Taxes in Burbank, CA come from three levels: the state collects income tax up to 13.3% and most of the sales tax, Los Angeles County bills property taxes at roughly 1.1% to 1.3% of assessed value, and the City of Burbank adds a 0.75% local sales tax, a 7% utility users tax, a business tax, and a transient occupancy tax of up to 10%. The combined sales tax rate at the register is 10.50%.
Sales Tax
Every taxable retail purchase in Burbank is charged at 10.50%. That total is built from California’s 7.25% statewide base, Los Angeles County district taxes funding homelessness services, transit, and transportation, and Burbank’s own 0.75% local transactions and use tax approved by voters as Measure P. The city’s share stays in Burbank and goes to general services like police, fire, street repairs, and senior programs.
Use tax works as the mirror image. Buy something from an out-of-state seller that doesn’t charge California tax, and you owe use tax at the same 10.50% rate once the item is in Burbank. The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration expects you to self-report, usually on your state income tax return.
California State Income Tax
California’s personal income tax is graduated across ten brackets, from 1% on the lowest slice of taxable income up to 13.3% on income over $1 million. The top rate includes a 1% surcharge for mental health services. For 2026, a single filer reaches the 9.3% bracket at roughly $72,724 of taxable income; married couples filing jointly reach it around $145,448.
On wages, there’s also a State Disability Insurance deduction of 1.1%, with no cap on the wages subject to it. Stacked on the top bracket, the effective marginal state rate on high wages can reach about 14.4%. California does not permit cities to levy their own income tax, so Burbank adds nothing on this line. Returns go to the Franchise Tax Board and are generally due April 15.
Property Tax
Property tax bills in Burbank come from the Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector. Proposition 13 caps the base rate at 1% of assessed value, with the assessed value set at the purchase price and limited to 2% annual increases unless there’s new construction or a change in ownership, either of which triggers reassessment at current market value.
Voter-approved bonds and special assessments ride on top of that 1% base. School and community college bonds are the usual culprits, along with charges for flood control and local improvements. Depending on where in Burbank the property sits, effective rates typically land between 1.1% and 1.3% of assessed value.
Due Dates and Late Penalties
Secured-roll property taxes come in two installments. The first is due November 1 and delinquent after December 10. The second is due February 1 and delinquent after April 10. When a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, you have until the next business day. Miss either and a 10% penalty is added automatically.
Homeowners’ Exemption and Appeals
If you live in the home you own, you can claim a homeowners’ exemption that cuts $7,000 off the assessed value, saving about $70 a year on the base tax. You file once with the Los Angeles County Assessor, and the exemption stays in place as long as the home remains your residence. Senior, blind, or disabled homeowners may also qualify for a property tax postponement program through the California State Controller’s Office.
If your assessed value looks too high, you can file an assessment appeal with the Los Angeles County Assessment Appeals Board between July 2 and November 30. There’s no filing fee, and the board will set a hearing.
Utility Users Tax
Burbank charges a 7% utility users tax on electricity, natural gas, water, and communication services, including landline and cellular phone plans. It applies to residents and businesses alike and is calculated on your total service charges each billing cycle. Your provider adds it to the bill and remits it to the city, so there’s nothing to file. The revenue goes into the general fund. There is no residential exemption process.
Transient Occupancy Tax
Guests at hotels, motels, and other short-term lodging in Burbank pay a transient occupancy tax on the room rate. The Burbank Municipal Code authorizes it at up to 10% of the rent. The tax applies only to stays of 30 consecutive days or less; stay longer and you’re treated as a long-term resident, and the tax drops off.
Operators collect the tax from guests at payment and remit it to the city by the last day of the month after each collection period. Every operator has to register with the city’s tax administrator within 30 days of starting business and post the Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate on the premises. Failing to collect or remit can bring interest charges and risk the operating permit.
Business Tax
Anyone doing business inside Burbank city limits has to register and pay the city’s business tax. A Business Tax Registration Certificate is required before you start operating, whether your business is based in Burbank, you’re a contractor on a local job site, or you work out of your home.
Burbank’s business tax isn’t based on gross receipts. It uses a basic tax plus a per-employee fee, billed annually on a calendar year, with rates adjusted each year to the Producer Price Index. A one-time registration fee applies when you first open the account. The exact amount depends on your business classification and employee count, which the city’s Community Development department confirms when you apply. Operating without a current registration brings penalties.
Real Estate Transfer Tax
When real property in Burbank sells, a documentary transfer tax is owed to Los Angeles County. The rate is $0.55 per $500 of sale price, or $1.10 per $1,000. On a $900,000 sale, that’s $990. Who pays is a point of negotiation between buyer and seller. Burbank does not add a city-level transfer tax on top of the county’s, which keeps closing costs here below cities like Los Angeles that do.