California CBE Waste Recycling Fee: 1.5% Fee on Battery-Embedded Products
Reference for California's Covered Battery-Embedded (CBE) Waste Recycling Fee requiring a 1.5% charge (capped at $15) on eligible products with built-in batteries, effective January 1, 2026.
This is a regulated fee — required or governed by law in the jurisdictions below.
Overview
California requires retailers to collect a Covered Battery-Embedded (CBE) Waste Recycling Fee of 1.5% of the retail sales price, capped at $15 per item, on eligible new or refurbished products with built-in batteries sold for use in the state. The fee must be separately stated on receipts. Retailers must register with CDTFA and file quarterly returns.
Fee schedule by jurisdiction
1 jurisdiction with active fee requirements.
| Jurisdiction | Fee |
|---|---|
| California | 1.5% of retail price, capped at $15 per covered product |
California
1.5% of retail price, capped at $15 per covered product
New or refurbished products with covered embedded batteries (electronics, tools, etc.)
Not subject to sales tax; must be separately stated on invoices; quarterly filing with CDTFA required. Shopify Tax supports automatic CBE fee calculation for eligible product categories as of March 12, 2026 (fee appears in tax lines; separate line item may require an app for full compliance)
Effective Jan 1, 2026
Enforcement
Retailers who fail to register, collect, or remit the fee face enforcement from CDTFA. Out-of-state sellers with California nexus are also required to collect.
What merchants get wrong
Merchants often confuse the CBE (Covered Battery-Embedded) fee with California's older e-waste recycling fee. They're separate programs with different rates and product scopes. The CBE fee applies to products with built-in batteries (electronics, power tools, etc.) and is 1.5% capped at $15; the e-waste fee applies to covered electronic devices and has different rules. If you sell both battery-embedded products and standalone electronics, you may need to collect both fees depending on product eligibility.
Official sources
Related guides
Step-by-step guides for charging california covered battery-embedded (cbe) waste recycling fee on Shopify.
Shopify compliance
This is a mandatory fee — merchants selling in covered jurisdictions are legally required to collect it. Shopify requires that mandatory fees be clearly disclosed to customers before checkout. Use a Shopify app like Magical Fees to automate collection and ensure compliance.
This information is maintained by the Magical Apps team and reviewed quarterly. Always consult official government sources for the most current requirements.
Quick facts
- Regulation
- Covered Battery-Embedded (CBE) Waste Recycling Fee
- Country
- United States
- Jurisdictions
- 1
- Category
- Recycling Fees
Explore California Covered Battery-Embedded (CBE) Waste Recycling Fee in practice
See how to automate this fee on Shopify and browse other regulations in this category.
Related use cases
Set up with Magical Fees on Shopify.
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