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US Sales Tax Calculator

Calculate sales tax for all 50 US states and DC — add tax to a price or reverse-calculate the pre-tax amount.

US Sales Tax Calculator

Calculate sales tax for all 50 US states and DC. For VAT/GST in other countries, use the GST/VAT Calculator.

Select a state to begin.

About US Sales Tax

Sales tax is a consumption tax collected by retailers at the point of sale and remitted to the government. Unlike VAT/GST systems used in most of the world, US sales tax is applied only at the final sale to the end consumer — not at each step of the supply chain.

No Federal Sales Tax

The United States has no federal sales tax. Each state sets its own rate, and many counties and cities add a local rate on top. This means the combined rate can vary significantly — even within the same state. Four states (Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon) have no sales tax at all.

About the Rates Shown

The rates in this calculator are combined averages of the state rate plus the average of all local (county and city) rates. Because local rates vary within a state, the actual rate at a specific address may be slightly higher or lower. For precise business use, look up your exact jurisdiction rate via your state's revenue authority.

Outside the US?

Most countries use a VAT (Value Added Tax) or GST (Goods and Services Tax) system instead. Use the GST/VAT Calculator for rates in Australia, the UK, Canada, the EU, and 150+ other countries.

How US Sales Tax Works

I built this calculator because working out sales tax by hand is surprisingly easy to get wrong. Unlike VAT in Europe, US sales tax is added on top of the listed price at the point of sale — so the sticker price you see is almost never what you actually pay. The rate varies not just by state but sometimes by city and county too.

Adding Tax vs Reverse-Calculating a Pre-Tax Price

Use this tool in two directions:

  • Adding tax to a price: Total = Price × (1 + Rate / 100). Useful when you want to know the final amount you will pay at checkout.
  • Finding the pre-tax price: Pre-Tax = Total / (1 + Rate / 100). Useful when you already know what you paid and want to separate the tax component — handy for expense reports and accounting.
  • State rates range from 0% (Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, Delaware, Alaska) up to 7.25% base rate in California, which can climb higher once local district taxes are added.

A few states have reduced rates or exemptions on essential goods like groceries and prescription medications, so the rate shown here reflects the general state rate and may not apply to every purchase. Use this as a quick estimate rather than a definitive figure for filing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which states have no sales tax?

Five US states collect no statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. Alaska allows local municipalities to levy their own sales taxes, so some areas of Alaska do charge tax even though there is no state rate.

Does sales tax apply to online purchases?

Yes, in most cases. Following the Supreme Court's 2018 ruling in South Dakota v. Wayfair, states can require out-of-state online retailers to collect sales tax if they exceed certain economic thresholds in the state. Most major e-commerce platforms now collect and remit sales tax automatically.

Is this suitable for filing tax returns?

This tool gives a quick estimate based on published state rates. Local surcharges, product-specific exemptions, and changes to rate tables are not always reflected in real time. This is an estimate — consult a tax professional for advice specific to your situation.

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