Pre-tax price
$45.50Sales Tax CalculatorUSA
Calculate US sales tax and total price
Enter a pre-tax price to add sales tax, or enter a total to back out the pre-tax amount. Useful for shopping, receipts, and budget checks.
Tax amount
$3.75Final total
$49.25Sales tax rate
8.25%Reference
US Sales Tax Rates by State
Base statewide rates as of 2025. Combined rates (state + county + city) are higher — click your state's revenue department for the exact local rate.
ALAlabama
4%AKAlaska
No state taxAZArizona
5.6%ARArkansas
6.5%CACalifornia
7.25%COColorado
2.9%CTConnecticut
6.35%DEDelaware
No state taxFLFlorida
6%GAGeorgia
4%HIHawaii
4%IDIdaho
6%ILIllinois
6.25%INIndiana
7%IAIowa
6%KSKansas
6.5%KYKentucky
6%LALouisiana
4.45%MEMaine
5.5%MDMaryland
6%MAMassachusetts
6.25%MIMichigan
6%MNMinnesota
6.875%MSMississippi
7%MOMissouri
4.225%MTMontana
No state taxNENebraska
5.5%NVNevada
6.85%NHNew Hampshire
No state taxNJNew Jersey
6.625%NMNew Mexico
5%NYNew York
4%NCNorth Carolina
4.75%NDNorth Dakota
5%OHOhio
5.75%OKOklahoma
4.5%OROregon
No state taxPAPennsylvania
6%RIRhode Island
7%SCSouth Carolina
6%SDSouth Dakota
4.2%TNTennessee
7%TXTexas
6.25%UTUtah
4.85%VTVermont
6%VAVirginia
4.3%WAWashington
6.5%WVWest Virginia
6%WIWisconsin
5%WYWyoming
4%DCWashington D.C.
6%Rates are for reference only. Local jurisdictions may add county or city taxes on top of the state base rate. Always verify with your state revenue authority before quoting prices or filing taxes.
Explainer
Understanding US Sales Tax
What is sales tax?
Sales tax is a consumption tax collected at the point of sale. In the US, it is set and administered by individual states, counties, and cities — not the federal government. When you buy something, the retailer collects the tax and remits it to the relevant government authority.
State rate vs. combined rate
Every state with a sales tax sets a base rate. Counties and cities can layer additional rates on top. The combined rate — what you actually pay at checkout — can be significantly higher than the statewide base. For example, California's base is 7.25%, but some cities exceed 10.75% when local add-ons are included.
Common exemptions
Many states exempt certain goods from sales tax. Unprepared groceries, prescription medications, and clothing are commonly exempt in some states. Prepared food, restaurant meals, alcohol, and tobacco are almost always taxable. Each state has its own exemption list, so check locally if you're unsure.
Online purchases and sales tax
Since the 2018 Supreme Court ruling in South Dakota v. Wayfair, online retailers are required to collect sales tax in states where they have economic nexus — typically $100,000 in sales or 200 transactions per year. This means most online purchases now include sales tax based on your shipping address.
You might also like
Related tools
Finance tools
VAT Calculator
Add VAT to a price or extract VAT from a total. Supports country rate presets, multi-currency, and multi-item invoices.
Finance tools
Tip Calculator
Calculate service tip, total bill, and per-person split in one quick screen.
Finance tools
Discount Stack Calculator
Combine multiple discounts and coupons to see the true final price and savings.
Finance tools
Profit Margin Calculator
Compare markup and margin to price products more clearly.
Tool guide
How to calculate US sales tax from a price or receipt
Use this sales tax calculator to add US sales tax to a pre-tax price, back out tax from a receipt total, or look up the base sales tax rate for any US state. Supports forward (add tax) and reverse (extract tax from total) calculations with any rate you enter.
Last updated: June 5, 2026
Maintained by: Chhun Menghong
Recommended workflow
- Enter the pre-tax price and your state or local sales tax rate to calculate the tax amount and final checkout total.
- For reverse calculation, enter a receipt total with the same tax rate to extract the original pre-tax price and the tax embedded in the total.
- Use the US state tax rates table below to find your state's base rate — then add county or city rates on top for the combined rate that applies to your purchase.
Before relying on the result
- Confirm the correct combined local rate (state + county + city) before using the result for quotes, invoices, or business records.
- Some items may be exempt or taxed at a reduced rate — unprepared groceries and prescription drugs are commonly exempt in many states.
- Use accounting software or a qualified tax professional for official sales tax filing, remittance, and compliance decisions.
Help & answers
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1
What is sales tax and how is it calculated?
Sales tax is a percentage-based tax added to the selling price of goods and services at the point of sale. It is calculated by multiplying the pre-tax price by the tax rate. For example, a $100 item with an 8% tax rate costs $108 total. The tax amount goes to state or local government.
Q2
What is the difference between sales tax and VAT?
Sales tax is collected once at the final point of sale from the end consumer. VAT (value-added tax) is collected at each stage of the supply chain — from manufacturer to retailer. The end cost to the consumer is similar but the collection mechanism differs. The US uses sales tax; most of Europe uses VAT.
Q3
Which US states have no sales tax?
Five US states have no statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. Alaska allows local jurisdictions to impose their own sales tax, so some cities there do have it. Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon have no state or mandatory local sales tax.
Q4
Which US state has the highest combined sales tax?
Tennessee and Louisiana regularly rank highest for combined average sales tax rates (state + local), often exceeding 9–10%. California has the highest statewide base rate at 7.25%, but combined rates vary widely by city and county across all states.
Q5
Can I calculate tax-inclusive and tax-exclusive prices?
Yes. Enter a pre-tax price to add sales tax and get the final checkout total. Use the reverse calculation when you only have a receipt total — it extracts the pre-tax amount and tax from the gross price. Both directions use the same tax rate you enter.
Q6
How do I find the correct sales tax rate for my location?
The rate depends on the state, county, and city where the transaction occurs. Check your state revenue department website for the official rate. For online sales, the rate generally depends on the buyer's shipping address. Combined state + local rates commonly range from 0% to over 10%.
Q7
Are groceries and food taxable?
It depends on the state. Many states exempt unprepared grocery food from sales tax, including California, Illinois, Texas, and New York. Others tax groceries at a reduced rate. Prepared food and restaurant meals are almost always taxable. Check your state's specific exemption rules.
Q8
Can I use different rates for different regions?
Yes. Enter the applicable local, state, county, or combined rate for your jurisdiction. The tool applies whatever percentage you enter. For a combined rate, add your state rate and local rates together before entering it.
Q9
What is reverse sales tax calculation?
Reverse calculation (also called tax extraction) lets you find the pre-tax price and tax amount when you already have the final total. Divide the gross amount by (1 + tax rate) to get the net price. The tool does this automatically — enter the receipt total and tax rate in the reverse section.
Q10
Is this suitable for official tax filing?
No. Use it for pricing estimates, budgeting, and quick checks. For official tax returns, invoicing, compliance, or business filings, use verified accounting software or a qualified tax professional. Tax laws vary by state and change over time.
Important disclaimer: Alexonic Tools is completely free to use. There is no charge, and we do not save tool inputs or generated results. We value customer privacy and keep building and fixing each day. Always verify important financial, payroll, legal, tax, business, or production-code results before relying on them. If you see an issue, need a tool, or require an update, send feedback to the developer.