🧾 Sales Tax Calculator

Use our sales tax calculator to instantly figure out how much sales tax you owe on any purchase in the United States. Select your state from the dropdown, enter the pre-tax amount (or the total including tax), and the calculator does the rest. All 50 states plus Washington D.C. are included with their current state-level rates.

Whether you are budgeting for a big purchase, preparing a price quote for a customer, or simply curious about the tax on an online order, this tool saves you time and eliminates guesswork. Results are displayed in real time—no page reload required.

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What Is Sales Tax?

Sales tax is a consumption tax imposed by state and local governments on the sale of goods and, in many states, certain services. Unlike Value Added Tax (VAT) used in Europe, which is collected at every stage of production, sales tax in the U.S. is charged only at the final point of sale to the end consumer.

There is no federal sales tax in the United States. Each state sets its own rate, and many cities and counties add a local surcharge on top. The result is a patchwork of thousands of combined rates across the country. This calculator shows state-level rates; your actual rate at the register may be higher once local taxes are added.

How to Calculate Sales Tax

Adding Sales Tax to a Price

The formula is straightforward:

Total = Pre-tax price + (Pre-tax price × Tax rate ÷ 100)

Or equivalently: Total = Pre-tax price × (1 + Tax rate ÷ 100)

Removing Sales Tax From a Total

If you already know the total and need to find the pre-tax amount:

Pre-tax price = Total ÷ (1 + Tax rate ÷ 100)

This reverse calculation is useful when a receipt shows only the final amount and you need to determine how much of it was tax.

Practical Examples

Example 1 — Shopping in Texas (6.25%): You buy a laptop listed at $899.99. Tax = $899.99 × 0.0625 = $56.25. Total = $956.24.

Example 2 — Reverse calculation in New York (4%): Your receipt says $52.00. Pre-tax = $52.00 ÷ 1.04 = $50.00. Sales tax = $2.00.

Example 3 — Tax-free state: You order online from a seller in Oregon (0% state tax). If the seller has no nexus in your state, you may owe use tax—the equivalent of sales tax on out-of-state purchases—when you file your state return.

State Sales Tax Rates at a Glance

Rates range from 0% (five tax-free states) to 7.25% (California, the highest). Here are a few key tiers:

  • 0% — No statewide sales tax: Alaska*, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon
  • 4% – 5%: Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
  • 5% – 6.5%: Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia
  • 6.5% – 7.25%: California, Indiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Rhode Island, Tennessee

*Alaska has no state tax but allows local jurisdictions to levy their own, so some Alaskan cities do charge sales tax.

Tips and Things to Know

Local taxes matter. The state rate is only part of the story. In many areas, city and county taxes push the combined rate well above the state figure. For example, parts of Louisiana and Tennessee can exceed 10% when local taxes are included.

Not everything is taxed. Most states exempt groceries, prescription drugs, and sometimes clothing from sales tax. The rules vary widely—Pennsylvania exempts clothing entirely, while New York exempts clothing items under $110 per piece.

Online purchases are taxable. Since the 2018 Supreme Court ruling in South Dakota v. Wayfair, states can require online retailers to collect sales tax even if the seller has no physical presence in the state. If a seller does not collect it, you are technically responsible for remitting use tax when filing your state return.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which US states have no sales tax?
Five states have no statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. Alaska is unique because it allows cities and boroughs to impose local sales taxes, so some areas in Alaska do charge sales tax.
What is the highest sales tax rate in the US?
California has the highest state-level sales tax rate at 7.25%. However, when local taxes are factored in, combined rates in parts of Louisiana, Tennessee, and Arkansas can exceed 10%.
Is sales tax the same as VAT?
No. Sales tax is charged only at the final point of sale to the consumer. VAT (Value Added Tax), used in Europe, is collected at every stage of production and distribution, with businesses able to reclaim the tax they paid on inputs. The economic effect is similar, but the collection mechanism differs.
Do I have to pay sales tax on online purchases?
Yes. Since the 2018 South Dakota v. Wayfair ruling, most states require online retailers to collect sales tax regardless of physical presence. If a retailer does not collect it, you are responsible for paying the equivalent use tax when you file your state return.
Are groceries taxed in every state?
No. Most states exempt unprepared groceries from sales tax, though some (like Alabama, Mississippi, and South Dakota) tax them at the full rate or a reduced rate. Prepared food and restaurant meals are generally taxable everywhere.
Does this calculator include local sales tax?
This calculator shows state-level sales tax rates only. Many cities and counties add their own local sales tax on top, which can range from 0.5% to 5% or more. Check your local government website for the combined rate in your area.