Credit card processing and merchant services in Fresno, CA
Fresno charges 8.35% sales tax inside city limits, while unincorporated Fresno County charges 7.975%. If you sell on both sides of that line, you need both rates entered exactly.
Fresno's sales tax is 8.35% inside city limits, according to CDTFA's rates effective October 1, 2026. Cross into unincorporated Fresno County and it drops to 7.975%. That second rate has three decimal places, which is where setup mistakes creep in. If your POS or invoicing tool only stores two decimals, 7.975% can quietly become 7.98%, and every county sale then collects slightly more than it should.
The gap between the two rates is 0.375 points. On a $1,200 sale, that's $100.20 in tax inside the city and $95.70 in the unincorporated county, a $4.50 difference on one ticket. Landscapers, caterers and mobile repair techs who work both sides of the city line should look up each job address with CDTFA instead of assuming.
The Census Bureau estimated Fresno's population at 555,549 in July 2025, 2.5% above its 2020 base.
Card fee rules here are the statewide ones. Civil Code 1748.1 still bans surcharges on paper, the Attorney General generally follows the 2018 Italian Colors ruling for merchants situated like the plaintiffs, and a business that takes only cards has to build the card fee into its advertised prices under SB 478. Our California page has the sources.
Before you add any fee at the counter, find out what you pay now. A free statement review splits your costs into interchange and markup, and our POS terminals page covers countertop and wireless setups for shops and field work.
Rules that matter in Fresno
A three-decimal county rate
CDTFA lists the city of Fresno at 8.35% and unincorporated Fresno County at 7.975% (rates effective October 1, 2026). Use the rate for the address where each sale takes place, and enter the county rate with all three decimal places so your system doesn't round it.
Source: CDTFA, California city and county sales and use tax rate information
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Common questions
What sales tax rate applies in Fresno?
Inside Fresno city limits, 8.35%, per CDTFA's rates effective October 1, 2026. Unincorporated parts of Fresno County are at 7.975%. If a customer's address is near the edge of the city, check it with CDTFA's lookup by address before you invoice.
How should I enter the 7.975% county rate in my POS?
With all three decimals. If your system only accepts two, ask your POS provider how to handle it before you round, because 7.98% over-collects by 0.005 points on every sale. That's only 5 cents per $1,000, but it is tax your customers paid that the county rate doesn't call for.
Can a Fresno restaurant add a credit card surcharge?
Generally yes, if it's disclosed honestly. California's 1748.1 ban hasn't been repealed, but the Attorney General generally applies the Italian Colors ruling to similarly situated merchants. Keep the fee within your cost and the Visa and Mastercard caps, leave debit and prepaid cards out, and see our restaurant payment processing guide before you change your menus.
Do Fresno businesses have to take cash?
We found no statewide California law that requires it, so check Fresno's municipal code before you go cashless. If you do stop taking cash, customers can no longer avoid a card fee, and SB 478 then requires that fee to be included in the prices you advertise.
Disclaimer: general information, not professional advice
This page is general educational information, not legal, tax, accounting or financial advice. Rules and rates vary by place and change, so confirm them with the official source and a qualified professional before you act. Full terms are in our Terms of Service.
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