Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate sales tax on any purchase or reverse-calculate the pre-tax price from a total. Includes preset tax rates for all 50 US states.
For informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Calculations are estimates and may not reflect your exact situation. Consult a qualified financial adviser for personalised guidance.
About Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate US sales tax on any purchase or reverse-calculate the pre-tax price from a total. Switch between "Add Tax" and "Remove Tax" modes, select your state from the built-in reference table, and see the tax amount instantly. Supports all 50 US states plus custom rates for local taxes.
How Is Sales Tax Calculated?
The two formulas are straightforward:
Adding tax: Total = Price x (1 + Tax Rate)
Removing tax: Pre-Tax Price = Total / (1 + Tax Rate)
Worked example (adding): A $499.99 laptop in Texas (6.25% state + 2% local = 8.25% combined):
- Tax: $499.99 x 0.0825 = $41.25
- Total: $499.99 + $41.25 = $541.24
Worked example (removing): A receipt shows $541.24 total in Texas (8.25%):
- Pre-tax price: $541.24 / 1.0825 = $499.99
- Tax paid: $541.24 - $499.99 = $41.25
The reverse calculation is useful for expense reports, bookkeeping, and receipt reconciliation when you only have the final total.
US State Sales Tax Rates (2025)
State-level base rates only. Most states also have county and city taxes that add 1-5% on top. Five states charge no sales tax at all.
| Highest Rate States | State Rate | Typical Combined Rate |
|---|---|---|
| California | 7.25% | 8.5 - 10.75% |
| Indiana | 7.00% | 7.00% (no local) |
| Mississippi | 7.00% | 7.00 - 8.00% |
| Tennessee | 7.00% | 9.0 - 9.75% |
| Minnesota | 6.875% | 7.0 - 8.875% |
| Nevada | 6.85% | 7.6 - 8.375% |
| New Jersey | 6.625% | 6.625% (no local) |
| No Sales Tax States | Notes |
|---|---|
| Alaska | No state tax, but some localities charge up to 7.5% |
| Delaware | No sales tax at any level |
| Montana | No sales tax; some resort taxes in tourist areas |
| New Hampshire | No sales tax; 9% meals and rooms tax |
| Oregon | No sales tax at any level |
State vs Local vs Combined Rates
The rate you actually pay at checkout is the combined rate (state + county + city + special district). This varies widely even within a single state:
| Location | State | Local | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 7.25% | 2.25% | 9.50% |
| Chicago, IL | 6.25% | 4.75% | 10.25% |
| New York City, NY | 4.00% | 4.50% | 8.875% |
| Houston, TX | 6.25% | 2.00% | 8.25% |
| Seattle, WA | 6.50% | 3.75% | 10.25% |
| Portland, OR | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Use the state rate from the built-in table as a starting point, then add your local rate for an accurate calculation. Your local rate is printed on receipts or available on your state's Department of Revenue website.
What Is Taxable?
Sales tax rules vary by state, but general patterns:
| Category | Typically Taxable? | Common Exceptions |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics, clothing, furniture | Yes (in most states) | Clothing exempt in PA, NJ, MN, NY (under $110) |
| Groceries (unprepared food) | No (in most states) | Taxable in AL, AR, HI, ID, IL, KS, MS, MO, OK, SD, TN, UT, VA, WV |
| Prepared food / restaurants | Yes | Some states apply a lower rate |
| Prescription medications | No (all states) | OTC medications taxable in most states |
| Digital goods (software, streaming) | Varies widely | About 30 states tax digital goods |
| Services (haircuts, repairs) | Varies widely | Most states exempt services; HI, NM, SD tax broadly |
| Vehicles | Yes | Tax often calculated on price minus trade-in |
Sales Tax on Large Purchases
Sales tax becomes a significant cost on big-ticket items:
| Purchase | Price | Tax at 6% | Tax at 8% | Tax at 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smartphone | $1,000 | $60 | $80 | $100 |
| Laptop | $2,000 | $120 | $160 | $200 |
| Furniture set | $5,000 | $300 | $400 | $500 |
| Used car | $20,000 | $1,200 | $1,600 | $2,000 |
| New car | $40,000 | $2,400 | $3,200 | $4,000 |
| Boat/RV | $80,000 | $4,800 | $6,400 | $8,000 |
Some states cap vehicle sales tax or offer tax credits for trade-ins. A few states (Montana, Oregon) are popular for vehicle registration specifically because of zero sales tax.
Sales Tax vs VAT
US sales tax is charged once at the point of sale to the end consumer. Value Added Tax (VAT), used in the UK, EU, and most other countries, is collected at every stage of production. The key practical difference: US prices are displayed before tax (you add it at checkout), while VAT-inclusive prices show the final amount on the shelf. For VAT calculations, use the VAT calculator.
Sales Tax on Online Purchases
Since the 2018 Supreme Court ruling in South Dakota v. Wayfair, states can require online retailers to collect sales tax if they have "economic nexus" in the state (typically $100,000 in sales or 200 transactions per year). In practice, this means most online purchases from major retailers now include sales tax based on your shipping address. Small sellers below the threshold may not collect tax, but technically buyers owe "use tax" on those purchases.
For auto purchases where sales tax rolls into the loan, the auto loan calculator handles this automatically. To figure out sale prices before tax, the discount calculator computes percentage and dollar-off discounts.
All calculations run in your browser. No data is stored or sent anywhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is sales tax calculated?
Sales tax is calculated by multiplying the pre-tax price by the tax rate. For example, a $100 item at 6% tax has $6.00 in tax for a total of $106.00. In reverse mode, the pre-tax price equals the total divided by (1 + tax rate).
Which US states have no sales tax?
Five states have no state-level sales tax - Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. However, some localities in Alaska do charge local sales taxes.
Do the rates shown include local taxes?
No. The rates shown are state-level base rates only. Many cities and counties add their own sales taxes. For example, New York State charges 4% but New York City adds 4.5% for a combined 8.875%. Always check your local combined rate.
What is reverse sales tax calculation?
Reverse calculation finds the pre-tax price when you know the total after tax. This is useful for bookkeeping, expense reports, or when a receipt only shows the final amount. The formula is pre-tax price = total / (1 + tax rate).
Does sales tax apply to online purchases?
In most US states, online purchases are subject to sales tax if the seller has a physical presence or significant economic activity in your state. Since the 2018 South Dakota v. Wayfair Supreme Court decision, most states require online retailers to collect sales tax.
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