Publication 110, California Use Tax Basics

June 2023

Use Tax Basics

California's sales tax generally applies to the sale of merchandise, including vehicles, in the state. The state's use tax applies to the use, storage, or other consumption of those same kinds of items in California. While use tax was originally put in place to protect California merchants from unfair out-of-state competition, it also applies to certain purchases made within the state.

When does use tax apply?

Use tax generally applies when you buy merchandise that will be used, stored, consumed, or given away in this state, under certain circumstances.

Use tax is based on an item's purchase price and generally applies to:

  • California consumer or retailer purchases from out-of-state vendors (including foreign merchants) who do not collect California tax on their sales (Please note, below) unless the purchase is otherwise subject to an exemption or exclusion.
  • Retailer's use of items purchased under a resale certificate, including withdrawing items from inventory for personal or business use using: an item before sale, or using an item in manufacturing unless it becomes a physical part of the final product sold. Demonstrating or displaying an item is generally not a taxable use provided the item remains for sale.
  • Purchases of vehicles, vessels, mobile homes, and aircraft from sellers who do not hold seller's permits. For more information, please refer to our related publications (see Additional Information), or call our Customer Service Center at 1-800-400-7115 (CRS:711), or our Consumer Use Tax Section at 1-916-445-9524.

Please note: Special use tax rules apply to purchases by insurance companies (see Regulation 1567, Banks and Insurance Companies) and to the use of heavy trucks and trailers (see Regulation 1661, Leases of Mobile Transportation Equipment).

Exemption for items purchased in a foreign country

The first $800 of merchandise or goods that is both purchased from a retailer in a foreign country by an individual, and personally hand–carried into this state from the foreign country within any 30-day period, is exempt from use tax. This exemption does not apply to property sent or shipped to this state.

Please note: This publication summarizes the law and applicable regulations in effect when the publication was written, as noted above. However, changes in the law or in regulations may have occurred since that time. If there is a conflict between the text in this publication and the law, the decision will be based on the law and not on this publication.

Paying Use Tax

Generally, when you buy an item that is used, stored, consumed, or given away in California, you owe use tax. In some cases, sellers must collect use tax from their customers and pay it to us, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA).

  • California seller's permit
    If you hold a seller’s permit, you must pay use tax when submitting your sales and use tax return. Report the amount of your purchase 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 obtain your seller’s permit, you will be instructed to file your tax return on a monthly, quarterly, or annual reporting basis. Your tax return and payment are due after the close of each reporting period. For example, if you are on a fiscal year reporting basis, your reporting period closes on June 30, your tax return and payment are due on July 31, 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. Reporting and paying the use tax is done through our online system. 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 2018, along with payment, is due by April 15, 2019.

    For additional information, see publication 126 , Mandatory Use Tax Registration for Service Enterprises, under Forms & Publications. You can register in person at any of our offices.
  • 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 Franchise Tax Board (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. You can register on our website at www.cdtfa.ca.gov by selecting Register, and then select Register or Apply for a New Business Activity or Location. Once you have registered, you may pay any use tax due by filing your return. You can also register in person at any of our offices. Please contact our Customer Service Center at 1-800-400-7115 (CRS:711) for assistance. You will be provided an account number and the ability to electronically file your return. You will be notified whether you must file your consumer use tax return 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.
  • Vehicles, vessels, and aircraft
    Special rules and reporting requirements apply to these purchases. Please see the following:

    You may also call our Customer Service Center at 1-800-400-7115 (CRS:711).

  • Registration
    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 by selecting Register, and then select File and Pay Your One Time Use Tax, you may pay any use tax by filing your return. You can also register to report use tax in person at any of our offices. Please contact our Customer Service Center for assistance at 1-800-400-7115 (CRS:711). 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.

What can I do if I owe use tax for prior years?

The In-State Voluntary Disclosure Program may benefit purchasers who are not required to have a seller's permit, but have use tax amounts due. If you owe use tax for periods prior to the current reporting year, you should review this program. Information is available by searching "in-state voluntary disclosure."

What tax rate applies?

Please see California City and County Sales and Use Tax Rates, and publication 44, District Taxes (Sales and Use Taxes). Special use tax rules for railcars, heavy trucks, and similar equipment are also found in publication 44.

Guidelines Information

Guidelines

These general guidelines do not address exemptions or exclusions that may apply in specific situations.


Use Tax—When does it apply? How do you pay it?
Type of Taxable Transaction or Circumstance of Use, Storage, or Consumption Reporting the Sale or Purchase and Paying the Use Tax Due
If you are a California business with a seller's permit
Taxable lease If you are the lessor: Collect use tax from purchaser; report lease payments in "total sales" on sales and use tax return; pay tax with return. If you are the lessee: pay tax to the lessor. Please note: You may owe the tax if the lessor doesn't collect it.
Taxable use, storage, or consumption of an item in California purchased without the payment of California tax (see "When does use tax apply?") Report purchase on return as "purchase subject to use tax" and pay tax. You may be able to take a credit if you paid another state's sales or use tax (see instructions on return).
If you are a seller located in another state
Taxable sale to California customer, if you are engaged in business in California (have location or representative in California or otherwise have nexus within California). You must register, collect use tax from customers, and pay the tax to us with your tax return (see R&TC 6203, Collection by Retailer and Regulation 1684, Collection of Use Tax by Retailers, Collection of Use Tax by Retailers).

Retailers located outside of California may be required to register with us, collect the California use tax, and pay the tax to us based on the amount of their sales into California, even if they do not have a physical presence in the state. For more information, please see our online guide, Use Tax Collection Requirements Based on Sales into California Due to the Wayfair Decision.

Taxable sale to California customer if you are not engaged in business in California. You may voluntarily register to collect and pay use tax. If you do not, your customer must pay it to us.
If you are a California resident who is not required to hold a seller's permit
Registered "qualified purchaser" with a use tax account. Report purchases subject to use tax on your use tax return. You may be able to take a credit if you paid another state's sales or use tax (see instructions on return).
Purchase of merchandise, the sale of which is otherwise subject to tax from an out-of-state retailer (including foreign merchant) who does not collect California sales or use tax. You may report and pay use tax on your California income tax return or you may report the purchases subject to use tax directly to us by selecting Register, and then select File and Pay Your One Time Use Tax. 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. Please contact our Customer Service Center for assistance at 1-800-400-7115 (CRS:711). (Unless you are required to register or are registered as a "qualified purchaser" with a use tax account). You may be able to take a credit if you paid another state's sales or use tax. If you make recurring taxable purchases, you may obtain a consumer use tax account.
Purchase from private party of vehicle, undocumented vessel (registered with DMV), documented vessel (registered with U.S. Coast Guard), aircraft, or mobile home. Pay tax to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) (vehicles, undocumented vessels); to us (documented vessels, aircraft); to a registered broker (documented vessels, aircraft); or to the Department of Housing and Community Development (mobilehomes).

Additional Information

Customer Service Center

Additional information and all CDTFA forms, publications, and regulations are available from our website or by calling our Customer Service Center at 1-800-400-7115 (CRS:711).

Taxpayers' Rights Advocate (TRA)

The TRA Office helps taxpayers when they are unable to resolve a matter through normal channels (for example, by speaking to a supervisor); when they want information regarding procedures relating to a particular set of circumstances, or when there are apparent rights violations.

Guides

Storage and Use Exclusion

Use Tax Collection Requirements Based on Sales into California Due to the Wayfair Decision

Publications

  • 44 District Taxes (Sales and Use Taxes)
  • 46 Leasing Tangible Personal Property
  • 52 Vehicles and Vessels: Use Tax
  • 61 Sales and Use Taxes: Tax Expenditures
  • 79 Documented Vessels and California Tax
  • 79A Aircraft and California Tax
  • 105 District Taxes and Sales Delivered in California
  • 123 California Businesses: How to Identify and Report California Use Tax Due
  • 126 Mandatory Use Tax Registration for Service Enterprises

Regulations

  • 1567 Banks and Insurance Companies
  • 1661 Leases of Mobile Transportation Equipment
  • 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 (district taxes)

Other Helpful Resources