Sales tax in Los Altos, CA
The combined sales tax rate in Los Altos, CA is about 9.75%. Some local taxes in this state are not yet mapped, so the true rate may be higher.
Estimated from 4 ZIP codes covering Los Altos. Enter your ZIP code in the calculator for a closer figure.
- ZIP codes
- 4 on file, every one crossing the city line
- County
- Santa Clara County
Who levies sales tax across Los Altos's ZIP codes
Each government below levies its own share, but not all of them reach every address: the ZIP codes covering Los Altos reach into more than one city, and an address pays only the shares whose boundary it falls inside.
| Jurisdiction | Type | Rate | Applies to | Effective | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | state | 7.25% | all 4 ZIP codes | Jan 1, 2017 | California sales and use tax rates by jurisdiction |
| Los Altos | city | 2.5% | all 4 ZIP codes | Jul 1, 2026 | California sales and use tax rates by jurisdiction |
| Unincorporated Santa Clara County | city | 2.5% | all 4 ZIP codes | Jul 1, 2026 | California sales and use tax rates by jurisdiction |
| Mountain View | city | 2.5% | 3 of 4 ZIP codes | Jul 1, 2026 | California sales and use tax rates by jurisdiction |
| Los Altos Hills | city | 2.5% | 2 of 4 ZIP codes | Jul 1, 2026 | California sales and use tax rates by jurisdiction |
| Palo Alto | city | 2.5% | 2 of 4 ZIP codes | Jul 1, 2026 | California sales and use tax rates by jurisdiction |
| Cupertino | city | 2.5% | 1 of 4 ZIP codes | Jul 1, 2026 | California sales and use tax rates by jurisdiction |
| Sunnyvale | city | 2.5% | 1 of 4 ZIP codes | Jul 1, 2026 | California sales and use tax rates by jurisdiction |
No total is shown because more than one city is listed. An address falls inside only one of each, so these shares are alternatives rather than a stack, and adding them all up would give a figure nobody pays.
ZIP codes in Los Altos
4 on file, every one crossing the city line. Each has its own page.
4 ZIP codes crossing the city line
Part of each of these lies outside Los Altos. An address in one may be taxed at a neighbour's rate instead, and the figure shown is the most likely one across the whole ZIP code.
| ZIP code | Combined rate | Also reaches |
|---|---|---|
| 94022 | 9.75% | Los Altos Hills, Palo Alto and Unincorporated Santa Clara County |
| 94024 | 9.75% | Cupertino, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Sunnyvale and Unincorporated Santa Clara County |
| 94040 | 9.75% | Mountain View and Unincorporated Santa Clara County |
| 94306 | 9.75% | Mountain View, Palo Alto and Unincorporated Santa Clara County |
What can change the tax you pay in Los Altos, CA
- ZIP codes shared with a neighbour. 4 of Los Altos's 4 ZIP codes are also reached by Unincorporated Santa Clara County, Mountain View, Los Altos Hills and Palo Alto and 2 other places, so an address in one of them can owe a neighbour's rate instead of Los Altos's.
- What you are buying. Categories are not taxed alike. The calculator switches between general merchandise, prepared food and lodging, which are the categories we hold rates for here.
How Los Altos compares with the rest of California
Los Altos's ~9.75% is above what most ZIP codes carry in California. Of the state's 2,584 ZIP codes with a figure, 346 land on the same one, 1,825 carry a lower figure and 413 a higher one. Across California the combined rate runs from 7.25% to 11.25%. See every city in California.
| Combined rate | ZIP codes | Which is this city |
|---|---|---|
| ~7.75% | 535 | |
| ~8.75% | 373 | |
| ~9.75% | 346 | Los Altos |
| ~7.25% | 282 | |
| ~8.25% | 189 |
Counted from ZIP-code figures. A tilde marks a band where some ZIP codes cross a tax boundary and are counted at their most likely rate.
How sales tax is collected
The seller generally collects the tax from the buyer at the point of sale and passes it to the authorities that levied it. In most states it is added at the till rather than included in the advertised price. Read how sales tax works, including sourcing rules, online purchases and who is required to collect.
Rates last verified: Sep 4, 2026. This is when the source was last read, not when this page was last edited.
TaxAndTips provides informational estimates from published tax-rate data. Actual tax treatment can depend on the product or service, the exact address, the transaction, exemption status and applicable law. For official obligations, consult the taxing authority or a qualified tax professional.
Why you can rely on these figures
- Published rates
- State and local rates compiled from the tax authorities that levy them.
- Every figure sourced
- See the jurisdiction breakdown and the document each rate came from.
- No signup
- Use the calculator immediately. Nothing to create, nothing to install.
- Missing means missing
- Where a rate is not verified we say so instead of showing a short total.