Sales Tax Calculator
Work out the sales tax on a purchase. Enter the price and your state and local tax rates to see the tax and the total, or switch modes to find the price before tax from a receipt total.
Total with tax
108.00
Check the highlighted fields to see your result.
- Sales tax
- 8.00
- Combined rate
- 8%
- Price before tax
- 100.00
Results are estimates for information only and do not constitute financial, medical, or legal advice.
How sales tax works
In the US, sales tax is added at the register as a percentage of the price. Your combined rate is the state rate plus any local rates from your county or city. The calculator adds them up and applies the total rate to the price.
The formulas
Tax = price × rate
Price before tax = total ÷ (1 + rate)
Worked example
You buy something for $49.99 in a place with a 7.25% combined rate.
- Tax: $49.99 × 0.0725 = $3.62.
- Total: $49.99 + $3.62 = $53.61.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find my sales tax rate?
Your total rate is your state rate plus any county, city, or special district rates. Your state's department of revenue publishes the rates, and receipts from local stores usually show the combined rate.
Which states have no sales tax?
Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon have no statewide sales tax. Some local governments in Alaska still charge a local sales tax.
How do I remove sales tax from a total?
Divide the total by 1 plus the rate as a decimal. For example, with an 8% rate, $108 ÷ 1.08 = $100 before tax. Subtracting 8% of the total doesn't work, because the tax was charged on the lower price.
Is sales tax the same as VAT?
No. US sales tax is added at the register and set by each state and city. VAT, used in Europe and many other countries, is usually already included in the price you see. For VAT, use our VAT calculator.