Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate sales tax on purchases or reverse-calculate the pre-tax price from a total. Supports adding tax to a price or removing tax from a total. See also Percentage Calculator and Discount Calculator.
How to Calculate Sales Tax
To calculate sales tax, multiply the pre-tax price by the tax rate expressed as a decimal. For example, if an item costs $100 and the tax rate is 8.25%, the tax is $100 × 0.0825 = $8.25, making the total $108.25. To reverse-calculate (find the pre-tax price from a total), divide the total by (1 + tax rate). For a $108.25 total at 8.25% tax: $108.25 / 1.0825 = $100.00 pre-tax.
Sales Tax Formula
Add Tax:
Tax Amount = Price × (Tax Rate / 100)
Total = Price + Tax Amount
Remove Tax:
Pre-Tax Price = Total / (1 + Tax Rate / 100)
Tax Amount = Total − Pre-Tax Price
Example
Price = $100.00, Tax Rate = 8.25%
Tax Amount = $100.00 × 0.0825 = $8.25
Total = $100.00 + $8.25 = $108.25
Reverse: Total = $108.25
Pre-Tax = $108.25 / 1.0825 = $100.00
Tax = $108.25 − $100.00 = $8.25
US State Sales Tax Rates Reference
| State | State Rate | Avg. Local | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 7.25% | 1.57% | 8.82% |
| Texas | 6.25% | 1.94% | 8.19% |
| New York | 4.00% | 4.52% | 8.52% |
| Florida | 6.00% | 1.01% | 7.01% |
| Illinois | 6.25% | 2.49% | 8.74% |
| Pennsylvania | 6.00% | 0.34% | 6.34% |
| Washington | 6.50% | 2.67% | 9.17% |
| Tennessee | 7.00% | 2.55% | 9.55% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate sales tax from a total?
Divide the total by (1 + tax rate as a decimal). For example, if the total is $108.25 and the tax rate is 8.25%, the pre-tax price is $108.25 / 1.0825 = $100.00, and the tax is $8.25.
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 jurisdictions to charge sales tax.
Is sales tax the same as VAT?
No. Sales tax is collected only at the final point of sale. VAT (Value Added Tax) is collected at every stage of production and distribution. VAT is common in Europe and many other countries, while sales tax is used in the US.
Are groceries taxed?
It varies by state. Most states exempt unprepared food (groceries) from sales tax, but some states like Alabama, Mississippi, and South Dakota tax groceries at the full rate. Others tax groceries at a reduced rate.