USA sales tax · Delivered remotely
Sales tax returns for California, and for the other states you sell in.
We file California sales and use tax returns for clients every quarter. Other states work the same way, each with its own registration and its own dates.
USA next 5 dates
Sales tax
- 2 NovCalifornia: quarterly, monthly
- 1 FebCalifornia: quarterly (Q4), yearly
- 30 AprCalifornia quarterly (Q1)
- 2 AugCalifornia quarterly (Q2)
- 1 NovCalifornia quarterly (Q3)
California
The CDTFA sets how often you file.
A business selling in California registers with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, the CDTFA, and files sales and use tax returns. The CDTFA assigns the filing frequency when you register: quarterly prepay, quarterly, monthly or yearly, based on your sales.
A quarterly return is due by the last day of the month after the quarter: 30 April, 31 July, 31 October and 31 January. A monthly return is due by the last day of the following month. Larger sellers on prepayments also pay on the 24th of the first two months of each quarter. A filing is required on or before the due date even if there were no sales, and a due date on a weekend or a state holiday moves to the next business day.
Other states
Each state, its own rules and dates.
Sales tax is set by each state, not by the IRS. Each state decides who must register, the rate, and when returns are due, so the list of states and their dates is settled at the start of the engagement, from where you sell and deliver.
The work is the same in every state: the sales for the period, the tax collected, the return and the payment, with the figures agreed to your books. See USA bookkeeping.
The California year
The California sales tax dates, with the next one marked.
Other states are added to your own calendar when the engagement starts.
- 31 Jan, 30 Apr, 31 Jul, 31 OctCalifornia sales and use tax return, quarterlyLast day of the month after each quarter. The CDTFA sets your filing frequency. Source
- 31 JanCalifornia sales and use tax return, yearly31 January for the calendar year before. For small sellers the CDTFA places on yearly returns. Source
- 24 Feb, 24 Mar, 24 May, 24 Jun, 24 Aug, 24 Sep, 24 Nov, 24 DecCalifornia sales tax prepayments, quarterly prepay accountsThe 24th of the month after each of the first two months of a quarter (the second quarter: 24 May, and 24 June for 1 May to 15 June). For larger sellers the CDTFA places on prepayments; the quarterly return follows. Source
- Every monthCalifornia sales and use tax return, monthlyLast day of the month after each month. For sellers the CDTFA places on monthly returns. Source
Dates that fall on a weekend or a USA federal holiday move to the next business day. Every date is checked at its official source.
Questions we are asked
Four straight answers.
- 01
Is there a federal sales tax in the USA?
No. Sales tax is set by each state, and in many states by cities and counties as well. There is no federal sales tax.
- 02
How often do I file in California?
As often as the CDTFA tells you when you register: quarterly, monthly or yearly, and quarterly with prepayments for larger sellers. A quarterly return is due by the last day of the month after the quarter.
- 03
Do I file if I had no sales?
Yes. The CDTFA requires a filing on or before the due date even if there are no sales to report.
- 04
What does it cost?
A fixed fee, quoted within one business day of seeing your seller's permit and last quarter's sales, before any work starts.
Contact us
Send us your seller's permit and last quarter's sales. A price within one business day.
ANCPA Auditing L.L.C prepares USA returns in Dubai. Each is signed by the firm's California licensed CPA, license 147070, under his own IRS preparer number (PTIN) and e-filed through our USA partner firms in Texas and California, who hold their own IRS e-file numbers (EFIN).