Financial Calculators
Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate sales tax and final price for any purchase. Supports all US state tax rates, local taxes, and custom rates. Find out how much tax you'll pay before checkout.
Use Sales Tax Calculator to get instant results without uploads or sign-ups. Everything runs securely in your browser for fast, reliable output.
Your results will appear here.
About this tool
Sales tax varies dramatically across the United States, ranging from 0% in states like Oregon and New Hampshire to over 10% in some California cities when combining state and local rates. Our Sales Tax Calculator helps you determine exactly how much tax you'll pay on any purchase, whether you're shopping online, in-store, or planning a large purchase.
The calculator works for all types of purchases: retail goods, services, vehicles, appliances, electronics, and more. Simply enter the pre-tax price and your local tax rate to instantly see your total cost. This is especially useful for budgeting large purchases, comparing prices across different cities or states, or verifying that retailers are charging the correct amount.
Sales tax rates are typically a combination of state, county, and city taxes. For example, a California purchase might have 7.25% state tax plus 2% local tax for a combined 9.25% rate. Our calculator handles any rate, making it useful nationwide. Some states also have special rates for specific items like groceries, clothing, or prepared foods.
Understanding sales tax helps with accurate budgeting and prevents checkout surprises. If you're comparing prices between online retailers or deciding whether to make a purchase in a different state, knowing the exact tax impact is crucial. The calculator also works in reverse—if you know the total price paid, you can calculate back to find the pre-tax amount and tax portion.
Usage examples
Electronics Purchase
$500 laptop with 8.5% sales tax
Price: $500, Tax Rate: 8.5% → Tax: $42.50, Total: $542.50
Furniture Shopping
$1,200 sofa with 6% state tax
Price: $1,200, Tax Rate: 6% → Tax: $72.00, Total: $1,272.00
High Tax Area
$85 restaurant bill in high-tax city (10.25%)
Price: $85, Tax Rate: 10.25% → Tax: $8.71, Total: $93.71
Car Purchase
$25,000 vehicle with 7% sales tax
Price: $25,000, Tax Rate: 7% → Tax: $1,750, Total: $26,750
No Sales Tax State
$300 purchase in Oregon (0% sales tax)
Price: $300, Tax Rate: 0% → Tax: $0, Total: $300
How to use
- Enter the purchase price (pre-tax amount).
- Enter the sales tax rate as a percentage (find your state/local rate below).
- Click "Calculate" to see the tax amount and total price.
- The calculator shows both the tax you'll pay and your final total.
- Optionally use "Reverse Calculate" mode to find the pre-tax price from a total.
Benefits
- Calculate exact sales tax for any purchase amount and tax rate
- Prevents surprises at checkout by showing total cost upfront
- Useful for budgeting and comparing prices across different locations
- Works for all US states and any custom tax rate worldwide
- Helps verify that retailers are charging correct tax amounts
- Supports both calculating tax from price and reverse calculations
- Essential for large purchases like vehicles, appliances, and furniture
- Useful for online shopping where tax isn't always shown clearly
- Helps businesses ensure accurate tax collection and compliance
- Free alternative to manual percentage calculations
- Educational tool for understanding how sales tax impacts total cost
- Instant results for quick decision-making while shopping
FAQs
How do I compare sales tax across different states?
State sales tax rates vary significantly: California (7.25%), Texas (6.25%), New York (8.875% combined NYC rate, 4% state rate), Florida (6%), and five states have 0% (Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon). Use our comparison feature to see how tax impacts your purchase in different states. Remember to add local taxes for accurate totals.
What states have the highest sales tax rates?
As of 2024, California, Tennessee, Louisiana, Washington, and Arkansas have combined state and local rates that can exceed 9-10%. Some California cities have rates above 10.25%. However, rates change, so always verify your local rate.
Which states have no sales tax?
Five states have no statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. However, Alaska allows local sales taxes in some cities. These states often have higher income or property taxes to compensate.
Do I pay sales tax on online purchases?
Yes, in most cases. After the 2018 Supreme Court decision (South Dakota v. Wayfair), online retailers must collect sales tax if they have significant sales in your state. Amazon and major retailers collect tax on nearly all purchases now.
How do I find my exact sales tax rate?
Your sales tax rate is typically a combination of state, county, and city rates. Check your state's Department of Revenue website or use a sales tax lookup tool with your ZIP code. Rates can vary even within the same ZIP code.
Are there items exempt from sales tax?
Yes, exemptions vary by state. Commonly exempt items include groceries (in most states), prescription medications, some clothing (in certain states like Massachusetts or Pennsylvania), and newspapers. Prepared food is usually taxable even if groceries aren't.
What's the difference between sales tax and use tax?
Sales tax is collected by retailers at the time of purchase. Use tax is paid directly to the state on items purchased tax-free (like out-of-state purchases) but used in your state. They're usually the same rate.
How is sales tax calculated on discounts?
Sales tax is calculated on the final price after discounts and coupons are applied. So if a $100 item is 20% off ($80 final price), you pay tax on $80, not $100. Manufacturer rebates received after purchase don't affect the tax.
Can I deduct sales tax on my federal tax return?
Yes, if you itemize deductions, you can deduct either state income tax or sales tax (not both). This is beneficial for residents of states without income tax. You need to track purchases or use the IRS optional sales tax tables.
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