Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate sales tax by state and find the final price, or extract the tax from a total.
Tax Details
Enter combined state + local rate
Result
How Sales Tax Calculation Works
Sales tax is added as a percentage of the purchase price at the point of sale. To calculate the total with tax, multiply the price by the tax rate and add it to the price: Total = Price x (1 + Tax Rate). To reverse-calculate and extract the pre-tax price from a total, divide the total by (1 + Tax Rate).
In the United States, sales tax rates vary by state and locality. Some states like Oregon, Montana, and New Hampshire have no sales tax. Others, like Tennessee and Louisiana, have combined state and local rates exceeding 9%. Always check your specific locality for the most accurate combined rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which US states have no sales tax?
Five states have no statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. However, Alaska allows local jurisdictions to impose sales taxes, so some areas within Alaska do charge sales tax. Delaware imposes a gross receipts tax on businesses instead, which may be passed on to consumers indirectly.
Why does my receipt show a different tax rate than the state rate?
Most areas charge a combined rate that includes state, county, and city taxes. For example, Los Angeles has a 9.5% combined rate even though California's state rate is only 7.25%. The additional amount comes from county and city surcharges. Some special taxing districts add even more.
Are groceries and clothing taxed?
It varies by state. Most states exempt unprepared groceries from sales tax, though prepared food is usually taxed. Clothing is exempt in some states (like Pennsylvania and New Jersey) but taxed in most others. Some states offer tax-free weekends for back-to-school shopping, temporarily exempting clothing and school supplies.