San Francisco has a 27% headline corporate tax rate; occupiers must also model property taxes and any local occupancy levies on top of rent.

  • Headline corporate tax: 27%.
  • Property taxes / business rates / equivalents are a separate line item — model them explicitly.
  • Cross-border occupiers should screen for local incentives (free zones, IP regimes, R&D credits).

San Francisco corporate taxes and occupancy taxes

San Francisco has a 27% headline corporate tax rate; occupiers must also model property taxes and any local occupancy levies on top of rent.

TL;DR

  • Headline corporate tax: 27%.
  • Property taxes / business rates / equivalents are a separate line item — model them explicitly.
  • Cross-border occupiers should screen for local incentives (free zones, IP regimes, R&D credits).

Corporate tax

San Francisco levies an effective corporate tax of around 27% on most C-corps. Cross-border holding structures and IP regimes can materially change the effective rate; engage local tax counsel early.

Occupancy and property taxes

Combined federal + California corporate tax effectively reaches 27%. San Francisco gross receipts tax applies to most occupiers; payroll tax is now phased out.

Key facts

citySan Francisco
countryUnited States
regionAmericas
classARentLocal78 USD/sqft/yr
classARentUsd$78/sqft/yr
vacancy31.5%
typicalLeaseYears7
typicalRentFreeMonths22
submarkets6
primeYieldPct6.5%
corporateTaxPct27%

Frequently asked questions

What is San Francisco's corporate tax rate?
Around 27% on most C-corps. Local incentives, IP regimes, and structuring change the effective rate materially.

Editorial provenance

Reviewed by Miriam Hollander — Lead market analyst. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.

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