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Sales Tax Calculator

This sales tax calculator adds sales tax to a price to give the total you'll pay, or works backward from a total that already includes tax to find the price before tax and the amount of tax.

What do you have?

State + local combined. Check your city or county.

Result

Total: $108.25

Price before tax$100.00
Sales tax$8.25
Total with tax$108.25

Results update as you type.

How the Sales Tax Calculator Works

Adding tax to a price

  • Tax = price × rate
  • Total = price + tax (or price × (1 + rate))

Removing tax from a total

When a price already includes tax, divide rather than subtract:

  • Price before tax = total ÷ (1 + rate)
  • Tax = total − price before tax

The rate is entered as a percentage and converted to a decimal: 8.25% = 0.0825.

Worked Examples

Adding tax: a $100 purchase at 8.25%

  • Tax: 100 × 0.0825 = $8.25
  • Total: 100 + 8.25 = $108.25

Removing tax: a $108.25 total at 8.25%

  • Price before tax: 108.25 ÷ 1.0825 = $100.00
  • Tax: 108.25 − 100.00 = $8.25

Note that 8.25% of $108.25 is about $8.93, not $8.25. That’s why you divide by 1 + rate instead of subtracting the rate from the total.

State Sales Tax Rates

Sales tax in the US is set by states and, in many places, by counties, cities and special districts as well. According to the Tax Foundation’s midyear 2026 figures:

  • Highest state rate: California, 7.25%
  • Lowest nonzero state rate: Colorado, 2.9%
  • No state or local sales tax: Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon

The rate you pay is usually the combined state and local rate.

Tips for Using the Calculator

Use the combined local rate

The state rate alone often understates the tax. Your state’s department of revenue usually has a rate lookup by address.

Check exemptions

Groceries, clothing, medicine and some services may be exempt or taxed at a lower rate depending on the state.

Big purchases

For a car purchase, where tax is often financed along with the price, use the auto loan calculator. For federal income tax, try the income tax calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate sales tax?

Multiply the price by the tax rate as a decimal. For a $100 item at 8.25%, tax is 100 × 0.0825 = $8.25, and the total is $108.25.

How do I work out the price before tax from a total?

Divide the total by 1 plus the tax rate. For a $108.25 total at 8.25%, the price before tax is 108.25 ÷ 1.0825 = $100, so the tax was $8.25. Subtracting 8.25% of the total would give the wrong answer.

What sales tax rate should I use?

Use the combined rate where the purchase is made — the state rate plus any county, city or district rates. Your state's department of revenue publishes the rates, and receipts usually show the rate charged.

Which states have no sales tax?

According to the Tax Foundation, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon have no statewide or local sales tax.

Which state has the highest sales tax rate?

California has the highest statewide rate, at 7.25%, according to the Tax Foundation's 2026 midyear figures. Combined rates including local taxes can be higher in other states.

Is everything subject to sales tax?

No. Many states exempt or reduce the tax on items such as groceries or prescription drugs, and the rules differ from state to state. Check your state's rules for specific items.

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Sources

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