Sales Tax Compliance
We handle sales tax calculation, filing, and payment so you stay compliant with California and local requirements without tracking deadlines yourself.
What This Is
California sales tax is not a single rate. It’s a combination of state, county, city, and district taxes that vary by location. San Diego County alone has over a dozen different rate combinations depending on where your business operates. Add in exemptions for certain products and services, and tracking becomes tedious.
This service handles the entire sales tax process. We calculate what you owe based on your sales activity, prepare and file your returns with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, and remit payment on your behalf. You provide the sales data and we handle the rest.
What Gets Filed
What Gets Filed
California CDTFA returns on your required schedule, whether that’s monthly, quarterly, or annually. District taxes when applicable. We track rate changes and apply them automatically so your filings reflect current requirements without you having to research what changed.
The Schedule
The Schedule
Filing frequency depends on your sales volume. High-volume businesses file monthly. Lower-volume businesses file quarterly or annually. We track your deadlines and file before them, not on the due date when the system is overloaded and errors are more likely.
Why This Matters
Sales tax collected from customers is not your money. It belongs to the state. You’re holding it in trust until the filing deadline. Spend it on operating expenses and you’ll scramble to come up with the cash when the return is due. Miss the deadline and the penalties start adding up fast.
California is aggressive about sales tax compliance. The state conducts audits, and discrepancies get flagged. If you’ve been applying the wrong rate or missing district taxes, the bill comes with interest. Getting it right from the start costs less than fixing it later.
The Rate Problem
The Rate Problem
Rates change. District taxes get added or adjusted. A rate that was correct in January might not be correct in July. Staying current requires paying attention to CDTFA notices and rate updates that you probably don’t have time to read or track.
The Audit Problem
The Audit Problem
CDTFA audits happen. When they do, auditors look at your records going back years. Clean, well-documented filings make audits routine. Messy records or inconsistent filings make them expensive and time-consuming.
What Changes
Filing deadlines stop being something you track. Returns get submitted on time with the correct amounts calculated based on current rates. Payment goes out before the deadline. You receive confirmation that everything is filed and paid without logging into the CDTFA portal yourself.
You stop treating sales tax as a liability sitting in your operating account. When you know exactly what’s owed and when it’s due, you can set those funds aside properly. No more surprises when the filing date arrives and you realize the money was already spent on something else.
Time Back
Time Back
Calculating sales tax by location, preparing the return, logging into the state portal, submitting payment. This takes time every filing period. That’s time you get back to spend on the work that actually brings in revenue instead of administrative tasks.
Clean Records
Clean Records
Every filing documented. Every payment confirmed. If the state has questions, you have answers. If your CPA needs sales tax data at year-end, it’s already organized and ready to hand over without digging through emails or bank statements.
San Diego's Small Business Bookkeeper
The Next Step:
A Short Conversation
A quick call to tell us about your business. We'll listen, answer your questions, and give you a clear price quote.
