasers
 1686    Receipts for Tax Paid to Retailers 
 1823    Application of Transactions (Sales) Tax and Use Tax
 1827    Collection of Use Tax by Retailers

Publications
 79      Documented Vessels and California Tax
 79A     Aircraft and California Tax
 100     Shipping and Delivery Charges
 110     California Use Tax Basics
 126     Mandatory Use Tax Registration for Service Enterprises

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PUBLICATION 123 | OCTOBER 2020
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TAX AND FEE ADMINISTRATION • 450 N STREET • SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA 
MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. BOX 942879 • SACRAMENTO, CA 94279-0001   • LDA






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