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- Sales tax is a percentage added to the price of goods and some services at checkout.
- Total = price × (1 + tax rate). To go backwards, divide the total by (1 + tax rate).
- Use the combined state, county and city rate for the place where you buy.
- This calculator adds tax, removes tax or finds the rate, and handles quantity and discounts.
How to use the sales tax calculator
Pick what you want to find
Choose add tax to a price, remove tax from a total, or find the tax rate.
Enter the amounts
Type the price before tax, or the total you paid, depending on the mode you chose.
Enter the tax rate
Use the combined rate for your location. You can find it on a receipt from a nearby store or on your state revenue website.
Use the advanced options
Add a quantity or a store discount to see tax on the discounted subtotal.
If you want to see what share of a bill the tax makes up, the Percentage Calculator shows the same relationship in a more general way.
How sales tax is calculated
Sales tax is charged on the price after any store discount. The tax is the rate applied to that subtotal, and the total is the subtotal plus the tax. To work backwards from a total, you divide by one plus the rate, because the total already contains the tax.
Sales tax formulas
Sales tax = price × tax rate ÷ 100
Total = price + sales tax = price × (1 + rate ÷ 100)
Price before tax = total ÷ (1 + rate ÷ 100)
Tax rate = (total − price) ÷ price × 100
Every result is rounded to the nearest cent, the same way a cash register does it.
Sales tax examples
Example 1: add tax with a discount
You buy 3 items at $25.00 each, with a 10% store discount and a 6% sales tax rate.
The tax is charged on the $67.50 subtotal, not on the original $75.00.
Example 2: remove tax from a total
A receipt shows a total of $1,000.00 and the tax rate is 8%.
A common mistake is to multiply $1,000 by 8%, which gives $80.00. That overstates the tax because the rate applies to the price before tax.
Example 3: find the tax rate
An item costs $80.00 before tax and $86.40 at the register.
The local combined rate in this example is 8%.
Sales tax at an 8% rate
Tax and total on common prices
These figures use an 8% rate. For another rate, enter it in the calculator.
At 8%, tax is always 8 cents for every dollar of the price.
Where a sales tax calculator helps
Shopping and budgeting
Know the real checkout price of a big purchase before you get to the register.
Small business pricing
Work out the pre-tax price from a tax-inclusive price list, or check what to charge customers.
Checking receipts
Confirm that the tax on a bill matches the local rate.
Big purchases
Add tax to the price of a car, appliance or furniture. For cars, use the Auto Loan Calculator to include tax in the loan.
Sales tax is set by states, counties and cities, so the rate depends on where you buy. Five states have no statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon, although Alaska allows local sales taxes. Items such as groceries, clothing and medicine are taxed differently in many states. Check your state revenue department for the current rules. This calculator gives an estimate and is not tax advice.
Sales tax calculator FAQ
How do I calculate sales tax?
Multiply the price by the tax rate as a decimal. For a $100 item at 7.25%, the tax is $100 × 0.0725 = $7.25, so the total is $107.25.
How do I find the price before tax?
Divide the total by 1 plus the tax rate as a decimal. A $107.25 total at 7.25% divides by 1.0725 to give $100.00.
How do I find the sales tax rate from a receipt?
Subtract the price before tax from the total, divide by the price before tax, and multiply by 100. If $80.00 became $86.40, the rate is 8%.
Is sales tax charged after a discount?
In most states the tax is charged on the discounted price from the store. Manufacturer coupons are sometimes treated differently, so check your state rules.
Which states have no sales tax?
Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon have no statewide sales tax. Alaska lets cities and boroughs add their own sales taxes, so the rate there can still be above zero.
What is the difference between sales tax and VAT?
Sales tax is charged once, at the final sale to the buyer. VAT is charged at each stage of production and is usually shown inside the shelf price. The US uses sales tax.