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Sales Tax Calculator

A $100 purchase at 8.25% carries $8.25 in tax. The total is $108.25, $8.25 more than the sticker price. Budget to the sticker and you come up short. The price on the tag is almost never the price you pay.

In the United States, sales tax gets added at the register, and the rate depends on where you are: state, county, and city can each add their own slice. This calculator gives you the tax and the total, so the checkout number never surprises you.

Enter your numbers

Result

Price and combined rate in, tax and total out.

The rate is not one number

There is no single U.S. sales tax rate. States set their own rates, and many counties and cities add more on top. Five states, Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon, have no statewide sales tax, though some local areas in Alaska do charge one. Groceries, clothing, and medicine are taxed differently depending on the state, and some are exempt entirely.

That is why this calculator asks for your combined local rate instead of guessing one for you: your receipt’s rate is the only one that counts, and your state department of revenue publishes it.

The math

Sales tax = Price × rate ÷ 100

Total = Price + Sales tax

For the example above: tax = $120 × 7.25 ÷ 100 = $8.70. Total = $120 + $8.70 = $128.70. Going backwards: pre-tax price = total ÷ (1 + rate ÷ 100). So $128.70 ÷ 1.0725 = $120.00.

Enter the purchase price (the price before tax), your combined tax rate (state plus county plus city), and the quantity. If you only know the state rate, the result will be low, since local rates can add a couple of points. The calculator answers with the tax amount and the total.

One receipt, checked

Price $120, combined sales tax rate 7.25%. Turn the rate into a decimal: 7.25 ÷ 100 = 0.0725. Tax: $120 × 0.0725 = $8.70. Total: $120 + $8.70 = $128.70. Check backwards: $128.70 ÷ 1.0725 = $120.00. All figures rounded to the nearest cent.

Three more checkouts

$50 at 6%: tax $3.00, total $53.00.

$999 at 8.875%: tax $88.66, total $1,087.66.

$60 sale price at 7.25%: tax $4.35, total $64.35. That is the jacket from our Discount Calculator example, $80 at 25% off, then tax on the $60 you actually pay.

Questions about the checkout

How do I calculate sales tax?

Multiply the pre-tax price by the tax rate as a decimal. At 7.25% on $120, that is $120 × 0.0725 = $8.70 in tax, and $128.70 in total. Use your combined state, county, and city rate, the state rate alone will understate it.

What rate do I actually enter?

Your combined rate: state plus county plus city. The state rate alone will understate the tax, since local rates can add a couple of points. Your receipt’s rate is the one that counts, and your state department of revenue publishes it.

Why does sales tax differ by state?

Each state sets its own rate, and counties and cities can add more. Some states have no statewide sales tax at all. The same item can cost a different total a few miles across a state line. If you shop online, the tax is usually based on where the order ships to, not where the seller is.

Is sales tax charged on the discounted price?

Usually yes. Tax is charged on what you actually pay, so a discount lowers the tax too. If a store gives you $20 off, you pay tax on the reduced price. Manufacturer coupons are the main exception in some states, where tax may still be charged on the full price.

What about online purchases?

Online sellers generally collect sales tax for the state the order ships to, if they have enough sales there. Small out-of-state sellers may not collect it, but that does not always mean no tax is owed, some states expect buyers to report it. When in doubt, check your state department of revenue.

More tools for the checkout

General information and planning only. Not tax, financial, investment, or legal advice. Sales tax rates, exemptions, and rules vary by location and item and change over time. Confirm your rate with your state department of revenue or a qualified tax professional before relying on it.

Sources

  • State departments of revenue, the authoritative source for combined state, county, and city sales tax rates and exemptions in each state.

By Lucas Meyer · Last updated 15 October 2026