Sale tax hikes kick in Wednesday, with Cotati topping local cities

New sales tax rates take effect Wednesday in seven cities throughout the state, including in Cotati, where voters approved an increase in June that makes that city’s sales tax rate the highest in Sonoma County.

Cotati’s new tax rate will be 9.25 percent. Sebastopol’s is the next highest in the county, at 9 percent.

Petaluma, Cloverdale and Windsor are the lowest, at 8.25 percent. Petaluma is asking its voters to increase the local tax rate to 9.25 in November.

The state Board of Equalization issued an alert Monday reminding retailers and consumers that new sales and use tax rates take effect at the start of October.

Sales and use tax rates vary across California and consumers may be unaware if they are being charged the correct amount of tax, the agency warned.

To check if the proper tax rate is being charged, retailers and consumers are encouraged to visit the agency’s BOE’s online tax-rate tool.

For more information about sales and use tax rates, including help for consumers who have been overcharged, visit www.boe.ca.gov/knowyourrate.

You can reach Lori A. Carter at 762-7297 or lori.carter@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @loriacarter.