Covina tax rates stack together from three levels of government: California, Los Angeles County, and the city itself. The combined sales tax runs 10.50 percent, property tax starts at 1 percent of assessed value before add-ons, the utility user tax is 6 percent, hotel stays are taxed at 10 percent, and real estate sales and operating businesses carry their own charges. Here is what each one covers and when it comes due.
Sales Tax in Covina
Taxable purchases in Covina are charged a combined sales tax of 10.50 percent.1California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. California City and County Sales and Use Tax Rates That total is built from California’s 7.25 percent statewide base, several Los Angeles County district taxes (including two half-cent transportation measures and a quarter-cent for homelessness services), and Covina’s own quarter-cent local tax approved by voters as Measure CC, which sends about $3 million a year to the city’s general fund.2City of Covina. Understanding Measure CC: What Covina Voters Need to Know
Not everything you buy is taxed at that rate. California exempts most groceries bought for home consumption, prescription medications, and certain medical devices.3California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. What Is Taxable Restaurant meals, hot prepared foods, and carbonated drinks are taxable even though they look like groceries. Purchases made with EBT are exempt.
Property Tax
Property tax in Covina starts at the Proposition 13 cap of 1 percent of assessed value.4California State Board of Equalization. California Property Tax An Overview Your assessed value is set at the purchase price and can rise by no more than 2 percent per year, so homes held for a long time are often taxed well below current market value.5Los Angeles County Assessor. Proposition 13
Your actual bill will run higher than that 1 percent. Voter-approved bonds for schools, community colleges, and infrastructure add charges on top of the base levy, and direct assessments for things like landscape maintenance, street lighting, and waste collection show up as separate flat line items tied to the parcel.
Payment Deadlines
Los Angeles County collects property tax in two installments. The first installment is due November 1 and becomes delinquent after December 10. The second is due February 1 and becomes delinquent after April 10.6Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector. Secured Property Taxes General Information Miss either date and a 10 percent penalty is added automatically; the late second installment also carries an extra $10 cost.7Los Angeles County Property Tax Portal. Notice of Delinquency
Exemptions and Relief
If you own and live in your home, you can claim the Homeowners’ Exemption, which reduces assessed value by $7,000 and saves about $70 a year at the base rate. You file once with the Los Angeles County Assessor and the exemption stays in place until you move or change the property’s use.8California State Board of Equalization. Homeowners’ Exemption
Seniors, blind residents, and disabled homeowners may qualify for California’s Property Tax Postponement program, which defers payment and places a lien on the home for the deferred amount. You need at least 40 percent equity, the home must be your primary residence, and total household income must be $55,181 or less. The filing deadline for the 2025–26 cycle is February 10, 2026.9State Controller’s Office. Property Tax Postponement
Taxes When You Sell or Buy Property
A sale of real property in Covina triggers documentary transfer tax from both the county and the city. Los Angeles County charges $0.55 per $500 of value when the price exceeds $100,10Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. Documentary Transfer Taxes General Info and Covina adds another $0.275 per $500 under its municipal code.11City of Covina, CA. Covina Code Chapter 3.20 Real Property Transfer Tax Combined, that is $0.825 per $500, or roughly $990 on a $600,000 home. Liens and encumbrances that stay on the property after sale are excluded from the taxable value, and buyer and seller typically negotiate who pays this at closing.
Utility User Tax
Covina adds a 6 percent utility user tax to residential and commercial bills for electricity, natural gas, and telephone service.12City of Covina, CA. Covina Code Chapter 3.14 Utility Users Tax It applies to the full billed amount, including delivery and supplemental charges for electricity, storage and transportation for gas, and both landline and cellular calls. Utility companies collect the 6 percent on their monthly bills and send the money to the city. Voters extended the tax for another ten years in 2017, so the current authorization runs through about 2027.
Low-Income Exemption
Low-income residents in single-family homes with standard metered service can apply to be exempted from the utility user tax. Eligibility is based on household size and total income from all sources: a single-person household qualifies below $44,150, scaling up to $83,250 for a household of eight.13City of Covina. Low-Income Utility User’s Tax Exemption Application You have to reapply every year before May 15, and any tax paid before approval is not refunded. Claiming the exemption without actually qualifying is a misdemeanor.
Transient Occupancy Tax
If you run a hotel, motel, or short-term rental in Covina, you charge guests a 10 percent transient occupancy tax on the rent.14City of Covina, CA. Covina Code Chapter 3.16 Transient Occupancy Tax The tax applies only to stays of 30 consecutive days or less; longer stays are generally exempt because the guest is no longer considered transient. The operator collects the tax from the guest and remits it to the city.
Business License Tax
Any business operating in Covina must hold an annual business license. The city treats the license as a revenue measure under Municipal Code Chapter 5.04.15City of Covina, CA. Covina Code 5.04 Article I Business Licenses Generally Most businesses pay a tax based on annual gross receipts, with rates that vary by industry. Some service businesses and contractors pay a flat annual fee or a rate tied to employee count instead. Every applicant also pays a $1 state-mandated fee under SB-1186 for disability access compliance.
Do not start operating before the license is issued; your application must be approved and the certificate in hand first.16City of Covina. Licenses Operating without a valid license is a misdemeanor under the municipal code, so renewals matter as much as the first application.