Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate sales tax for any US state, country, or custom rate. Add tax to a pre-tax price, remove tax from a tax-included total, or identify the exact tax rate from two known prices. All 50 US state base rates included for instant selection.
State base rate only. Cities and counties may add 1–4% local tax.
You might also need
How It Works
Multiply pre-tax price by (1 + tax rate/100). This gives the complete amount due including tax. Essential for budgeting purchases and reconciling receipts.
Total = Pre-tax x (1 + rate/100)$100 + 8.5% sales tax = $100 x 1.085 = $108.50Divide the total by (1 + tax rate/100). This reverses the tax inclusion. Do not subtract the percentage directly — that gives a different and incorrect result.
Pre-tax = Total / (1 + rate/100)$108.50 total / 1.085 = $100.00 pre-tax priceTax rate = (Total minus Pre-tax) / Pre-tax x 100. When you have both the pre-tax and total prices, this reveals the exact tax rate that was applied to the transaction.
Rate = (Total - Pre-tax) / Pre-tax x 100Paid $108.50, was $100 pre-tax: 8.50/100 x 100 = 8.5%All 50 US state base sales tax rates are built in. Select any state to instantly fill the rate field. Note that actual rates may be higher due to county and city additions on top of the state base rate.
State base rate + county/city additions = effective rateCA base 7.25% + local additions can reach 9% to 10%+VAT (Europe) and GST (Canada, Australia) are mathematically the same as sales tax for end consumers. In most countries the displayed price already includes VAT, so removing it requires dividing by (1 + rate/100).
Ex-VAT price = Listed price / (1 + VAT_rate/100)120 pounds at 20% UK VAT: 120 / 1.20 = 100 pounds pre-VATBusinesses collect sales tax on behalf of the state and must remit it on a regular schedule. Tax collected should be tracked separately from revenue since it belongs to the government, not the business.
Tax collected = Taxable sales x applicable rate$10,000 taxable sales at 8% = $800 to remit to the stateQuick Reference
Common examples — verify instantly above.
California 7.25%
$100 item at base rate
$107.25 total
Texas 6.25%
$500 laptop purchase
$531.25 total
New York 4%
$200 item at state base
$208.00 total
Remove tax
$108.50 total at 8.5%
$100.00 pre-tax
Find rate
$100 pre-tax, $108.50 total
8.5% rate applied
No-tax states
OR, MT, NH, DE, AK
$0 state sales tax
Highest combined
Some areas of LA and TN
Up to 11%+ combined rate
UK VAT 20%
120 pounds listed price
100 pounds ex-VAT
Tips & Shortcuts
When removing tax from a total, always divide by (1 + rate), never subtract the percentage directly. $108.50 / 1.085 = $100, not $108.50 - 8.5% = $99.41.
For large purchases near a state border, buying in a no-tax state can save significant money. A $5,000 purchase at 8% saves $400.
Local county and city taxes often add 1% to 4% on top of the state rate. Check the actual combined rate for your specific location before budgeting.
Many states exempt groceries and prescription drugs from sales tax entirely. Knowing your state's exemptions affects how you plan shopping and budgets.
Online retailers now collect sales tax in most states following the 2018 Supreme Court ruling. Factor sales tax into online purchase budgets.
Businesses must keep sales tax collected completely separate from operating revenue since it belongs to the government and must be remitted on schedule.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Subtracting the percentage directly to remove tax from a total
$108.50 minus 8.5% of $108.50 equals $99.41, which is wrong. The correct method divides by (1.085) to get exactly $100.00 pre-tax.
Using only the state rate without adding local taxes
State rates are the floor. County and city taxes often add 1% to 4% on top. California's 7.25% state base rate becomes 9% to 10%+ in many cities once local rates are added.
Assuming online purchases are still tax-free
Since the 2018 Supreme Court ruling, most online retailers with economic presence in your state collect the applicable sales tax. The era of widespread tax-free online shopping is over.
Not knowing which items are tax-exempt in your state
Groceries, prescription drugs, and in many states clothing are fully or partially exempt from sales tax. Applying full tax rates to exempt categories overstates actual costs.
Confusing GST, VAT, and sales tax calculation mechanics
All three are mathematically identical for the end consumer. The key difference is that European VAT is usually already included in the displayed price while US prices are shown pre-tax.
Failing to remit collected sales tax on schedule for businesses
Sales tax collected from customers belongs to the state government, not the business. Failing to remit on schedule results in penalties, interest, and serious legal consequences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Total = Pre-tax price x (1 + tax rate / 100). Example: $100 item with 8.5% tax becomes $100 x 1.085 = $108.50 total. The tax amount alone is $8.50. This formula works for any tax rate including GST and VAT.
Pre-tax price = Total / (1 + tax rate / 100). Example: $108.50 with 8.5% included becomes $108.50 / 1.085 = $100.00 pre-tax. The common mistake of subtracting 8.5% directly gives the wrong answer of $99.41.
Five states have no statewide sales tax: Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, Delaware, and Alaska, though Alaska allows local municipalities to impose their own sales taxes. These states are popular for large purchases like electronics or furniture.
Combined state and local sales tax rates exceed 11% in some areas of Louisiana, Tennessee, and Arkansas. California has the highest state base rate at 7.25%, but local additions can push the combined rate to 10% or higher in many California cities.
Sales tax is applied only at the final point of sale to the consumer. VAT (Value Added Tax) is applied at every stage of production and supply but consumers pay the accumulated total. VAT is standard in Europe and most countries outside the US. For the end consumer, both are calculated the same way.
No. Many states exempt groceries, prescription medications, and clothing from sales tax entirely or apply reduced rates. The state rates shown apply to standard taxable purchases. Check your specific state's exemptions for common item categories.
Related Calculators
GST Calculator
Calculate GST for goods and services in any country.
Marriage Tax Calculator
See the tax difference between filing jointly vs separately.
Discount Calculator
Find the final price after any discount or coupon.
Basic Calculator
Fast arithmetic: add, subtract, multiply, divide.
Random Number Generator
Generate random integers within any range.
Mortgage Calculator
Calculate monthly payment, total cost, and amortization.