Lake Forest Sales Tax Rate
7.75% combined in Lake Forest, Orange County · California's #95 city by population
The sales tax rate in Lake Forest is 7.75% as of October 13, 2026. That is the 7.25% statewide base plus 0.50% in local district taxes.
Lake Forest Sales Tax Calculator
Sales tax at 7.75%
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Where the 7.75% comes from
Every California sale starts at the 7.25% statewide base. Orange County voters and agencies have added 1 district tax that applies in every city in the county, and Lake Forest adds none of its own. Each line below is from CDTFA's district tax list.
| Tax | Applies in | In effect since | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| State sales and use tax | All of California | — | 6.00% |
| Local sales tax (Bradley-Burns): 1% for city or county operations, 0.25% for county transportation | All of California | — | 1.25% |
| Orange County Local Transportation Authority | Orange County | April 1991 | 0.50% |
| Combined rate in Lake Forest | 7.75% |
Sales tax on common purchases in Lake Forest
| Price before tax | Tax at 7.75% | Total |
|---|---|---|
| $100.00 | $7.75 | $107.75 |
| $500.00 | $38.75 | $538.75 |
| $1,000.00 | $77.50 | $1,077.50 |
| $2,500.00 | $193.75 | $2,693.75 |
| $35,000.00 (car registered in Lake Forest) | $2,712.50 | $37,712.50 |
Groceries (most food for home consumption) and prescription medicine are exempt from California sales tax, so these rates apply to taxable goods such as clothing, electronics, furniture, restaurant meals and vehicles.
How Lake Forest compares
Lake Forest's 7.75% is the 80th-highest rate among California's 100 largest cities (shared with 17 others). Across the 34 cities in Orange County, rates run from 7.75% (Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Brea and 20 more) to 9.25% (Los Alamitos, Santa Ana, Seal Beach and 1 more). Unincorporated areas pay 7.75%.
| Other large cities in Orange County | Rate |
|---|---|
| Anaheim | 7.75% |
| Irvine | 7.75% |
| Santa Ana | 9.25% |
| Huntington Beach | 7.75% |
| Garden Grove | 8.75% |
| Orange | 7.75% |
| Fullerton | 7.75% |
| Costa Mesa | 7.75% |
| Westminster | 9.25% |
| Mission Viejo | 7.75% |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the sales tax rate in Lake Forest, California?
Lake Forest's combined sales tax rate is 7.75% as of October 13, 2026: the 7.25% statewide base plus 0.50% in district taxes.
Does Lake Forest have its own city sales tax?
No. Lake Forest has no city-level district tax of its own. Everything above the 7.25% base comes from taxes that apply across Orange County: Orange County Local Transportation Authority (0.50%).
What is the sales tax on a car bought in Lake Forest?
For a vehicle, the district tax follows the address where the car is registered, not where the dealer is. Registered at a Lake Forest address, a car is taxed at 7.75%: $2,712.50 on a $35,000 purchase.
How does Lake Forest's rate compare with the rest of Orange County?
Rates in Orange County's cities run from 7.75% to 9.25% (Los Alamitos, Santa Ana, Seal Beach and others). Lake Forest is at 7.75%. Unincorporated areas of the county pay 7.75%.
Is the rate the same at every address in Lake Forest?
Almost always. CDTFA's rate applies across the city limits, but a mailing address can say Lake Forest while the property sits in an unincorporated area or a neighboring city. Check a specific address with CDTFA's online rate lookup.
Sources
- CDTFA California City & County Sales & Use Tax Rates (combined rate for each quarter)
- CDTFA-105, District Taxes, Rates, and Effective Dates and Explanation of Tax Rate Changes (each district tax)
- CDTFA rate lookup by address
Educational information only. Rates are copied from CDTFA's published tables and change on the first day of a calendar quarter when new district taxes start or old ones end. Confirm the rate for a specific address with CDTFA before filing a return.