San Jose, California Sales Tax Calculator
San Jose has a combined sales tax rate of 10.000% — meaningfully higher than the California statewide average of 8.85%. Santa Clara County adds 2.5% in district taxes including the VTA transit tax and the 5/8-cent Measure A increase (April 2026), on top of the 7.25% CA base.
Sales tax in San Jose
The 10.000% you pay at a San Jose register is made up of 7.25% state tax plus roughly 2.750% in local taxes — a combination of county, city, and special-district levies. Santa Clara County adds 2.5% in district taxes including the VTA transit tax and the 5/8-cent Measure A increase (April 2026), on top of the 7.25% CA base.
That's higher than the California average of 8.85%. Most large California cities run above the state average because urban areas tend to layer transit taxes, special improvement districts, and arena/stadium taxes on top of the state and county base.
California exempts unprepared groceries from sales tax. Restaurant meals and prepared food are taxable at the full combined rate.
For exact tax on a transaction at a specific San Jose address, use the California Department of Revenue's lookup or a tool like Avalara. Rates can vary block-by-block when special tax districts cover part of the city.