California Use Tax

Use Tax

You may owe use tax if you make purchases from out-of-state retailers (for example, purchases made by telephone, online, by mail, or in person) where California sales or use tax was not paid and you use those items in California.

If you have questions about whether a purchase is taxable, go to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration’s website at cdtfa.ca.gov, or call its Customer Service Center at 1.800.400.7115 (CRS:711) (for hearing and speech disabilities).

Some taxpayers are required to report business purchases subject to use tax directly to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. However, they may report certain personal purchases subject to use tax on the FTB income tax return.

You may not report business purchases subject to use tax on your income tax return if you:

• Have or are required to hold a California seller’s permit

• Receive $100,000 or more per year in gross receipts from business operations.

• Are otherwise registered or required to be registered with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration to report use tax.

Note: You may not report use tax on your income tax return for certain types of transactions. These types of transactions are described in detail below in the instructions.

The Use Tax Worksheet and Estimated Use Tax Lookup Table will help you determine how much use tax to report. If you owe use tax but you do not report it on your income tax return, you must report and pay the tax to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. For information on how to report use tax directly to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, go to their website at cdtfa.ca.gov and type “Find Information About Use Tax” in the search bar.

Failure to report and pay timely may result in the assessment of interest, penalties, and fees.