Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate U.S. sales tax on any purchase — or work backwards from the total to find the pre-tax amount.
What is Sales Tax Calculator?
The sales tax calculator handles both directions: adding your local tax to a pre-tax price, or working backwards from a receipt total to figure out how much tax you paid.
U.S. sales tax is set at the state, county, and city level, so the combined rate varies a lot: about 4% in some Alaskan boroughs, up to 10%+ in parts of Louisiana, California, and Tennessee. Five states — Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon — have no statewide sales tax at all.
Formula
Adding tax:
Tax = pre-tax amount × rate
Total = pre-tax amount + tax
Removing tax (given a total):
Pre-tax = total ÷ (1 + rate)
Tax = total − pre-tax
Worked example
Adding tax. A $100 purchase in a jurisdiction with a 7.25% combined sales tax rate:
- Tax = $100 × 0.0725 = $7.25
- Total = $107.25
Removing tax. A receipt total of $107.25 at the same 7.25% rate:
- Pre-tax = $107.25 ÷ 1.0725 = $100.00
- Tax = $7.25
How to use this calculator
- Choose whether you want to add tax or remove tax.
- Enter the amount — the pre-tax price if adding, or the receipt total if removing.
- Enter your local combined sales tax rate. California statewide is 7.25%; New York City is 8.875%; Houston, TX is 8.25%; Chicago, IL is 10.25%. Check your state revenue department for the exact rate.
Frequently asked questions
Which states have no sales tax?
Five states have no statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. Alaska does allow local sales taxes, so some boroughs still charge sales tax.
What is the highest combined sales tax rate in the U.S.?
Combined state and local rates above 10% are found in parts of Louisiana, Tennessee, Arkansas, Washington, Alabama, and Illinois. Always check your specific ZIP code — rates change at city and even district boundaries.
Are groceries and prescription drugs taxed?
Most states exempt prescription drugs, and many exempt unprepared groceries or tax them at a reduced rate. Restaurant meals and prepared foods are almost always fully taxed.
Do I owe sales tax on online purchases?
Generally yes. Since the 2018 South Dakota v. Wayfair Supreme Court decision, online retailers must collect sales tax based on the buyer's location in most states. If a retailer does not collect it, your state may require you to remit "use tax" on your state tax return.