Do I pay CA state tax on an online purchase from a foreign country?

[deniseja]

I bought an expensive jacket online from a company in Iceland. They didn't charge me sales CA tax of course. So I voluntarily paid the tax and "mailed" my return today. Just realized maybe I didn't have to declare it because the jacket is from Iceland (not the states). I'm thinking of filing an amendment but am wondering if I'm right that I should NOT have declared and paid that sales tax.

[RBBrittain · Accepted solution]

Generally, "use tax" (an extension of sales tax) is legally due on any taxable item purchased out-of-state -- whether in another state or another country -- on which you didn't pay sales tax. Yes, seemingly nobody pays it; but you're supposed to. You did the right thing by paying it.