Sales Tax Calculator
Add sales tax to a price or work backwards from a tax-included total — enter the amount and rate (or pick your state) to see the tax and the total or pre-tax price.
Estimate using each state’s base statewide rate. Local county and city sales taxes usually add more on top, and some items are taxed differently or exempt. Check your local combined rate for an exact figure.
Adding and reversing sales tax
Sales tax is a percentage added to the price of most goods (and some services) at the register. There are two questions this calculator answers, and each has a simple formula.
To add sales tax, multiply the pre-tax price by the rate written as a decimal, then add it back on:
- Tax = price × rate
- Total = price + tax = price × (1 + rate)
A $100 item at a 7% rate is $100 × 0.07 = $7 in tax, for a $107 total.
To reverse sales tax — pull the pre-tax price back out of a tax-included total — divide the total by 1 plus the rate:
- Pre-tax price = total ÷ (1 + rate)
- Tax paid = total − pre-tax price
A $107 receipt total at 7% is $107 ÷ 1.07 = $100 pre-tax, so $7 was tax. The calculator above does both directions; just switch the mode and it works out the missing figure instantly.
State base rate vs your real combined rate
The rate this tool loads for each state is the statewide base rate. In most places, counties, cities and special districts stack their own sales tax on top, so the combined rate you actually pay at the register is usually higher than the base. California has the highest state base rate at 7.25%, while Indiana, Mississippi, Rhode Island and Tennessee tie at 7.0%; Colorado has the lowest non-zero base rate at 2.9%.
Once local taxes are layered in, the picture changes. Using population-weighted 2026 figures from the Tax Foundation, the nationwide average combined rate is about 7.53%, and Louisiana has the highest combined rate in the country at roughly 10.11%. The table below shows how the base rate and a typical combined rate differ for a few representative states — pick your own state below the calculator to load its base rate, then nudge it to your local rate if you know it.
| State | State base rate | Approx. combined rate (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| California | 7.25% | ~8.8% |
| Texas | 6.25% | ~8.2% |
| Louisiana | 4.45% | ~10.1% |
| Oregon | 0% | 0% |
Combined rates above are typical population-weighted averages; your exact rate depends on your county, city and any special district, so confirm the local figure for an at-the-register number.
States with no statewide sales tax
Five states have no statewide sales tax: Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon charge none at all, and Alaska has no state tax but lets local boroughs and cities add their own, so an Alaska town may still charge a few percent. Choosing one of these states in the tool sets the base rate to 0%; in Alaska, add your local rate by hand if your borough charges one.
Origin- vs destination-based sales tax
Which rate applies depends on where the sale is "sourced." Most states are destination-based: the rate is the one in effect where the buyer takes delivery — your home for an online order, or the store for an in-person purchase. A handful of states are origin-based for in-state sellers, meaning the seller charges the rate at their own location. For everyday shopping you rarely have to think about this; it mainly matters to online sellers deciding which jurisdiction's rate to collect.
What is usually taxed, exempt, or has a special rate
Sales tax does not apply uniformly to everything. Common patterns across states:
- Groceries are often exempt or taxed at a reduced rate, while prepared and restaurant food is usually taxed in full.
- Prescription drugs are widely exempt; many states also exempt some medical devices.
- Clothing is exempt or partly exempt in a few states and fully taxed in most others.
- Services (haircuts, repairs, digital products) are taxed in some states and not others.
Because exemptions vary by state and even by item, a calculator gives you the arithmetic on a taxable price — check your state's rules to know whether a given purchase is taxable in the first place.
Use tax: the other half of the rule
If you buy something tax-free — say from an out-of-state seller that didn't collect tax — and use it in your own state, you generally owe use tax at your local rate. It is the mirror image of sales tax, designed so buying across state lines doesn't dodge the tax. For individuals it most often appears as a line on your state income-tax return; for businesses it is part of routine compliance.
Worked example: a $250 purchase
Suppose you buy a $250 item in a location with an 8.25% combined rate.
- Tax = $250 × 0.0825 = $20.63
- Total = $250 + $20.63 = $270.63
Now reverse it: if your receipt shows a $270.63 total and you want the pre-tax price, divide by 1.0825: $270.63 ÷ 1.0825 = $250.00, confirming $20.63 was tax. Enter your own amount and rate above to run either direction.
The federal sales-tax deduction
If you itemize deductions on your federal return, you may deduct either your state income tax or your state and local sales tax, but not both — part of the capped state-and-local-tax (SALT) deduction. Sales tax is the usual pick for people in no-income-tax states or anyone who made large taxable purchases during the year. For a precise figure, the IRS provides an official Sales Tax Deduction Calculator.
Related calculators
Working out the numbers on a purchase or a paycheck? These tools pair well with this one:
- Percentage Calculator — for any add-on or take-off percentage
- Income Tax Calculator — estimate federal and state income tax
- Paycheck Calculator — see take-home pay after taxes
- Tip Calculator — split a bill and add a tip
For information only; this is an estimate using each state's base statewide rate and is not tax or legal advice. Local county, city and district taxes usually add more, and some items are exempt or taxed at special rates, so your actual rate at the register may differ. Confirm your exact combined rate and any deduction with your state revenue department or the IRS before relying on these figures.
Sales tax calculator by state
Pick your state to load its base sales-tax rate:
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the state base rate and the combined sales tax rate?
The base rate is the statewide rate set by the state; the combined rate adds local county, city and special-district taxes on top. The calculator loads each state's base rate, but your real rate at the register is usually higher. For 2026, the nationwide population-weighted average combined rate is about 7.53%, and Louisiana has the highest combined rate at roughly 10.11% even though its state base is only 4.45%.
What is use tax and when do I owe it?
Use tax is owed when you buy something without paying sales tax — for example from an out-of-state seller that didn't collect it — and then use it in your home state. You generally owe use tax at your local rate, often reported as a line on your state income-tax return. It exists so buying across state lines doesn't avoid the tax.
Is sales tax origin-based or destination-based?
Most states are destination-based, so the rate is the one where the buyer receives the item — your address for an online order or the store for an in-person purchase. A few states are origin-based for in-state sellers, charging the rate at the seller's location. For ordinary shopping the destination rate is what you see; sourcing mainly affects online sellers deciding which rate to collect.
Can I deduct sales tax on my federal tax return?
If you itemize, you can deduct either your state income tax or your state and local sales tax, but not both, as part of the capped SALT deduction. Sales tax is usually the better choice in no-income-tax states or in a year with large taxable purchases. The IRS publishes an official Sales Tax Deduction Calculator for an exact figure.
How do I calculate sales tax?
Multiply the pre-tax price by the sales tax rate as a decimal, then add it to the price. For example, a $100 item at a 7% rate is $100 × 0.07 = $7 in tax, for a $107 total. Enter your amount and rate above and it’s worked out instantly.
How do I reverse sales tax from a total?
To find the pre-tax price from a tax-included total, divide the total by 1 plus the rate. A $107 total at 7% is $107 ÷ 1.07 = $100 pre-tax, so $7 was tax. Switch the calculator to “Reverse” mode to do this automatically.
What is the sales tax rate in my state?
Statewide base rates range from 0% (in five states) to over 7%, and most places add local county and city taxes on top. Pick your state on the by-state pages to load its base rate, then adjust for your local rate if you know it.
Which states have no sales tax?
Five states have no statewide sales tax: Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon, plus Alaska (which has no state tax but allows local sales taxes). In those states, choosing the state sets the rate to 0%.