Revenue and Taxation Code section 6052
(a)
Notwithstanding Section 6010.5, and except as provided in subdivision (c), a retailer is relieved from liability to pay sales tax on the sale or purchase of a digital product that is transferred electronically or accessed remotely if the following applies, unless the purchaser is an insurer, as defined in Section 28 of Article XIII of the California Constitution:(1)
(A)The gross receipts from the sale of digital products by a retailer to a purchaser that are transferred electronically or accessed remotely exceed five million dollars ($5,000,000) in the aggregate in the current calendar year, or, beginning January 1, 2028, in the current or the preceding calendar year.(B)
The purchaser shall become liable for the use tax pursuant to subdivision (b) on the transaction that caused the retailer to exceed the threshold specified in subparagraph (A) and any adjustments made pursuant to paragraph (2).(2)
(A)On or before October 1, 2031, and every five years thereafter, the department shall multiply the amount specified in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) by the percentage increase in the California Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers between October 1, 2026, and the date of the calculation required by this subparagraph, and the result shall be rounded to the nearest one million dollars ($1,000,000) and shall be the applicable amount for the succeeding calendar year.(B)
The applicable amount computed pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be operative beginning January 1 of the succeeding calendar year, and four years thereafter, as an adjustment of the amount specified in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1).(b)
If a retailer is relieved from liability to pay sales tax pursuant to subdivision (a), the purchaser is liable for the use tax and shall self-assess and pay directly to the department taxes due under this part, Part 1.5 (commencing with Section 7200), and, if otherwise applicable, Part 1.6 (commencing with Section 7251) and Part 1.7 (commencing with Section 7280) on the transaction that caused the retailer to exceed the threshold specified in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) and any adjustments made pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a).(c)
(1)If the department determines that it is necessary for the efficient administration of this part, the department may waive the requirement for the purchaser to self-assess and pay taxes due directly to the department under subdivision (b), and the retailer shall be liable to pay the sales tax if the purchaser submits to the department a request for waiver in a form and manner prescribed by the department that includes all the places of business where the applicant expects to be a place of first use for purchases of digital products subject to subdivision (a).(2)
A purchaser that submits a request for waiver to the department under paragraph (1) shall also submit to the retailer all places of business where the purchaser expects to be a place of first use, which shall be considered the place of sale for purposes of the sales tax.(d)
A purchaser that is required to pay use taxes to the department under subdivision (b) shall obtain a use tax direct payment permit pursuant to the procedures provided in Section 7051.3.(e)
This section shall become operative on January 1, 2027.
Source:
Section 6052, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=RTC§ionNum=6052. (updated Jun. 29, 2026; accessed Jul. 20, 2026).
