Santa Clara County sales tax to increase April 1, 2026
Santa Clara County voters have approved Measure A — a 0.625% general sales tax increase — in a special election. The new rate takes effect April 1, 2026, and will remain in place for five years.
Written by Alex Lamachenka
Head of DemandGen
Published
TL;DR
Santa Clara County is raising its sales tax by 0.625%, effective April 1, 2026. Voters passed Measure A in a special election with 57% approval. The increase is expected to generate $330 million annually for local healthcare and public safety services. The tax will expire after five years, on March 31, 2031.
What’s changing
- Effective date: April 1, 2026
- New rate: +0.625% general sales tax in Santa Clara County
- Voter approval: Measure A passed with 57% of the vote
- Duration: Temporary — expires March 31, 2031
- Use of funds: Supports trauma care, ERs, mental health services, and public safety
It’s important to note that Measure A adds to the overall sales tax rate but does not alter the existing breakdown of where current taxes go.
- 7.25% — State of California sales tax
- 0.125% — Santa Clara County (pre-Measure A)
- 1.75% — Valley Transportation Authority and Caltrain (independent agencies)
Who this affects
- Retailers and eCommerce sellers with customers in Santa Clara County
- Finance teams forecasting Q2 sales tax liability
- Platforms needing to update POS and tax rate tables in advance of April 1, 2026
Why this matters
This is a sizable increase — especially for a county that already had one of the higher combined rates in California. A 0.625% hike will compound over time, particularly for high-volume sellers, subscription businesses, and B2B vendors. And while the increase is technically temporary, many voters and political commentators are skeptical that it will expire on schedule.
Next steps
- Flag this for April 1, 2026 — ensure all systems and rate tables update on time
- If you use TaxCloud, you’re covered — we’ll automatically update the county rate
- For fixed or negotiated-price contracts: consider reviewing how the tax increase may affect margins, invoices, or rate cards
- Monitor for additional county tax increases in high-population California counties
Other US Sales Tax Updates
Westminster, CO approves sales tax hike to 4.25% for 2026
Westminster’s city sales and use tax increases from 3.85% → 4.25% on January 1, 2026.
Oakland’s Sales Tax Rose to 10.75% on October 1, 2025
Starting October 1, 2025, Oakland’s sales tax increased to 10.75%, placing it among the highest city rates in California.
State Grocery Tax Set to End in Illinois in 2026
In 2026, Illinois will eliminate its 1% state sales tax on food for human consumption. However, local governments will be allowed to impose their own 1% grocery tax and many plan to do so.