Oh, we know: Between stubborn inflation and “Liberation Day,” you’re pretty tired at this point of being reminded that things are getting more and more expensive. But there’s one previously-planned price increase that we think you should know about.
As of April 1, sales tax across Los Angeles County has increased from 9.5% to 9.75%—meaning that on a $100 purchase, you’ll now be paying an extra 25 cents in tax. But cities within the county can also set their own sales tax rate higher than that 9.75% floor, meaning that some are now charging between 10 and 11 percent.
A little confused? Don’t worry: Here’s a quick rundown on everything you need to know about the quarter-of-a-percent rate hike.
Why did sales tax go up in Los Angeles?
Because you voted on it (or didn’t) last November. The change stems from the passage of Measure A, a countywide ballot initiative that proposed a half-cent tax to fund homelessness services and affordable housing. This actually repealed and replaced the similar Measure H, a quarter-cent tax passed in 2017, hence the net 25-cent increase. When Measure A was on the ballot last year (it passed with 58% of the vote), its supporters estimated that middle class families can expect to pay about $5 more per month in sales tax.
Does this sales tax increase apply to everything I buy?
On electronics, clothes, booze, pet supplies and most other everyday purchases? Absolutely. But there are some essential items that are always exempt from sales tax, including baby formula and food, granola bars, juices and water, among a few other nontaxable items; you can find a full list here.
How much has sales tax increased in other cities in L.A. County?
While the City of L.A. and Unincorporated L.A. County have seen sales tax increase from 9.5% to 9.75%, other cities have their own, higher rates.
A handful of major cities have risen from 10.25% to 10.5%, including Burbank, Culver City, Glendale, Long Beach, Pasadena, Pomona, South Pasadena and West Hollywood.
Meanwhile, a few other cities have seen slightly larger jumps. Compton and Santa Monica, both among a handful of cities that were excluded from the now-repealed Measure H, have increased by a half-percent, from 10.25% to to 10.75%.
And the biggest jump? Lancaster and Palmdale, which thanks to similar ballot initiatives that each of those cities passed last year, have seen a full percentage point increase in sales tax, from 10.25% to 11.25%—which surprisingly makes them the cities with the highest sales tax in all of California.
Still unsure what this means for the sales tax in your area? You can plug a specific address into this state-run map to find out the sales tax for your neck of the woods.