Sales Tax Calculator

What is Sales Tax?

Sales tax is a consumption tax imposed by state and local governments on the sale of goods and services. In the United States, sales tax rates vary by state, county, and city. This calculator helps you determine the total cost including tax or find the pre-tax price when you know the final amount.

How to Use This Calculator

• Add tax to price: Enter the price before tax and the sales tax rate to get the total amount including tax.
• Remove tax from price: Enter the price after tax and the sales tax rate to find the original price before tax.
• Select a state: Choose from the dropdown to automatically apply the state's base sales tax rate.

US Sales Tax Rates by State (Base Rates)

*Note: Local jurisdictions may add additional sales tax. These are base state rates.

Understanding Your Results

• Tax amount: The actual sales tax you pay on the purchase
• Total with tax: The final price including sales tax
• Price before tax: The original price without tax (reverse calculation)
• Effective tax rate: The combined tax rate applied to your purchase

Tips for Managing Sales Tax

• ✅ Some states have no sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon
• ✅ Online purchases may be subject to "use tax" if the seller doesn't collect sales tax
• ✅ Local taxes can add 1-4% to the base state rate in many areas
• ✅ Some items like groceries and prescription drugs are tax-exempt in many states
• ✅ Keep receipts for business purchases to claim sales tax deductions

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the highest sales tax rate in the US? — California has the highest base state rate at 7.25%, but combined with local taxes can exceed 10%.
• Which states have no sales tax? — Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon have no state sales tax.
• How do I calculate sales tax? — Multiply the price before tax by the tax rate (as a decimal). For example: $100 × 0.0875 = $8.75 tax.
• What is reverse sales tax calculation? — To find the price before tax: Price after tax ÷ (1 + tax rate).
• Do I pay sales tax on online purchases? — Yes, most states require online retailers to collect sales tax.