Finance

Sales Tax Calculator

Calculate sales tax for any US state. Enter your purchase amount and state to see the tax, total with tax, and effective rate. Use reverse mode to find the pre-tax price from a receipt total.

Quick Answer

To calculate sales tax, multiply the purchase price by the tax rate (e.g., $100 x 7.25% = $7.25 tax, $107.25 total). Rates vary by state from 0% (Delaware, Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire) to 7.25% (California). Local taxes can add 0.5% to 5% more. To reverse-calculate, divide the total by (1 + rate).

Calculate Sales Tax

Enter the purchase amount and select your state to calculate tax.

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%

City or county tax added on top of the state rate.

Disclaimer:This calculator uses base state sales tax rates and does not account for product-specific exemptions (groceries, clothing, medicine), special district taxes, or recent rate changes. Local rates vary by city and county. For exact tax amounts, check your state's Department of Revenue website. This tool is for informational purposes only and should not be used for official tax filing.
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About This Tool

The Sales Tax Calculator helps you determine the exact sales tax on any purchase in all 50 US states plus Washington D.C. Whether you are budgeting for a large purchase, checking a receipt, or comparing costs across state lines, this calculator gives you instant results with the formula shown for every calculation.

How Sales Tax Works in the US

Unlike countries with a national VAT (Value Added Tax), the United States has no federal sales tax. Instead, 45 states and Washington D.C. impose their own sales tax, and most allow cities and counties to add local taxes on top. This creates a patchwork of rates that can vary dramatically even within the same state. California has the highest base state rate at 7.25%, but when you add local taxes, some areas in Louisiana, Tennessee, and Arkansas can exceed 11% total.

Forward vs. Reverse Calculation

The standard (forward) calculation multiplies your purchase price by the tax rate. But sometimes you need to work backwards. If you have a receipt showing $53.50 total and need to know the pre-tax price for expense reporting or reimbursement, the reverse calculation divides the total by (1 + tax rate) to find the original price. Our reverse mode handles this automatically.

Why Local Rates Matter

State sales tax is only part of the picture. In New York, the state rate is just 4%, but New York City adds 4.5% in local taxes for a combined 8.875%. In Colorado, the state rate is a low 2.9%, but Denver adds enough local taxes to bring the combined rate to 8.81%. Always check your specific city and county rate for accurate calculations. You can enter the additional local rate in the optional field above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which states have no sales tax?
Five states have no state sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. However, Alaska allows local jurisdictions to levy their own sales taxes, so some areas in Alaska do charge sales tax. Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon have no sales tax at any level.
What is the difference between state and local sales tax?
State sales tax is a percentage set by the state government that applies uniformly across the state. Local sales tax is an additional percentage levied by cities, counties, or special districts on top of the state rate. The combined rate you actually pay is the sum of both. For example, in Los Angeles, CA, you pay 7.25% state + 2.25% local = 9.5% total.
How do I calculate sales tax backwards from a total?
To find the pre-tax price from a total that includes tax, divide the total by (1 + tax rate as a decimal). For example, if you paid $107.25 total with a 7.25% tax rate: $107.25 / 1.0725 = $100.00 pre-tax. The tax portion was $7.25. Use our Reverse mode to do this calculation automatically.
Are groceries taxed in every state?
No. Most states exempt groceries (unprepared food) from sales tax. However, some states like Alabama, Mississippi, and South Dakota tax groceries at the full rate. Others like Illinois and Virginia tax groceries at a reduced rate. Prepared food (restaurant meals, deli items) is almost always taxable.
Do I have to pay sales tax on online purchases?
Yes. After the 2018 Supreme Court ruling in South Dakota v. Wayfair, states can require online retailers to collect sales tax even if they have no physical presence in the state. Most major online retailers now collect sales tax automatically based on your shipping address. If tax is not collected, you may owe use tax on your state tax return.

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