Sales tax in San Mateo, CA
The combined sales tax rate in San Mateo, CA is 9.625%, effective 2026-07-01.
Last verified
- ZIP codes
- 5 on file · 1 wholly inside the city limits
- County
- San Mateo County
- Levied by
- California and San Mateo
How the combined rate in San Mateo, CA is made up
Each government below levies its own share. A seller collects them together at the till and passes each share to the authority that levied it.
| Jurisdiction | Type | Rate | Effective | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | state | 7.25% | Jan 1, 2017 | California sales and use tax rates by jurisdiction |
| San Mateo | city | 2.375% | Jul 1, 2026 | California sales and use tax rates by jurisdiction |
| Combined rate | 9.625% | |||
ZIP codes in San Mateo
5 on file — 1 wholly inside the city limits and 4 crossing them. Each has its own page.
1 ZIP code wholly inside San Mateo
Every address in these is inside the city limits, so all of them pay San Mateo's rate.
| ZIP code | Combined rate | Also reaches |
|---|---|---|
| 94401 | 9.625% | no other city |
4 ZIP codes crossing the city line
Part of each of these lies outside San Mateo. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 94010 | 9.375% | Burlingame, Hillsborough, Millbrae, San Bruno and Unincorporated San Mateo County |
| 94402 | 9.625% | Unincorporated San Mateo County |
| 94403 | 9.625% | Unincorporated San Mateo County |
| 94404 | 9.375% | Foster City and Unincorporated San Mateo County |
What can change the tax you pay in San Mateo, CA
- ZIP codes shared with a neighbour. 4 of San Mateo's 5 ZIP codes are also reached by Unincorporated San Mateo County, Burlingame, Foster City and Hillsborough and 2 other places, so an address in one of them can owe a neighbour's rate instead of San Mateo'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 San Mateo compares with the rest of California
San Mateo's 9.625% is above what most ZIP codes carry in California. Of the state's 2,584 ZIP codes with a figure, 5 land on the same one, 1,820 carry a lower figure and 759 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 | |
| ~7.25% | 282 | |
| ~8.25% | 189 | |
| ~9.625% | 5 | San Mateo |
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.