TAX & LICENSE / STATE TAX SYSTEM

Income Tax
California imposes a graduated income tax similar to the federal income tax in structure, where the tax owed varies with your income level and filing status. Standard deductions, credits, personal and dependent exemptions, and other factors will affect the taxable income. For complete details on personal income tax in California, contact:

California Franchise Tax Board
800-852-5711
800-338-0505
www.ftb.ca.gov

Frequently Requested Information

Forms Order Line
800-338-0505

Online Forms Ordering
www.ftb.ca.gov/forms

Individual Account Information
800-338-0505

Status of Homeowner’s or Renter’s Assistance
800-338-0505

Inquiries by Mail
Franchise Tax Board
P.O. Box 942840
Sacramento 94240-0001

Sales & Use Taxes
In California, sales and use taxes vary slightly by county and may also fluctuate with voter-approved taxes for special funding projects. The total state tax rate is 7.5 percent. For the exact rate in your community, contact your city or county offices. Items that are exempt from retail sales tax include groceries, prescribed medication, newspapers, periodicals and public utilities. Sales tax is paid by the consumer on the retail level, but use taxes are paid directly to the state. Use taxes pertain to merchandise such as catalog orders or Internet orders when no California sales tax has been collected but the item(s) are used in California. For complete details on sales and use taxes, contact:

Department of Tax and Fee Administration
800-400-7115
www.cdtfa.ca.gov

Property Taxes
Property taxes are paid on the local level, creating a major revenue stream for local governments as they provide services to residents. The process begins with cities and counties providing copies of all building permits that are issued, and the county clerk-recorder supplying copies of all deeds and recorded documents. The county assessor then assesses all real estate and personal property such as businesses, manufactured homes, boats, and airplanes that are located in the entire county. The controller-treasurer receives these assessments and applies the appropriate tax rate to determine the actual amount of property tax due. The tax collector then mails out property tax bills, collects the money, and deposits this revenue in the county treasury. The controller-treasurer then allocates the revenue to local taxing agencies, including the county, cities, schools, and special districts. For complete information on property taxes, the Homeowner’s Exemption, and the exact rate in your jurisdiction, contact the appropriate county office:

Merced County Assessor
2222 M Street
Merced 209-385-7434
http://www.co.merced.ca.us/59/Assessor

Merced County Treasurer & Tax Collector
2222 M Street
Merced 209-385-7434
www.mercedtaxcollector.org

San Joaquin County Assessor
44 North San Joaquin Street
Stockton 209-468-2630
www.sjgov.org/department/assr

San Joaquin County Treasurer & Tax Collector
44 North San Joaquin Street
Stockton 209-468-2133
www.sjgov.org/department/ttc

Stanislaus County Assessor
1010 10th Street
Modesto 209-525-6461
www.stancounty.com/Assessor

Stanislaus County Treasurer & Tax Collector
1010 10th Street
Modesto 209-525-6388
www.stancounty.com/tr-tax

Estate, Inheritance & Gift Taxes
The California State Controller’s office carries the responsibility for collecting all estate, inheritance, and gift taxes. In the case of estate taxes, the amount of California estate tax is equal to the maximum allowable amount of the credit for state death taxes, allowable under the applicable federal estate tax law. For details, contact:

California State Controller
916-445-2636
www.sco.ca.gov

Excise Taxes
California imposes excise taxes on a number of items including alcoholic beverages, cigarette and tobacco products, a tire fee, emergency telephone user’s surcharge, energy resources surcharge, integrated waste management fee, tax on insurers, and natural gas surcharge. For further information on any of these taxes, contact:

Excise Taxes Division
State Board of Equalization
800-400-7115
www.boe.ca.gov

California Residency Requirements
California imposes no formalized residency procedure beyond physical presence within the state and the intention of making it your home. Colleges, universities and other institutions have developed and implement their own residency requirements and procedures. Common residency criteria include voting in a California election, paying resident tuition, filing for home owner’s property tax exemption, or any other privilege or benefit not ordinarily extended to nonresidents.