Business Taxes in the Bay Area
A City Level Analysis
Introduction
While it is impossible to pinpoint a single determining factor in relocations and other corporate real estate decisions, it is possible to analyze business taxes across the region to better understand the cost-benefit calculations that businesses are making as they determine how to locate their real estate and labor force needs. To investigate the business tax landscape across the Bay Area, the Institute analyzed the 20 largest job centers across the southern five counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara). The analysis that follows summarizes business tax structures and rates across the region using three hypothetical companies.