What is the sales tax rate in Long Beach?

Long Beach has a combined sales tax rate of 10.25%, one of the highest in California. It stacks the 7.25% statewide base, Los Angeles County transit taxes, and Long Beach city district taxes.

Why is Long Beach sales tax so high?

California's statewide minimum is 7.25%, and Los Angeles County plus the city of Long Beach add district taxes for transportation and local services. Together these voter-approved add-ons bring the total to the 10.25% cap allowed in the county.

Are groceries taxed in Long Beach?

Most unprepared grocery food is exempt from California sales tax, so it is taxed at 0%. Prepared or hot foods, candy, and soda may still be taxable. Prescription medicines are also exempt statewide.

Is the tax the same across Los Angeles County?

No. Many LA County cities sit at the 9.5% county base, but cities like Long Beach added their own district taxes to reach 10.25%. The exact rate depends on the city where the sale takes place.

How do I calculate sales tax myself?

Multiply the pre-tax price by 0.1025. For a $50 purchase that is $5.13 in tax, making the total $55.13. This tool does that automatically and handles exempt item types for you.

Long Beach Combined Sales Tax Calculator

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This calculator computes Long Beach sales tax at the combined 10.25% rate and applies California’s exemptions for groceries and prescriptions.

How it works

The combined rate stacks several layers, then applies to taxable purchases:

combined_rate = state 7.25% + LA County + Long Beach district = 10.25%
tax           = price * combined_rate        (taxable goods)
tax           = 0                            (unprepared groceries, prescriptions)
total         = price + tax

Long Beach reaches the 10.25% county cap because the city layered its own district tax on top of Los Angeles County’s base. Unprepared food and prescription medicine are exempt statewide and are taxed at 0%.

Example

A $50 taxable purchase is taxed at 10.25%, adding $5.13, for a total of $55.13. The same $50 spent on unprepared groceries is taxed at 0%, so the total stays $50.

Notes

The combined rate can change when voters approve new district taxes. Prepared and hot foods, candy, and soda are generally taxable even though staple groceries are not. This tool covers the common cases; unusual categories may have specific California rules.