Sales Tax Calculator

Sales tax = price × rate, so a $100 purchase at an 8.25% combined rate carries $8.25 of tax for a $108.25 total. Use reverse mode to take tax out of a total (divide by 1 + rate), or enter a price and total to find the rate you were charged.

By the Calculators With Steps team · Updated November 10, 2026 · How we check our math

How to use the sales tax calculator

Choose what you want to find:

Tax and total from the price. Enter the pre-tax price and your state and local rates. You get the tax, the total and the split between state and local tax.
Price before tax from the total (reverse). Enter the amount you paid including tax, plus the rates. Useful for expense reports, bookkeeping and checking receipts.
Tax rate from the price and total. Enter both amounts to see the rate you were actually charged.

If you only know the combined rate for your area, type it into the state field and leave the local rate at 0.

Sales tax formulas

Sales tax = price × rate ÷ 100

Total = price × (1 + rate ÷ 100)

Price before tax = total ÷ (1 + rate ÷ 100)

Tax rate = (total − price) ÷ price × 100

Here the rate is the combined state plus local percentage. In Excel or Google Sheets, with the price in A2 and the rate as a percentage in B2, the total is =A2*(1+B2) and the pre-tax price from a total is =A2/(1+B2).

Worked examples

Question	Working	Answer
Tax on $100 at 6.25% state + 2% local	$100 × 0.0825	$8.25 tax, $108.25 total
Tax on $250 at 7.25%	$250 × 0.0725	$18.13 tax, $268.13 total
Pre-tax price of $108.25 at 8.25%	$108.25 ÷ 1.0825	$100.00
Pre-tax price of $53.50 at 7%	$53.50 ÷ 1.07	$50.00
Rate on a $40.00 item that cost $43.30	$3.30 ÷ $40.00	8.25%

State and local sales tax rates

Sales tax in the U.S. is set by states, and most states also let cities, counties and special districts add their own rate. The rate you pay depends on where the sale takes place, not just the state. That is why two stores a few miles apart can charge different amounts.

Selected 2026 rates from the Tax Foundation, as of July 1, 2026 (local rates are population-weighted averages):

State	State rate	Average local rate	Average combined rate
California	7.25%	1.78%	9.03%
Tennessee	7.00%	2.61%	9.61%
Louisiana	5.00%	5.13%	10.13%
New York	4.00%	4.54%	8.54%
Texas	6.25%	1.95%	8.20%
Florida	6.00%	0.98%	6.98%
Alaska	0.00%	1.82%	1.82%

The national population-weighted average combined rate is 7.53%. Five states have no statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon. Since local rates differ by address, look up the exact rate for a specific location on your state revenue department’s website before filing or invoicing.

What is taxed, and what often is not

Each state decides what is taxable. Groceries and prescription drugs are exempt or taxed at a lower rate in many states, clothing is exempt in a few, and services are taxed far less often than goods. Some states hold sales tax holidays for school supplies or energy-efficient appliances. For online orders, sellers that meet a state’s sales threshold must collect tax based on the buyer’s address.

Business buyers who resell goods usually present a resale certificate instead of paying tax. If you buy something taxable from a seller who did not charge tax, your state may expect you to pay use tax at the same rate.

Tips

Check whether a price already includes tax. U.S. shelf prices usually exclude it, while prices in countries with VAT or GST include it; use the GST calculator for Indian invoices.
Store discounts usually come off before tax is figured, so take the discount off first. The discount calculator does that step.
For a car, the tax is a large one-time cost. Add it to the amount you finance in the auto loan calculator if you won’t pay it in cash.
Stores round tax to the cent, usually on the whole receipt, so your total can differ by a cent from adding up item by item.

Sales Tax Calculator: frequently asked questions

How do I calculate sales tax?

Convert the rate to a decimal and multiply it by the price. At 7.25%, tax on $250 is $250 × 0.0725 = $18.13, so the total is $268.13. Add state and local rates together first if you have both.

How do I calculate sales tax backwards from the total?

Divide the total by 1 plus the tax rate as a decimal. A $53.50 receipt at 7% is $53.50 ÷ 1.07 = $50.00 before tax, so the tax was $3.50.

How do I find the sales tax percentage from a total?

Subtract the pre-tax price from the total to get the tax, then divide the tax by the pre-tax price and multiply by 100. If a $40.00 item rings up at $43.30, the tax is $3.30 and the rate is 8.25%.

Why can't I just multiply the total by the tax rate to remove tax?

Because the tax was charged on the lower pre-tax price. On a $108.25 total at 8.25%, multiplying gives $8.93, but the real tax is $8.25. Dividing by 1.0825 gives the right $100.00 price.

What is the sales tax rate in Texas?

The Texas state rate is 6.25%, and cities, counties, transit authorities and special districts can add up to 2% more, for a maximum combined rate of 8.25%. The average combined rate was 8.20% as of July 1, 2026.

What is the sales tax in California?

California's statewide rate is 7.25%, the highest state-level rate in the country. Local district taxes add from 0.10% to 2.00% each, and the average combined rate was 9.03% as of July 1, 2026.

Which states have no sales tax?

Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon have no statewide sales tax. Alaska lets local governments charge their own, averaging 1.82%.

How do I calculate sales tax on a car?

Multiply the taxable price by your state and local rate. Many states tax only the price after your trade-in, so a $30,000 car with a $10,000 trade-in at 6.25% would owe $1,250 instead of $1,875. Check your state's motor vehicle tax rules, as some use a separate rate.