Sales Tax Calculator

About the Sales Tax Calculator

A sales tax calculator adds or removes sales tax from any price, instantly showing the tax amount and final after-tax total — or stripping tax out from a tax-inclusive price to find the pre-tax base. Sales tax varies by state, county, and city in the USA — from zero (in the 5 states with no sales tax: Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, Delaware, and Alaska at the state level) to over 11% in combined city and state rates in some localities. Our free sales tax calculator covers all US states and major cities, allows custom tax rate entry for any jurisdiction worldwide, handles VAT (Value Added Tax) for European and other international purchases, and works in both directions: adding tax to a pre-tax price, or extracting the pre-tax price from a total that already includes tax. It also calculates the combined tax when multiple rates apply (state + county + city) and handles partial exemptions for items like groceries and medicine that receive different tax treatment in many states.

How It Works

Adding sales tax: Total = Price x (1 + Tax Rate/100). Tax amount = Price x (Tax Rate/100). Example: $75 item with 8.25% sales tax. Tax = $75 x 0.0825 = $6.19. Total = $75 + $6.19 = $81.19. Or: Total = $75 x 1.0825 = $81.19. Removing tax from inclusive price: Pre-tax price = Total / (1 + Tax Rate/100). Example: receipt shows $81.19 total with 8.25% tax. Pre-tax = $81.19 / 1.0825 = $75.00. Combined rate example: California base rate (7.25%) + Los Angeles County (2.25%) + Los Angeles City (0%) = 9.50% total. $100 item: $100 x 0.095 = $9.50 tax. Total = $109.50.

Tips & Best Practices

• ✓The 5 states with no statewide sales tax: Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, Delaware, and Alaska (though Alaska allows local taxes up to 7.5%). Residents in these states often cross state lines for major purchases.
• ✓Highest combined sales tax rates in the USA (2025): Louisiana (up to 11.45%), Tennessee (up to 10.75%), Arkansas (up to 10.75%), Washington (up to 10.6%). Know your local rate before large purchases.
• ✓Internet purchases: the 2018 Supreme Court ruling (South Dakota v. Wayfair) requires out-of-state online retailers to collect sales tax if they meet economic nexus thresholds. Most major online retailers now collect the correct local rate automatically.
• ✓Use tax: if you buy something from an out-of-state seller who did not collect sales tax, you are legally required to pay "use tax" to your state at the same rate — most individuals do not, but the obligation exists.
• ✓Grocery exemptions: most states exempt food for home consumption from sales tax, but prepared food (restaurant meals, hot deli items) remains taxable even in grocery stores. The distinction matters for large grocery purchases.
• ✓VAT versus sales tax: VAT is included in the displayed price in most countries; sales tax in the USA is added at checkout. A European price of €100 with 20% VAT means the actual pre-tax price is €83.33.
• ✓Business sales tax collection: businesses that collect sales tax must remit it to the state on a regular schedule (monthly, quarterly, or annually depending on sales volume) — it is not business income but a pass-through obligation.
• ✓Car purchase sales tax: vehicle sales tax is typically paid to the DMV at registration. In most states, if you trade in a vehicle, tax is applied only to the difference between the new vehicle price and the trade-in value.

Who Uses This Calculator

Shoppers calculating the final out-of-pocket cost of purchases before reaching the checkout. Business owners determining the tax-inclusive price to charge customers. Accountants reconciling receipts and calculating the pre-tax amount from tax-inclusive totals. E-commerce businesses calculating the correct tax to collect for purchases shipped to customers in different states. Travellers determining the tax-inclusive cost of purchases in unfamiliar states or countries. Small businesses preparing sales tax returns and calculating amounts owed to state tax authorities.