How to use the sales tax calculator
- Choose what to do: add tax to a price, remove tax from a total, or find the rate.
- Enter the price before tax, or the total including tax when removing tax.
- Enter the sales tax rate: your combined state, county and city rate. To find the rate, enter the total you paid instead.
- Read the tax, the total or the pre-tax price, and the table of tax on common prices.
The sales tax formulas
The most common mistake when removing tax is to subtract the rate from the total. Taking 8% off $108 gives $99.36, not $100, because the tax was 8% of the price before tax, not of the total. Always divide by 1 plus the rate.
Worked example
The defaults are a $100 price at an 8% tax rate.
- Tax: $100 × 0.08 = $8.00
- Total: $100 + $8.00 = $108.00
To remove 8% tax from a $50 total: $50 ÷ 1.08 = $46.30 before tax, so the tax included is $3.70. To find the rate on a receipt showing $80.00 before tax and $86.60 in total: ($86.60 − $80.00) ÷ $80.00 = 0.0825, an 8.25% rate.
Sales tax at common rates
| Rate | Tax on $50 | Total | Tax on $100 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4% | $2.00 | $52.00 | $4.00 | $104.00 |
| 6% | $3.00 | $53.00 | $6.00 | $106.00 |
| 7.25% | $3.63 | $53.63 | $7.25 | $107.25 |
| 8.875% | $4.44 | $54.44 | $8.88 | $108.88 |
| 10% | $5.00 | $55.00 | $10.00 | $110.00 |
Amounts are rounded to the nearest cent. Stores may round each item or the whole receipt, which can shift the total by a cent.
US sales tax rates vary
The US has no national sales tax. Each state sets its own rate, and most let counties, cities and special districts add their own on top, so the rate can change from one town to the next. A few states have no statewide sales tax at all, and many exempt or reduce the tax on groceries, prescription drugs or clothing. Look up the combined rate for your exact address on your state's department of revenue website, or read it off a recent receipt with the "find the rate" option.
Outside the US, most countries charge value-added tax instead, which is usually already included in shelf prices. Use the VAT calculator for those.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate sales tax on a price?
Multiply the price by the rate written as a decimal. At 6.5%, tax on $40 is $40 × 0.065 = $2.60, so you pay $42.60. The calculator does this for you and shows the tax on common prices at your rate.
How do I find the price before tax from a total?
Divide the total by 1 plus the rate. If you paid $53.50 including 7% tax, the price before tax was $53.50 ÷ 1.07 = $50.00 and the tax was $3.50.
Is sales tax charged on shipping?
It depends on the state. Some tax shipping charges, some don't, and some tax them only when the goods themselves are taxable. Check your state's rules or look at how the seller itemizes the receipt.
Do I pay sales tax on online purchases?
Usually, yes. Since the Supreme Court's 2018 Wayfair decision, states can require online sellers to collect sales tax even without a physical presence. In most states with a sales tax, large online sellers now collect it at checkout.
Related calculators
- VAT Calculator — Add VAT to a net price or remove it from a gross price, with standard rates for the UK, EU, Gulf and South Africa.
- Discount Calculator — Final price after a percent or dollar discount, with an optional second stacked discount and sales tax.
- Percentage Calculator — Percent of a number, what percent one number is of another, percentage change and difference.
- Percent Off Calculator — Quick sale price for any percent off, the amount you save, and the total with sales tax.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial, tax or legal advice. See our disclaimer.