Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate sales tax amount and total price including tax.
How Sales Tax Works
Sales tax is a consumption tax added to the price of goods and services at the point of sale. In the US, it is set at the state and often local level — there is no federal sales tax. Rates range from 0% (Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, Delaware, Alaska) to over 10% in some combined state+local jurisdictions.
To calculate final price: Final Price = Original Price × (1 + tax rate). To find the pre-tax price from a total: Pre-tax = Total / (1 + tax rate).
US Sales Tax Rates by State
Combined state + average local rates (2024 approximate): Tennessee (9.5%), Louisiana (9.5%), Arkansas (9.4%), Washington (9.4%), Alabama (9.2%), Oklahoma (8.9%), California (8.7%), New York (8.5%). States with no sales tax: Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, Delaware, Alaska (though Alaska allows local taxes).
For online purchases, most states now require retailers to collect sales tax based on the buyer's location (following the 2018 South Dakota v. Wayfair Supreme Court decision).
What is Typically Exempt from Sales Tax?
Common exemptions vary by state but often include: groceries (most states), prescription medications (most states), clothing under a certain value (New York, Pennsylvania), medical equipment, agricultural equipment, and manufacturing equipment. Some states hold periodic "tax-free weekends" on items like school supplies and clothing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sales tax included in the listed price?
In the US, prices are typically shown before tax and tax is added at checkout. In most of Europe and Canada, VAT/GST is included in the displayed price. Always check which convention applies when shopping.
How do I calculate sales tax from a receipt total?
Divide the total by (1 + tax rate). For example, a $108 total with 8% tax: $108 / 1.08 = $100 pre-tax. The tax portion was $8.
Do I pay sales tax on online purchases?
Yes, in most cases. Since 2018, US states can require out-of-state online retailers to collect sales tax. Most major online retailers (Amazon, Walmart, etc.) now collect and remit sales tax for all US states that have it.