Sales Tax Calculator
Add tax to a pre-tax price, or remove tax from a tax-inclusive total.
Price Before Tax → Total with Tax
Common rates:
Tax Amount
Total (with tax)
Total (tax-inclusive) → Pre-Tax Price
Pre-Tax Price
Tax Paid
How Sales Tax Works
Sales tax is a percentage added to the pre-tax price of goods and services. To calculate the total, multiply the pre-tax price by (1 + tax rate ÷ 100). For a $50 item at 8% tax: $50 × 1.08 = $54 total. The tax amount alone is $50 × 0.08 = $4.
To remove tax from a tax-inclusive total, divide by (1 + rate ÷ 100). US sales tax rates vary by state and county, typically ranging from 0% (Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, Delaware) to over 10% in some cities. Always verify your local rate for accurate calculations.
US State Sales Tax Rates (2024)
| State | State Rate | Avg. w/ Local |
|---|---|---|
| California | 7.25% | 8.85% |
| Texas | 6.25% | 8.20% |
| New York | 4.00% | 8.52% |
| Florida | 6.00% | 7.02% |
| Washington | 6.50% | 9.38% |
| Oregon / Montana / NH / Delaware | 0% | 0% |
Rates are approximate and subject to change. Local rates vary by county and city.
Frequently Asked Questions
What items are exempt from sales tax?
Exemptions vary by state. Common exemptions include unprepared groceries, prescription medications, and some clothing. For example, New York exempts most clothing items under $110. Always check your specific state’s rules, as they differ significantly.
Why does the tax rate sometimes seem higher than the state rate?
Most sales tax is a combination of state, county, and city rates stacked on top of each other. A city like Seattle might have Washington’s 6.5% state rate plus 2.6% county/city rate = 9.1% total. The combined rate is what you actually pay at checkout.
Is online shopping taxed?
Yes, in most cases. Since the Supreme Court’s 2018 South Dakota v. Wayfair ruling, states can require online retailers to collect sales tax even without a physical presence in that state. Most major online retailers (Amazon, Walmart, etc.) now collect sales tax in all states that have it.
How do I remove tax from a total to find the original price?
Use the “Remove Tax” tab above. The formula is: Pre-tax Price = Total ÷ (1 + Tax Rate ÷ 100). For example, $54 total at 8% tax: $54 ÷ 1.08 = $50 pre-tax. Simply dividing by the tax rate is a common but incorrect approach.
What’s the difference between sales tax and VAT?
US sales tax is collected only at the final point of sale (the consumer). Value Added Tax (VAT), used in most other countries, is collected at each stage of production and included in the listed price. This is why European prices already include the tax, while US prices typically show the pre-tax amount.