Sales Tax Calculator

Pre-Tax Price

$

Sales Tax Rate

%

U.S. City Presets

The Sales Tax Calculator computes the final price of any product or service after applying state and local sales tax. In the United States, 45 states plus the District of Columbia levy a sales tax, and many counties and cities add their own on top — creating combined rates that range from 0% (Oregon, Montana) to over 10% (parts of Alabama, Louisiana, and Tennessee).

This tool handles both directions: add sales tax to a pre-tax price, or extract the pre-tax amount from a total that already includes tax. It also shows the exact tax dollar amount, so you can verify receipts and invoices quickly.

How This Calculator Works

Sales tax is calculated as a simple percentage of the taxable amount:

Tax = Price × Rate
Final Price = Price × (1 + Rate)

To reverse-calculate (extract pre-tax price from a total that includes tax):

Pre-tax Price = Total ÷ (1 + Rate)
Tax = Total − Pre-tax Price

The combined sales tax rate is the sum of state, county, city, and special district rates. For example, a purchase in Chicago has: Illinois state 6.25% + Cook County 1.75% + Chicago city 1.25% + RTA 1.00% = 10.25% combined.

When to Use This Calculator

Use this calculator when you need to:

Estimate the total cost of a purchase before checking out
Set retail prices that account for combined state + local tax
Verify that a sales-tax line item on a receipt is correct
Back-calculate pre-tax price from a receipt total
Compare sales tax burden across states or cities when relocating or expanding a business

Example Calculation

You buy a $899 laptop in Los Angeles, California. The combined sales tax rate is 9.5% (CA state 6% + LA County 3.5%).

Sales tax: $899 × 0.095 = $85.41
Total price: $899 + $85.41 = $984.41

Reverse: a receipt shows a total of $109.40 in a 9.5% tax area. Pre-tax price = $109.40 ÷ 1.095 = $99.91, tax = $9.49.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Which U.S. states have no sales tax?

Five states have no state-level sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. However, Alaska allows local municipalities to levy sales tax, so some Alaskan cities still charge it. Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon have no state or local sales tax, though some impose gross receipts taxes on businesses.

What is the difference between sales tax and use tax?

Sales tax is collected by the seller at the point of sale. Use tax is owed by the buyer when sales tax was not collected (e.g., out-of-state online purchases before the Wayfair decision, or purchases from unregistered sellers). Most consumers ignore use tax, but states are increasingly enforcing it through audits and voluntary disclosure programs.

Are groceries and clothing taxable?

It depends on the state. Most states exempt or reduce tax on groceries (13 states tax them at full rate). Clothing is exempt in Pennsylvania, New Jersey (clothing under $110), Minnesota, and Vermont, but taxable elsewhere. Prepared restaurant food, alcohol, and tobacco are typically taxed at higher rates. Always check your specific jurisdiction.

How do I find the combined sales tax rate for my address?

Use the Sales Tax Institute lookup tool or your state's Department of Revenue website. Many states offer address-level lookup tools that account for special taxing districts like transportation authorities, school districts, and stadium taxes that do not follow city or county boundaries.

Do online purchases include sales tax?

Since the 2018 South Dakota v. Wayfair Supreme Court decision, states can require online sellers to collect sales tax even without a physical presence. Most major marketplaces (Amazon, eBay, Etsy) now collect in all states with sales tax. Smaller sellers may be exempt below a state's economic nexus threshold (typically $100,000 in sales or 200 transactions).

Is sales tax deductible on my federal return?

You can deduct either state and local income tax OR state and local sales tax (SALT deduction), capped at $10,000 total per return. The IRS provides optional sales tax tables based on income and location, or you can deduct actual sales tax paid with receipts. This is most beneficial for residents of no-income-tax states.

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Important Disclaimer:

This inflation calculator is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, legal or investment advice. Results are estimates based on the inputs you provide and standard formulas; actual figures may vary due to rounding, jurisdiction-specific rules, fees, or changing market conditions. Always consult a licensed financial advisor, tax professional, or legal counsel before making decisions based on these calculations. See our full Disclaimer.

R

Rachel Hammond

CFP® — Certified Financial Planner

Rachel is a Certified Financial Planner with over 14 years of experience guiding individuals and families through tax planning, retirement strategy and investment management. She holds a degree in Economics from the University of Michigan and has been quoted in Forbes, CNBC and The Wall Street Journal.

CFP® Certified 14+ years experience Quoted in Forbes & CNBC

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