Kern County · California
Bakersfield sales tax rate (CA)
Kern County levies no countywide district tax, so Bakersfield's premium is entirely its own Measure N public-safety tax.
Quick answer
The combined sales tax rate in Bakersfield, CA is 8.25% as of January 1, 2026 — 7.25% state + 1% city. On a $100 purchase that is $8.25 in tax, for a total of $108.25. California's statewide base is 7.25%.
- Combined rate
- 8.25%
- State share
- 7.25%
- Local share
- 1%County + city + districts
- Tax on $100
- $8.25
Calculate Bakersfield sales tax
Pre-filled with the Bakersfield combined rate.
Sales tax calculator
The full combined rate of 8.25% applies to general merchandise.
Enter a pre-tax amount to see the tax due in Bakersfield, CA.
- Pre-tax
- $100
- Sales tax at 8.25%
- $8.25
- Total
- $108.25
Tax is rounded to the nearest cent on the full transaction, which is how most registers compute it. Line-item rounding can differ by a cent or two on long receipts.
Is 8.25% high?
Where Bakersfield sits against the state and the covered-metro median, in points and in dollars.
- vs covered median
- +0.3 ptsMedian 7.95%
- Local share
- 12%1% of the total
- Cost per household
- $2,145Per year on $26,000 taxable spend
- Jurisdiction layers
- 2Stacked into the combined rate
8.25% in Bakersfield — high. It ranks 35 of 94 covered metros, +0.3 pts against the 7.95% median. On $26,000 of taxable household spending that is $2,145 a year, $78 above it.
Local government sets 1% of the total, 12% of the bill; the state takes 7.25%. 2 layers stack: California state (incl. mandatory local) 7.25%, City of Bakersfield Measure N 1%. The City of Bakersfield Measure N increment at 1% is the largest local piece — 100% of everything local, worth $260 a year on its own.
9 of 11 covered California metros, -0.5 pts from the 8.75% state median. The in-state spread runs 7.75% in Anaheim to 10.25% in Long Beach — 2.5 points wide. Buying a $35,000 vehicle in Anaheim instead of Bakersfield saves $175, though California normally taxes vehicles where they are registered.
Same bracket nationally: Reno, NV (8.265%); Houston, TX (8.25%); Dallas, TX (8.25%). A household relocating between Bakersfield and any of them sees no meaningful change in sales tax.
Scale: 407,615 residents, roughly 163,046 households. At $26,000 of taxable spend each, the 1% local share pulls about $42,391,960 a year from residents alone — before any visitor or business spending, which in a metro this size is where the rest comes from.
Kern County levies no countywide district tax, so Bakersfield's premium is entirely its own Measure N public-safety tax.
Rates move when a district measure passes or a local option expires. Confirm the current figure with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration before filing or quoting it to a customer.
Jurisdiction breakdown
Every layer that makes up the combined rate, and how much of the total each one contributes.
| Jurisdiction | Level | Rate | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|
| California state (incl. mandatory local) | state | 7.25% | 88% |
| City of Bakersfield Measure N | city | 1% | 12% |
| Combined rate | 8.25% |
Bakersfield sales tax reference table
Tax due at 8.25% on common purchase amounts.
| Purchase | Sales tax | Total |
|---|---|---|
| $10 | $0.83 | $10.83 |
| $25 | $2.06 | $27.06 |
| $50 | $4.13 | $54.13 |
| $100 | $8.25 | $108.25 |
| $500 | $41.25 | $541.25 |
| $1,000 | $82.50 | $1082.50 |
| $5,000 | $412.50 | $5412.50 |
| $25,000 | $2062.50 | $27062.50 |
Reverse out sales tax
Enter a receipt total and we split the item price from the 8.25% tax collected.
Backing out 8.25% for Bakersfield, CA.
- Item price before tax
- $100
- Sales tax collected
- $8.25
What this rate applies to
California publishes the taxable base separately from the rate. Groceries, prescription drugs, clothing and services are treated differently state to state, and several categories in California are taxed at reduced rates or exempt entirely. Kern County levies no countywide district tax, so Bakersfield's premium is entirely its own Measure N public-safety tax. Check the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration guidance for the category you are pricing before assuming 8.25% applies.
Bakersfield at a glance
- Population
- 407,615
- Median household income
- $73,813
- County
- Kern County
- ZIP codes covered
- 10
Compare with other California cities
Other covered California metros and how they compare.
Neighboring districts tax profiles
The closest covered jurisdictions by county and ZIP sectional centre, with the rate difference against this metro.
Compare Bakersfield with another metro
Side-by-side rate stacks and the dollar difference on a $1,000 purchase.
Cities near Bakersfield
Straight-line distance, estimated drive time and the rate charged there.
Download this metro's data
The Bakersfield jurisdiction stack, combined rate (8.25%), effective date and Census figures are published as open files. Free to use with attribution — no key, no signup.
More Bakersfield data
Other Bakersfield datasets on this site.
- Bakersfield population and income
- Bakersfield property tax
- Bakersfield cost of living
- Bakersfield home values and rent
- Bakersfield crime rates
- Bakersfield public schools
- Bakersfield weather normals
- Bakersfield commute times
- Bakersfield jobs and wages
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