Money
Sales Tax Calculator
Last updated: June 19, 2026
A sales tax calculator is a financial tool used to compute the tax amount on a retail transaction and determine the final price of goods or services. It operates by multiplying the pre-tax value by the designated local or state tax rate. Additionally, it can perform reverse calculations to extract the pre-tax subtotal from a tax-inclusive total. Consumers use it to verify receipt accuracy, while merchants employ it to ensure correct billing and tax reporting.
Enter an amount and a tax rate, and choose whether the amount is pre-tax or already includes tax. We give you the subtotal, the tax, and the total.
Quick Answer
Calculate the sales tax amount and total price of a purchase, or reverse-calculate the pre-tax price from a total. Enter the amount and tax rate to see a breakdown.
The amount before tax is added.
Combined state + local rate, in percent.
Total amount
$140.71
Subtotal $129.99 + tax $10.72
Examples
Add 8.25% to $129.99
= $140.71 (tax $10.72)
Remove 7% from $59.99 total
= $56.07 + $3.92 tax
Add 10.25% to $1,499
= $1,652.65 (tax $153.65)
How it works
Two simple operations: multiplying to add tax, or dividing to extract a tax-inclusive total back into its components.
Add tax · subtotal × (1 + rate ÷ 100) = total
Remove tax · total ÷ (1 + rate ÷ 100) = subtotal
How sales tax works in the US
Sales tax in the United States is a consumption tax levied on the sale of goods and services. There is no national sales tax; instead, it is determined at the state and local levels. Currently, 45 states and Washington, D.C. levy a statewide sales tax.
Five states do not have a statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. However, Alaska allows local municipalities to levy their own local sales taxes. Because local city, county, and transit district rates stack on top of the state-level tax, the combined rate you pay at the register is often higher than the base state rate. That is why this tool asks for your combined local sales tax rate.
Highest and lowest sales tax states (2026)
State and local combined sales tax rates can vary widely. Below is a comparison of the five states with the highest average combined rates in 2026, alongside the five states with no statewide sales tax:
| State | Avg. Combined Rate (2026) | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 10.11% | Highest Combined |
| Tennessee | 9.61% | Highest Combined |
| Arkansas | 9.48% | Highest Combined |
| Washington | 9.47% | Highest Combined |
| Alabama | 9.44% | Highest Combined |
| Alaska | 1.82%* | No Statewide Tax |
| Delaware | 0.00% | No Statewide Tax |
| Montana | 0.00% | No Statewide Tax |
| New Hampshire | 0.00% | No Statewide Tax |
| Oregon | 0.00% | No Statewide Tax |
* Note: While Alaska levies no statewide sales tax, it allows local municipalities to levy their own local taxes, resulting in a 1.82% average combined rate. California, Utah, and Virginia include mandatory statewide local add-ons in their base state rates; exact local rates vary by city.
How to calculate sales tax
Calculating sales tax is straightforward. To find the tax amount and total cost, use the following formulas:
Formula
Tax = Price × (Rate ÷ 100)
Total = Price + Tax
Worked Example
If you purchase an item for $129.99 at a combined sales tax rate of 8.25%:
- Tax = $129.99 × 0.0825 = $10.72
- Total = $129.99 + $10.72 = $140.71
Adding vs removing sales tax
Adding sales tax multiplies the pre-tax price by the tax factor. Conversely, removing sales tax divides the final tax-inclusive price by (1 + rate) to back out the original subtotal. For dedicated reverse calculations where you need to extract the subtotal and tax paid from a final receipt total, use our Reverse Sales Tax Calculator.
Common mistakes
- Applying rate to a taxed total: Calculating tax on a price that already includes sales tax will result in an artificially inflated tax amount.
- Forgetting local rates: Using only the base state rate and forgetting city or county surtaxes will lead to underestimating the final total.
- Assuming groceries are always taxed: Many states exempt or apply a significantly reduced tax rate to groceries and medical supplies compared to standard retail items.
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Sources: Average combined sales tax rates reflect the Tax Foundation's "State and Local Sales Tax Rates, 2026" dataset. Sales tax rates fluctuate annually and local tax rates vary by municipality. Last reviewed: June 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Use your jurisdiction's combined rate — state, county, and city. Total rates in the U.S. range from 0% (in the few states with no sales tax) to over 10% in some cities. Your receipt or your state's department of revenue will list the exact rate.
Adding tax starts from a pre-tax subtotal and computes the tax to be added. Removing tax starts from a tax-included total and works backward to find the original subtotal — useful when reconciling receipts or pricing items inclusive of tax.
Often no. Many states exempt groceries or apply lower rates, and prepared food, alcohol, and tobacco often have additional rates. This calculator applies a single flat rate.
Yes — the math is identical for any percentage-based consumption tax (VAT, GST, etc.). Use the appropriate rate for your locale.
Sales tax on a $100 purchase at 7% is exactly $7.00. The math is a simple multiplication: $100 × 0.07 = $7.00.
Five US states have no statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. Note that Alaska allows local municipalities to levy their own local sales taxes.
Louisiana has the highest average combined state and local sales tax rate at approximately 10.11%. Tennessee (9.61%), Arkansas (9.48%), Washington (9.47%), and Alabama (9.44%) round out the top five highest rates in the nation.
To take sales tax out of a total, divide the total price by 1 plus the sales tax rate expressed as a decimal. For example, to remove a 5% tax from $105, calculate $105 ÷ 1.05 = $100 subtotal.
Groceries are exempt or taxed at a reduced rate in most US states. For example, Illinois completely ended its statewide 1% grocery tax in January 2026, and many other states exclude raw food items from standard rates.
Your receipt's tax rate is likely higher because local city, county, and transit district taxes are stacked on top of the state-level rate. These local surcharges vary significantly by zip code.
Sales tax is generally applied to tangible personal property, but some states also tax professional, personal, or utility services. The rules are highly specific to each state's tax code.
A sales tax holiday is a temporary period where a state waives sales tax on specific items like school supplies, clothing, or energy-efficient appliances. These typically occur during late summer.
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