California also has a state income tax up to 12% (!!) and a sales tax of 7%. Texas has no state income tax and a sales tax of 6%.
My point was not that the rate here in SF is lower, but that SF also taxes the same thing.
This was surprising to me, as I'm from the UK, where:
- businesses don't pay ongoing taxes just for having stuff, and
- businesses claim back VAT on things they buy for business use