Unsure where you owe sales or use tax or dealing with legacy compliance pain?

California sales tax exposure often exists even when businesses believe they are compliant. District taxes, nexus expansion, exemption errors, and use tax omissions frequently create hidden liability. The California Sales Tax Exposure Calculator helps businesses identify risk areas quickly before audits, enforcement notices, or remediation decisions.

What This Calculator Does

The calculator evaluates exposure across four core areas:

Nexus creation and timing
District tax application errors
Exemption and resale certificate risk
Use tax exposure on purchases

It is designed to surface risk indicators, not to file returns.

Who Should Use This Calculator

This tool is designed for businesses that:

Sell to California customers
Operate across multiple cities or counties
Use third party fulfillment or marketplaces
Purchase equipment or software out of state
Have never reviewed historical filings

It is commonly used before audits, acquisitions, or voluntary disclosure decisions.

What Information the Calculator Reviews

The calculator analyzes inputs related to:

California revenue history
Physical presence and inventory locations
Marketplace and fulfillment activity
Product and service mix
Exempt sales and documentation
Use tax relevant purchases

No sensitive financial data is stored.

Exposure Areas the Calculator Identifies

Nexus Exposure

Identifies whether economic or physical nexus likely existed before registration.

District Tax Risk

Flags potential errors caused by rate changes, city level differences, or sourcing mistakes.

Exemption Risk

Highlights unsupported or inconsistent exemption usage.

Use Tax Risk

Surfaces purchases that commonly create unpaid use tax exposure.

How to Use the California Sales Tax Exposure Calculator

Step 1

Answer high level questions about your business activity in California.

Step 2

Provide time ranges, locations, and sales channels.

Step 3

Review exposure indicators generated by the tool.

Step 4

Decide whether deeper analysis or remediation is needed.

For methodology details, see How to Identify Sales Tax Exposure in California.

What the Results Mean

Calculator results indicate:

Low exposure risk
Moderate exposure risk
High exposure risk

Results do not constitute legal or tax advice but help prioritize next steps. For deeper clarity on risk factors, review how exposure is identified.

Check Your California Sales Tax Exposure

If your business operates in California, identifying exposure requires more than checking current filings. Use the California Sales Tax Exposure Calculator to uncover potential risk before a CDTFA audit.

How TaxMap Uses Calculator Results

TaxMap uses calculator outputs to:

Determine whether deeper historical review is needed
Identify which exposure areas require attention
Guide remediation or filing strategy discussions
Support audit readiness and due diligence

TaxMap focuses on exposure clarity before enforcement.

If your calculator results indicate moderate or high exposure or if you want confirmation before a CDTFA audit, early analysis matters.

California Sales Tax Exposure Calculator