The Sales Tax Calculator can compute any one of the following, given inputs for the remaining two: before-tax price, sales tax rate, and final, or after-tax price.
The following is an overview of the sales tax rates for different states.
| State | General State Sales Tax | Max Tax Rate with Local/City Sale Tax |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 4% | 13.5% |
| Alaska | 0% | 7% |
| Arizona | 5.6% | 10.725% |
| Arkansas | 6.5% | 11.625% |
| California | 7.25% | 10.5% |
| Colorado | 2.9% | 10% |
| Connecticut | 6.35% | 6.35% |
| Delaware | 0% | 0% |
| District of Columbia | 6% | 6% |
| Florida | 6% | 7.5% |
| Georgia | 4% | 8% |
| Guam | 4% | 4% |
| Hawaii | 4.166% | 4.712% |
| Idaho | 6% | 8.5% |
| Illinois | 6.25% | 10.25% |
| Indiana | 7% | 7% |
| Iowa | 6% | 7% |
| Kansas | 6.5% | 11.6% |
| Kentucky | 6% | 6% |
| Louisiana | 4.45% | 11.45% |
| Maine | 5.5% | 5.5% |
| Maryland | 6% | 6% |
| Massachusetts | 6.25% | 6.25% |
| Michigan | 6% | 6% |
| Minnesota | 6.875% | 7.875% |
| Mississippi | 7% | 7.25% |
| Missouri | 4.225% | 10.85% |
| Montana | 0% | 0% |
| Nebraska | 5.5% | 7.5% |
| Nevada | 6.85% | 8.375% |
| New Hampshire | 0% | 0% |
| New Jersey | 6.625% | 12.625% |
| New Mexico | 5.125% | 8.688% |
| New York | 4% | 8.875% |
| North Carolina | 4.75% | 7.5% |
| North Dakota | 5% | 8% |
| Ohio | 5.75% | 8% |
| Oklahoma | 4.5% | 11% |
| Oregon | 0% | 0% |
| Pennsylvania | 6% | 8% |
| Puerto Rico | 10.5% | 11.5% |
| Rhode Island | 7% | 7% |
| South Carolina | 6% | 9% |
| South Dakota | 4% | 6% |
| Tennessee | 7% | 9.75% |
| Texas | 6.25% | 8.25% |
| Utah | 6.1% | 8.35% |
| Vermont | 6% | 7% |
| Virginia | 5.3% | 7% |
| Washington | 6.5% | 10.6% |
| West Virginia | 6% | 7% |
| Wisconsin | 5% | 7.9% |
| Wyoming | 4% | 6% |
This sales tax calculator computes both forward (price before tax → total with tax) and reverse (total with tax → pre-tax price) in any US state. It uses 2026 state sales tax rates plus average local rates for accurate combined rate estimates. You can switch between a specific state rate or a custom rate for unusual jurisdictions. The output includes state tax, local tax, total tax, and total price. A secondary "business mode" accepts multiple line items, calculates tax per line, and produces a subtotal, tax subtotal, and grand total for invoices or purchase order verification.
1. Enter the item price (pre-tax) — or for reverse calculation, enter the total price including tax.
2. Select your state from the dropdown; the 2026 combined state + average local rate populates automatically.
3. For a specific city or county, enter a custom rate to override the default.
4. Toggle Reverse Mode to calculate the pre-tax price from a tax-included total.
5. Add additional line items in business mode for multi-item invoices.
6. Click Calculate to see the tax amount, total price, and effective tax rate.
Sales tax is a flat percentage applied to the taxable sale price:
Tax amount = Pre-tax price × Tax rate
Total price = Pre-tax price × (1 + Tax rate)
For reverse calculation (solving for pre-tax price from a tax-included total):
Pre-tax price = Total price ÷ (1 + Tax rate)
Example: A $500 item in Chicago, IL with a combined rate of 10.25% (state 6.25% + local 4.0%). Tax = $500 × 0.1025 = $51.25. Total = $551.25. Reverse: $551.25 ÷ 1.1025 = $500.00 exactly.
Sales tax rates vary dramatically by location — the same purchase can cost significantly more or less depending on where it's made. The five states with no sales tax (Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, Delaware, Alaska) produce zero sales tax on any purchase. High-combined-rate states like Louisiana (~9.56%), Tennessee (~9.55%), and Arkansas (~9.46%) add nearly 10 cents per dollar. Knowing your effective rate before a major purchase lets you budget accurately and, for large items, potentially plan the purchase location strategically.
Sales taxes in the US are set at the state level and almost always supplemented by local (city and county) rates, which vary even within a single state. Here's the landscape in 2026:
No state sales tax: Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, Delaware, Alaska (Alaska has no statewide rate but some municipalities charge local taxes — the average combined rate is about 1.8%).
Low combined rates (under 5%): Hawaii (4.4% with surcharge), Wisconsin (5.4%), Wyoming (5.36%).
Moderate rates (5–7%): The majority of US states fall in this range.
High combined rates (8%+): Louisiana, Tennessee, Arkansas, Washington, Alabama, and several other states regularly rank in the top tier. Los Angeles County, California combines a 7.25% state rate with local add-ons that can reach 10.25% or higher in some cities.
For major purchases — automobiles, appliances, electronics — the dollar impact of these rate differences is significant. A $40,000 car purchase in Tennessee (combined ~9.55%) generates $3,820 in sales tax. The same purchase in Oregon generates $0. Running the sales tax calculator before a major purchase is basic financial hygiene.
Vehicle sales tax follows different rules than retail sales tax in most states. Key differences:
Rate: Most states apply the standard state sales tax rate to vehicle purchases, but some states cap total tax on vehicles or use a different rate schedule. California charges full sales tax (7.25% state + local), while some states like North Carolina cap the total tax on vehicles at $450.
Where you pay: For dealer sales, sales tax is typically collected and remitted by the dealer at point of sale. For private-party sales, the buyer usually pays tax when registering the vehicle at the DMV.
Trade-in credit: Many states allow you to subtract your trade-in value from the purchase price before calculating sales tax — a meaningful savings on large purchases. In a state with a 7% rate, a $10,000 trade-in credit saves $700 in sales tax.
Out-of-state purchases: If you buy a vehicle in a different state, you generally pay sales tax in your home state at registration, not in the purchase state (though rules vary). The sales tax calculator's state-specific output helps you estimate this accurately.
The 2018 Supreme Court decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair permanently changed the sales tax landscape for online sellers. Any business with "economic nexus" in a state — typically $100,000 in sales or 200 transactions per year — must collect and remit that state's sales tax, even if the business has no physical presence there.
In 2026, all 45 states with a sales tax have enacted economic nexus laws. For small businesses and independent sellers on platforms like Etsy, Shopify, and Amazon, this creates compliance obligations across potentially dozens of states. Key points:
Use the sales tax calculator to verify the combined rate for any customer's shipping destination, and confirm your nexus status in high-volume states quarterly.
Combined rates range from 0% to over 11% depending on exact jurisdiction.
Groceries, prescription drugs, and clothing are exempt in many states; prepared food, alcohol, and tobacco often carry additional rates.
Online purchases are now taxed the same as in-store for nexus-compliant sellers.
For vehicles, trade-in deductions can materially reduce taxable price in most states.
Destination-based sales tax states charge the rate where the item is delivered, not where the seller is located.
Brandon buys a $1,800 home theater system in Nashville, Tennessee. Tennessee's combined rate is approximately 9.75% (state 7% + Shelby/Davidson local 2.75%). Tax: $1,800 × 0.0975 = $175.50. Total: $1,975.50. If Brandon had ordered online from Oregon (no state tax, no nexus), he'd owe Tennessee's use tax on the purchase — practically the same amount. The sales tax calculator helps him model both scenarios before buying.
Chloe runs a freelance graphic design studio in Dallas. She sells $3,200 in taxable design services and physical merchandise to a client in Dallas. Texas combined rate: 8.25% (state 6.25% + local 2.0%). Tax on taxable items: $3,200 × 0.0825 = $264. Total invoice: $3,464. Using the business mode of the sales tax calculator, Chloe verifies the tax line before sending the invoice — and saves the report as backup for her quarterly sales tax remittance to the Texas Comptroller.
1. Always use the combined (state + local) rate. State-only rates underestimate the actual tax in most jurisdictions. The calculator includes average local rates by state.
2. For exact addresses, use the destination zip code. Local rates vary at the zip code level in many states — especially for high-value or online purchases.
3. Check item exemptions before calculating. Groceries, clothing, and prescription drugs are tax-exempt or taxed at reduced rates in many states.
4. Small business owners: track nexus thresholds quarterly. Once you exceed $100,000 in sales or 200 transactions in a state, you're required to collect sales tax — retroactive liability is expensive.
5. For car purchases, calculate the trade-in credit. In most states, your trade-in reduces the taxable purchase price, potentially saving hundreds in sales tax on a large vehicle purchase.
Multiply the pre-tax price by the tax rate (as a decimal). For a $200 item at 8% tax: $200 × 0.08 = $16 tax. Total = $216. The sales tax calculator does this instantly for any US state.
Divide the total by (1 + tax rate). For a $108 total at 8% tax: $108 ÷ 1.08 = $100 pre-tax price. Use the calculator's Reverse Mode for this.
Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, Delaware, and Alaska have no statewide sales tax. Alaska has some local-only taxes. New Hampshire taxes restaurant meals and certain rentals but not general retail.
No. Most states allow cities and counties to add local sales taxes on top of the state rate. The combined rate in a single state can vary by several percentage points across different jurisdictions.
Yes, in most cases. Following the 2018 Wayfair decision, online sellers with economic nexus in your state are required to collect sales tax. Marketplaces like Amazon automatically collect tax on behalf of third-party sellers in most states.
Yes — if you itemize deductions, you can deduct either state income tax OR state and local sales tax (not both) under the SALT deduction. For residents of no-income-tax states, the sales tax deduction is often more valuable. Use the IRS Sales Tax Deduction Calculator or actual receipts.
Generally yes, but some states cap vehicle sales tax, offer trade-in deductions, or use a separate rate schedule. Private-party vehicle sales are usually taxed at registration rather than at point of sale.
Use tax is the equivalent of sales tax applied to purchases where sales tax wasn't collected — typically out-of-state or online purchases. If you buy an item from an out-of-state seller that didn't charge your state's sales tax, you technically owe use tax at the same rate. Most states include a use tax line on the individual income tax return.
Brief disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for educational and planning purposes only. Actual sales tax rates, exemptions, and nexus requirements depend on your specific jurisdiction, item type, and applicable state and local laws. Rates referenced reflect 2026 data and may change. Results should be treated as planning guidance rather than tax or legal advice.