Sales Tax Calculator
Add sales tax to a price or back it out of a total, using 2026 state rates for all 50 states and DC plus your local rate. Shows the state and local split.
California: Includes the 1.25% statewide local add-on.
Your receipt shows the exact combined rate for where you shop. Enter it above to override the state + local estimate.
Rate applied: 7.25% = California 7.25% + local 0% (state $7.25, local $0.00).
What Sales Tax Calculator Does
This sales tax calculator adds tax to a price or backs it out of a total you already paid, using the 2026 statewide base rate for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Add your county and city rate, or type the exact combined rate from a receipt, and it shows the tax split between state and local, the pre-tax price and the total.
U.S. sales tax is layered. Forty-five states and DC charge a statewide rate, and most allow counties, cities and special districts to add their own on top, so two stores a few miles apart can charge different totals. Five states (Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon) have no statewide sales tax, though Alaska and some Montana resort towns allow local ones.
Rates here are the Tax Foundation’s published 2026 figures. The one scheduled mid-year change, the District of Columbia moving from 6.5% to 7% on October 1, 2026, is applied automatically based on today’s date.
How to Use Sales Tax Calculator
- Choose Add tax to a price, or Remove tax from a total
- Enter the amount
- Pick your state, and its 2026 base rate fills in automatically
- Add your county and city rate, or type the exact combined rate from a receipt
- Read the pre-tax price, the tax (split into state and local) and the total
Formula Used by Sales Tax Calculator
Adding sales tax
Tax = price × rate ÷ 100; Total = price + tax
Worked example
A $100 purchase at California’s 7.25% base rate.
- 100 × 0.0725 = 7.25
Result: $7.25 tax, $107.25 total.
Removing sales tax from a total
Price before tax = total ÷ (1 + rate ÷ 100)
Worked example
A $107.25 receipt at 7.25%.
- 107.25 ÷ 1.0725 = 100.00
- Wrong way: 107.25 − 7.25% of 107.25 = 99.47
Result: $100.00 before tax. Subtracting the percentage from the total undercounts by $0.53.
Statewide Sales Tax Rates, 2026
Base state rate only; local rates are added on top in most states. California, Utah and Virginia include their mandatory statewide local add-ons.
| State | Rate | State | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 4% | Montana | 0% |
| Alaska | 0% | Nebraska | 5.5% |
| Arizona | 5.6% | Nevada | 6.85% |
| Arkansas | 6.5% | New Hampshire | 0% |
| California | 7.25% | New Jersey | 6.625% |
| Colorado | 2.9% | New Mexico | 4.875% |
| Connecticut | 6.35% | New York | 4% |
| Delaware | 0% | North Carolina | 4.75% |
| District of Columbia | 6.5% (7% from Oct 1, 2026) | North Dakota | 5% |
| Florida | 6% | Ohio | 5.75% |
| Georgia | 4% | Oklahoma | 4.5% |
| Hawaii | 4% | Oregon | 0% |
| Idaho | 6% | Pennsylvania | 6% |
| Illinois | 6.25% | Rhode Island | 7% |
| Indiana | 7% | South Carolina | 6% |
| Iowa | 6% | South Dakota | 4.2% |
| Kansas | 6.5% | Tennessee | 7% |
| Kentucky | 6% | Texas | 6.25% |
| Louisiana | 5% | Utah | 6.1% |
| Maine | 5.5% | Vermont | 6% |
| Maryland | 6% | Virginia | 5.3% |
| Massachusetts | 6.25% | Washington | 6.5% |
| Michigan | 6% | West Virginia | 6% |
| Minnesota | 6.875% | Wisconsin | 5% |
| Mississippi | 7% | Wyoming | 4% |
| Missouri | 4.225% |
Source: Tax Foundation — State and Local Sales Tax Rates, 2026
How to Read Your Result
Highest combined rates in 2026
Once average local taxes are added, the Tax Foundation ranks Louisiana highest at about 10.13%, followed by Tennessee (9.61%), Washington (9.57%), Arkansas (9.48%) and Alabama (9.46%). The national population-weighted average combined rate is 7.53%.
Finding your exact local rate
The most reliable source is a recent receipt from a store near you, or your state revenue department’s rate lookup, which can find the combined rate for a street address. Enter that full rate in the “exact combined rate” box and the state/local estimate is replaced.
Limitations & Accuracy Notes
- Local rates are not built in because they vary by address, sometimes across a single street. Enter yours for an exact answer.
- Many states exempt or reduce tax on groceries, prescription drugs and clothing, and some tax services; the calculator applies one rate to the whole amount.
- Vehicle purchases often carry separate excise or registration taxes that are not sales tax.
- This is an estimate for shoppers and small sellers, not tax advice; businesses should confirm rates and taxability with their state.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate sales tax?
Multiply the price by the tax rate as a decimal. At 7.25%, a $100 item has $100 × 0.0725 = $7.25 in tax, for a total of $107.25. The rate that applies is your state rate plus any county, city and district rates for the place where you take delivery.
How do I remove sales tax from a total?
Divide the total by 1 plus the rate. $107.25 ÷ 1.0725 = $100.00 before tax. Subtracting 7.25% of the total instead gives $99.47, a common mistake that undercounts the pre-tax price, because the tax was charged on the smaller number.
Which states have no sales tax?
Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon have no statewide sales tax. Alaska allows local sales taxes, and some Montana resort areas levy their own; Delaware and Oregon have none at any level.
Why is my receipt’s tax rate higher than the state rate?
Because most places add local sales taxes on top of the state rate. Counties, cities and special districts can each add their own, so the combined rate can differ between neighboring towns. Enter your local rate, or the exact combined rate from a receipt, for a precise answer.
Which state has the highest sales tax?
California has the highest statewide rate at 7.25%. Combined with local taxes, Louisiana has the highest average combined rate as of 2026 (about 10.13%), followed by Tennessee, Washington, Arkansas and Alabama, according to the Tax Foundation.
Is sales tax charged on shipping?
It depends on the state. Some tax shipping charges when the item is taxable, some exempt separately stated delivery charges, and the rules can differ for handling fees. Check your state revenue department’s guidance if shipping is a large part of the total.
Are these rates current?
The state rates are the 2026 statewide base rates published by the Tax Foundation. The District of Columbia is the one scheduled change: 6.5% until September 30, 2026 and 7% from October 1, 2026, and the calculator switches automatically by date.
References & Further Reading
- Tax Foundation — State and Local Sales Tax Rates, 2026 — Statewide rates as of January 1, 2026 and combined-rate rankings
- Tax Foundation — State and Local Sales Tax Rates, Midyear 2026 — No statewide base-rate changes in the first half of 2026
- DC Office of Tax and Revenue — Notice of Oct. 1, 2025 Tax Changes — DC sales tax schedule