Sales Tax Calculator

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Pre-Tax Price

Tax Rate (%)

Quick: US State Rate

State	State Rate	Avg. Local	Combined
Alabama	4%	5.24%	9.24%
Alaska	0%	1.76%	1.76%
Arizona	5.6%	2.8%	8.4%
Arkansas	6.5%	2.97%	9.47%
California	7.25%	1.57%	8.82%
Colorado	2.9%	4.87%	7.77%
Connecticut	6.35%	0%	6.35%
Delaware	0%	0%	0%
Florida	6%	1.02%	7.02%
Georgia	4%	3.38%	7.38%
Hawaii	4%	0.5%	4.5%
Idaho	6%	0.02%	6.02%
Illinois	6.25%	2.57%	8.82%
Indiana	7%	0%	7%
Iowa	6%	0.94%	6.94%
Kansas	6.5%	2.19%	8.69%
Kentucky	6%	0%	6%
Louisiana	4.45%	5.07%	9.52%
Maine	5.5%	0%	5.5%
Maryland	6%	0%	6%
Massachusetts	6.25%	0%	6.25%
Michigan	6%	0%	6%
Minnesota	6.875%	0.6%	7.475%
Mississippi	7%	0.07%	7.07%
Missouri	4.225%	4.06%	8.285%
Montana	0%	0%	0%
Nebraska	5.5%	1.44%	6.94%
Nevada	6.85%	1.38%	8.23%
New Hampshire	0%	0%	0%
New Jersey	6.625%	0%	6.625%
New Mexico	5.125%	2.69%	7.815%
New York	4%	4.52%	8.52%
North Carolina	4.75%	2.25%	7%
North Dakota	5%	2.04%	7.04%
Ohio	5.75%	1.49%	7.24%
Oklahoma	4.5%	4.47%	8.97%
Oregon	0%	0%	0%
Pennsylvania	6%	0.34%	6.34%
Rhode Island	7%	0%	7%
South Carolina	6%	1.46%	7.46%
South Dakota	4.5%	1.9%	6.4%
Tennessee	7%	2.55%	9.55%
Texas	6.25%	1.94%	8.19%
Utah	6.1%	1.09%	7.19%
Vermont	6%	0.24%	6.24%
Virginia	5.3%	0.45%	5.75%
Washington	6.5%	2.73%	9.23%
Washington D.C.	6%	0%	6%
West Virginia	6%	0.52%	6.52%
Wisconsin	5%	0.44%	5.44%
Wyoming	4%	1.36%	5.36%

State

State Rate

Avg. Local

Combined

Alabama

5.24%

9.24%

Alaska

1.76%

Arizona

5.6%

2.8%

8.4%

Arkansas

6.5%

2.97%

9.47%

California

7.25%

1.57%

8.82%

Colorado

2.9%

4.87%

7.77%

Connecticut

6.35%

Delaware

Florida

1.02%

7.02%

Georgia

3.38%

7.38%

Hawaii

0.5%

4.5%

Idaho

0.02%

6.02%

Illinois

6.25%

2.57%

8.82%

Indiana

Iowa

0.94%

6.94%

Kansas

6.5%

2.19%

8.69%

Kentucky

Louisiana

4.45%

5.07%

9.52%

Maine

5.5%

Maryland

Massachusetts

6.25%

Michigan

Minnesota

6.875%

0.6%

7.475%

Mississippi

0.07%

7.07%

Missouri

4.225%

4.06%

8.285%

Montana

Nebraska

5.5%

1.44%

6.94%

Nevada

6.85%

1.38%

8.23%

New Hampshire

New Jersey

6.625%

New Mexico

5.125%

2.69%

7.815%

New York

4.52%

8.52%

North Carolina

4.75%

2.25%

North Dakota

2.04%

7.04%

Ohio

5.75%

1.49%

7.24%

Oklahoma

4.5%

4.47%

8.97%

Oregon

Pennsylvania

0.34%

6.34%

Rhode Island

South Carolina

1.46%

7.46%

South Dakota

4.5%

1.9%

6.4%

Tennessee

2.55%

9.55%

Texas

6.25%

1.94%

8.19%

Utah

6.1%

1.09%

7.19%

Vermont

0.24%

6.24%

Virginia

5.3%

0.45%

5.75%

Washington

6.5%

2.73%

9.23%

Washington D.C.

West Virginia

0.52%

6.52%

Wisconsin

0.44%

5.44%

Wyoming

1.36%

5.36%

Understanding Sales Tax

Sales tax is a consumption tax imposed by governments on the sale of goods and services. In the United States, sales tax is primarily a state and local tax, with rates varying significantly by location. Unlike VAT (Value Added Tax) used in many other countries, US sales tax is added at the point of sale and displayed separately from the listed price.

Sales tax rates can range from 0% in states like Oregon and Delaware to over 10% in some cities when combining state and local taxes. Louisiana has the highest combined rate, averaging around 9.55%, while states like New Hampshire have no sales tax at all.

How Sales Tax is Calculated

The basic formula for sales tax is simple: Tax Amount = Price × Tax Rate. If you're buying a $50 item in a location with 8% sales tax, the tax is $50 × 0.08 = $4, making your total $54. Most point-of-sale systems calculate this automatically.

For reverse calculations (finding the pre-tax price from a total), divide by (1 + rate): Pre-Tax Price = Total ÷ (1 + Tax Rate). If your receipt shows $54 total with 8% tax, the original price was $54 ÷ 1.08 = $50.

Tax-Exempt Items

Many states exempt certain items from sales tax, typically including:

Groceries: Most states exempt or reduce tax on unprepared food
Prescription medications: Generally exempt in all states
Clothing: Some states (like PA, NJ) exempt clothing under certain amounts
Medical equipment: Often exempt for prescribed items

Rules vary significantly by state, so check local regulations for specific exemptions in your area.

Online Shopping and Sales Tax

Since the 2018 Supreme Court ruling in South Dakota v. Wayfair, online retailers must collect sales tax in states where they have "economic nexus" (significant sales). This means most major online purchases now include sales tax based on the shipping destination, not the seller's location.

If a retailer doesn't collect tax, buyers in most states are technically required to report and pay "use tax" on their state tax return—though compliance varies widely. Business purchases are more closely tracked for use tax purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which US states have no sales tax?

Five states have no state sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. However, Alaska allows local sales taxes, so some areas still have sales tax. Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon have no sales tax at any level.

Why do sales tax rates vary so much?

Sales tax rates vary because they combine state, county, and city taxes. States set their base rate, but local governments can add their own taxes. This is why total rates can differ between cities in the same state. Always check local rates for accuracy.

Is sales tax calculated on the original price or discounted price?

Sales tax is calculated on the actual amount paid after discounts and coupons are applied. If an item is $100 with a 20% discount, you pay tax on $80, not $100. However, manufacturer rebates are taxed differently—tax is usually on the pre-rebate price.

How do I calculate the pre-tax price from a total?

To find the pre-tax price, divide the total by (1 + tax rate as decimal). For example, if total is $108 with 8% tax: $108 ÷ 1.08 = $100 pre-tax. Our reverse calculation mode does this automatically.

Sales Tax Calculator