Voter-approved sales and use tax rate increases will take effect April 1 for cities in five California counties, including the city of Oakdale, said the California State Board of Equalization (BOE).

The cities of Fairfax, Palm Springs, Oakdale, and Vallejo are increasing sales tax rates within their respective boundaries, while an increase throughout Mendocino County will raise the sales tax rate in each of its four incorporated cities, as well as in the unincorporated areas of the county.

Oakdale’s previous sales tax rate was 7.375 percent; the new rate will be 7.875 percent.

Retailers generally need to apply the new sales tax rates if they:

• Operate within the taxing area (the city/county with the new tax rate) and have merchandise sold and delivered within the area.

• Operate outside of the taxing area but are engaged in business within the area and sell merchandise for use in the area.

• Are engaged in business in the area. Retailers are considered to be engaged in business in the area if they:

— Have a business location in the tax area.

— Deliver into the tax area using their vehicles.

— Have an agent or representative in the area to make sales, deliveries, installations, or take orders.

• Sell autos, boats, or aircraft to customers that register them within the taxing area.

• Collect tax on lease payments from property used in the taxing area.

If a retailer is not required to collect or report the additional tax as described above, the purchaser may be responsible for reporting and remitting use tax to the BOE, depending on the circumstances of the sale or use of the property. The use tax, which has been law since 1935, is the same rate for any California location as the sales tax rate.

For more information, visit www.boe.ca.gov or call the Taxpayer Information Center at 800-400-7115.

For a complete list of city and county sales tax rates in California, visit www.boe.ca.gov/cgi-bin/rates.cgi.