Calculate the sales tax on any purchase, find the pre-tax price from a total, or look up the sales tax rate for any US state. Use the three-mode calculator below for instant results, then scroll down for the complete sales tax rate table for all 50 states, including combined state and local averages, and a plain-English breakdown of how sales tax works.
Three modes: calculate tax on a purchase, reverse a total back to its pre-tax price, or find the rate that was applied.
Reverse sales tax. Got a receipt with the total but want the pre-tax price? Enter the total and the rate that was applied.
Find the rate. Got a receipt with both the pre-tax and total amounts? Enter both and we'll calculate the rate that was applied.
Sales tax is a consumption tax imposed by state and local governments on the sale of goods and some services. There is no federal sales tax in the US. Every state sets its own rate, and most states allow counties and cities to add their own local rates on top. This is why the tax on a $100 purchase can vary by several dollars depending on where you buy it.
Sales Tax = Purchase Price × (Tax Rate ÷ 100)
Example: A $50 item in a state with 7% sales tax. Tax: $50 × 0.07 = $3.50. Total: $50 + $3.50 = $53.50.
Reverse formula: Pre-Tax Price = Total ÷ (1 + Tax Rate ÷ 100). Example: $53.50 ÷ 1.07 = $50.00.
Your total sales tax rate is almost always a combination of two components: a state rate set by the state legislature, and a local rate set by counties, cities, or special districts. For example, California's state rate is 7.25%. Los Angeles adds 2.25%, bringing the combined rate to 9.5%. A neighboring county might charge only 7.75% combined. The same item can cost different amounts in different cities within the same state.
Sales tax rules vary significantly by state. Common exemptions include:
When in doubt, check your state's department of revenue website for the official rule.
State rates are fixed by state law. Local rates vary within each state. Combined averages reflect typical total rates experienced by consumers. For your exact rate, use the calculator above with your specific location's combined rate.
| State | State Rate | Avg Local | Combined Avg | Notes |
|---|
Rates are approximate combined averages as of 2026. Local rates vary by city and county. Confirm your exact rate at your state's department of revenue.
Five states collect no statewide sales tax. Residents and shoppers in these states pay no state-level sales tax on most purchases, though some local jurisdictions in Alaska do collect local sales taxes.
| State | Details |
|---|---|
| Alaska | No state sales tax. Some local jurisdictions charge local rates up to ~7.5%. Average combined rate is about 1.76%. |
| Delaware | No sales tax at any level, state or local. A popular destination for tax-free shopping, particularly for big-ticket items. |
| Montana | No sales tax at any level. Note: Montana does charge a resort tax in certain tourist areas. |
| New Hampshire | No sales tax. The state funds government largely through property taxes and targeted taxes on specific items. |
| Oregon | No sales tax at any level. One of the most visited states for cross-border shopping by California and Washington residents. |
A state having no sales tax doesn't mean every purchase is tax-free. Specific items like alcohol, tobacco, and meals may still be taxed under separate excise tax laws.
Common purchase amounts and their sales tax totals at typical combined rates. Use this table for fast estimates without a calculator.
| Purchase | 5% | 6% | 7% | 8% | 9% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10 | $0.50 | $0.60 | $0.70 | $0.80 | $0.90 | $1.00 |
| $20 | $1.00 | $1.20 | $1.40 | $1.60 | $1.80 | $2.00 |
| $25 | $1.25 | $1.50 | $1.75 | $2.00 | $2.25 | $2.50 |
| $30 | $1.50 | $1.80 | $2.10 | $2.40 | $2.70 | $3.00 |
| $40 | $2.00 | $2.40 | $2.80 | $3.20 | $3.60 | $4.00 |
| $50 | $2.50 | $3.00 | $3.50 | $4.00 | $4.50 | $5.00 |
| $75 | $3.75 | $4.50 | $5.25 | $6.00 | $6.75 | $7.50 |
| $100 | $5.00 | $6.00 | $7.00 | $8.00 | $9.00 | $10.00 |
| $150 | $7.50 | $9.00 | $10.50 | $12.00 | $13.50 | $15.00 |
| $200 | $10.00 | $12.00 | $14.00 | $16.00 | $18.00 | $20.00 |
| $250 | $12.50 | $15.00 | $17.50 | $20.00 | $22.50 | $25.00 |
| $300 | $15.00 | $18.00 | $21.00 | $24.00 | $27.00 | $30.00 |
| $500 | $25.00 | $30.00 | $35.00 | $40.00 | $45.00 | $50.00 |
| $750 | $37.50 | $45.00 | $52.50 | $60.00 | $67.50 | $75.00 |
| $1,000 | $50.00 | $60.00 | $70.00 | $80.00 | $90.00 | $100.00 |
Multiply the purchase price by the tax rate expressed as a decimal. For example, an $80 purchase with a 7% sales tax: $80 × 0.07 = $5.60 in tax, for a total of $85.60. Or use the calculator above. Enter your price and state for an instant result.
Divide the total (tax-included) price by 1 plus the tax rate as a decimal. For example, if you paid $85.60 total and the tax rate was 7%: $85.60 ÷ 1.07 = $80.00 pre-tax. The "Remove Tax" tab above does this automatically.
Five states have no statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon.
Of these, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon have no local sales taxes either, making them completely sales-tax-free. Alaska has no state tax but some local jurisdictions charge their own rates.
When combining state and average local rates, Louisiana and Tennessee consistently rank among the highest, both with combined averages around 9.55%. California, Arkansas, and Washington also have combined rates above 9%.
State-only rates are highest in California (7.25%), Indiana, Mississippi, Rhode Island, and Tennessee (all at 7%).
Sales tax is calculated on the price you actually pay, after any discounts, coupons, or promotions have been applied. If an item is marked $100 but you have a 20% off coupon, you pay tax on $80, not $100. Some states treat certain types of discounts (manufacturer rebates vs. store coupons) differently, so it can vary.
Yes, in most cases. Following the 2018 Supreme Court ruling in South Dakota v. Wayfair, online retailers are generally required to collect sales tax for any state where they have "economic nexus" (typically meaning surpassing a threshold of sales or transactions in that state).
Most major online retailers now charge sales tax in all applicable states.
Sales tax is collected only at the final point of sale to the consumer, and only by the seller. Value Added Tax (VAT), used in most of Europe and many other countries, is collected at each stage of production and distribution.
For the end consumer, the practical effect is similar — a percentage added to the purchase price — but the mechanism and who collects it differ.
If you itemize deductions on your federal tax return, you can deduct either state income taxes or state and local sales taxes, but not both.
The sales tax deduction is most beneficial in states with no income tax (like Florida, Texas, or Washington) or for people who made large purchases in a given year. The IRS provides a Sales Tax Deduction Calculator for estimating this amount.
Use tax is a companion to sales tax. If you buy something in a state or from an out-of-state seller without paying sales tax, you technically owe use tax to your home state at the same rate the sales tax would have been.
Most consumers are unaware of this obligation, and enforcement is generally limited, but it exists in most states.
State sales tax rates change infrequently, usually through legislative action. Local rates change more often as counties and cities add, remove, or adjust local taxes based on ballot measures and budget needs.
The rates in this calculator reflect current averages as of 2026 but should be verified for high-stakes purchases.
We built the Sales Tax Calculator because the existing tools are either business software trying to sell you a payroll subscription or thin pages that don't actually answer the question. This one does three things: tax on a purchase, pre-tax price from a total, and the rate that was applied. Plus a clean state rate table. This site is a part of the ads4good Network.
Read more about Utility Commons here