California Sales Tax License Registration

If your business is operating in California, you may need to register for sales tax with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA). Sales tax registration is required for businesses that sell tangible personal property or provide certain services within the state.

How to get a California Sales Tax License

There is one sales tax setup task you may need to complete in California to get your sales tax licence. You can follow the guide below to help you get registered directly with the California agencies or use Mosey to do it.

Use Mosey to register for sales tax in California.

California Sales and Use Tax Setup for LLC, LLP, Corporation

If you are "engaged in business" in California, you are required to register for a Seller's Permit with the California Department of Tax & Fee Administration (CDTFA) and must collect and pay sales tax on all taxable transactions. Engaged in business is defined by the CDTFA as having a total combined sales of tangible personal property for delivery in California by the retailer and all persons related to the retailer exceed $500,000 in the preceding or current calendar year. Retailers with a physical presence in California are also required to register with the CDTFA. Note: SaaS is not considered a taxable service in California. In general, nonprofit organizations are required to register for a Seller's Permit unless they are a School, Parent-Teacher Association, Children's Organization, Youth Organization, or Volunteer Fire Department.

  1. Register for a Seller's Permit

    Register for a Seller's Permit with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) through their Online Services portal. Registration is free but the CDTFA may require a security deposit.

California Sales Tax Filing Requirements & Deadlines

There is one sales tax filing requirement & deadline you may need to complete in California. You can follow the guide below or use Mosey to do it.

California Sales Tax Filing for LLC, LLP, Corporation

You must sumbit a Sales & Use Tax return to The California Department of Tax & Fee Administration. The filing frequency is assigned at the time of your registration and is based on your reported sales tax or your anticipated taxable sales, The frequencies can be quarterly prepay, quarterly, monthly, fiscal yearly, or yearly

  1. File Sales and Use Tax Return

    File your sales & use tax return with the California Department of Tax & Fee Administration through their Online Services portal.

California's Sales Tax Registration & Reporting Agencies

Review your compliance risks, free.

More from the blog

Learn how to keep your business compliant in all 50 states across payroll, HR, Secretary of State, and tax.

How To Register a Business Step by Step

As an entrepreneur, it’s easy to get caught up in the thrill of innovation, product development, and marketing — but none of these can happen without the foundational step of business registration. In this guide, we’ll cover how to register a business, why it’s important, and what advantages it offers. Why Do You Need To Register Your Business? Understanding how to register a business is essential for overall business compliance.

Alex Kehayias | Dec 17, 2023

The Best CorpNet Alternatives for Business Compliance

Not only is staying compliant with business regulations not optional, but it’s also not a walk in the park. Rules change from state to state and sometimes even between cities or counties. Compliance can consume serious time and energy for businesses — especially those ready to grow across multiple locations. CorpNet is a well-established player in the business formation and compliance space. They handle the time-consuming tasks of registering your business, securing licenses, and staying on top of some of the regulatory paperwork.

Gabrielle Sinacola | May 25, 2024

Certificate of Good Standing: What Is It & How It Works

Consider the following scenario: You’re the founder of a new startup, which you incorporated in Delaware, but you live in California. You need to register your company as a foreign entity to do business there. But before you can register in California, you’ll need to obtain a Certificate of Good Standing from your incorporated state of Delaware. Essentially, a Certificate of Good Standing validates the legitimacy of your business. Business owners might use a Certificate to register to do business in another state, apply for a business loan or insurance, seek financing from investors, or lease commercial space.

Alex Kehayias | Apr 3, 2023

Ready to get started?

Schedule a free consultation to see how Mosey transforms business compliance.