Sales Tax Calculator

The price on the shelf is fiction. Here is the number the register will say.

Use this free sales tax calculator to find the tax amount and total price for any purchase. Enter the price and your tax rate and get both numbers — useful for budgeting, invoicing, expense reports, and figuring out whether that $899 laptop clears $950.

US sales tax is state plus county plus city plus occasionally a transit district, which is why the rate in your town is 8.375% and nobody can do that in their head. Other countries build VAT into the shelf price, a practice Americans encounter once and never stop thinking about.

What This Sales Tax Calculator Does

Calculates the sales tax on any price at any rate
Shows the total price including tax
Works for combined state and local rates (enter the total, e.g. 8.375)
Going backwards from a receipt? Use the reverse sales tax calculator

How to Use the Sales Tax Calculator

Inputs:

Price — the pre-tax price
Tax Rate — your combined rate in % (default 8; look up your exact city rate once and remember it)

Steps:

Enter the pre-tax price
Enter your combined state + local rate
Click Calculate for tax amount and total
For multiple items, add the prices first and apply tax once — the result is identical and the typing is shorter

How the Calculation Works

Tax = Price × (Rate ÷ 100) Total = Price + Tax = Price × (1 + Rate ÷ 100)

Combined rates in the US range from 0% (Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon) to over 10% in parts of Louisiana, Tennessee, and Alabama
Many states exempt or reduce tax on groceries, prescriptions, and clothing — the shelf rate is not always the rate you pay
Going backwards from a total: Price = Total ÷ (1 + Rate ÷ 100). A $108 total at 8% means a $100 item, not $99.36
Tax applies after discounts and coupons but generally before shipping, depending on the state

Worked Example: $1,249 laptop at 8.375%

Tax = 1,249 × 0.08375 = $104.60
Total = 1,249 + 104.60 = $1,353.60
Mental estimate: 8% of 1,249 ≈ 100, so expect "about $1,350" — close enough to know whether your card clears
That $104.60 is roughly an extra accessory you are not getting. Budget for tax before you fall in love with a price.

Tips (From People Who Have Made These Mistakes)

Look up your exact combined rate once — state, county, and city stack, and the city portion is the one people forget
Online orders are taxed at the destination rate in most states, so the checkout total depends on where it ships
Business purchases: tax is usually deductible or recoverable. Keep the receipt showing tax separately
Comparing across states? A 0% state can still lose on total price, and a tax holiday weekend can beat both

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate sales tax?

Multiply the price by the rate as a decimal: $50 × 0.07 = $3.50 tax, $53.50 total. For multiple items, total them first and apply the rate once.

How do I find the price before tax?

Divide the total by (1 + rate). A $64.80 total at 8% is $64.80 ÷ 1.08 = $60.00. The reverse sales tax calculator does this directly.

What is the sales tax rate in my state?

State rates run from 0% to 7.25% (California), and local additions push combined rates above 10% in some cities. Your state revenue department publishes a rate lookup by address — worth doing once.

Is sales tax charged on shipping?

It depends on the state. Some tax shipping when the item is taxable, others never do, and a few tax it only when shipping is not itemized separately. Your checkout page reflects the local rule.

Do I pay sales tax on online purchases?

Almost always, yes. Since the 2018 *Wayfair* decision, states can require out-of-state sellers to collect tax, so the rate is generally the one where the package arrives.

Mini Roast Disclaimer

We roast the number, not you. Sales tax is the only surprise that shows up at every single purchase and still surprises everyone.

Reality Check

Rates change, jurisdictions overlap, and category exemptions (groceries, medicine, clothing) vary widely by state. This calculator applies whatever rate you enter, accurately. For invoicing, filing, or anything with legal consequences, verify against your state revenue department.

Sales Tax Calculator

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