A sales tax calculator adds sales tax to a price and shows the tax and the total you pay. Formula: Tax = amount x rate / 100. Total = amount + tax. A $100 item at 7.25% has $7.25 of tax, for a total of $107.25.
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How to use the sales tax calculator
- Enter the pre-tax price.
- Enter the combined tax rate.
- Read the tax and the total.
How the sales tax calculator works
The sales tax calculator adds sales tax to a pre-tax price. You enter the amount and the combined tax rate as a percentage, and it returns the tax and the total you pay:
- Tax = price × rate ÷ 100
- Total = price + tax
Use the combined rate for your location: the state rate plus any county, city or special-district rates. The amount and rate must be zero or more. Results are shown in your currency to the cent.
Sales tax calculator worked example
A $100 purchase in California, where the statewide base rate is 7.25%, carries $100 × 0.0725 = $7.25 of tax, so the total is $107.25. A $49.99 item at 8.25% has $4.12 tax and costs $54.11. The sales tax calculator rounds the display to cents; stores round each receipt by their own rules, which can differ by a cent.
| Price | Rate | Tax | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100.00 | 7.25% | $7.25 | $107.25 |
| $49.99 | 8.25% | $4.12 | $54.11 |
| $250.00 | 6% | $15.00 | $265.00 |
| $1,200.00 | 9.5% | $114.00 | $1,314.00 |
| $35.00 | 10.25% | $3.59 | $38.59 |
Finding your rate
Sales tax in the United States is set by states and local governments; there is no federal sales tax. A few states have no statewide sales tax, while others add local rates on top of the state rate, so two shops a few miles apart can charge different amounts. Your state revenue department publishes the rates, often with an address lookup. Enter the combined figure in the sales tax calculator.
Working backward from a total
If a receipt shows only the total, divide it by 1 plus the rate to find the pre-tax price. A total of $107.25 at 7.25% is $107.25 ÷ 1.0725 = $100. The tax is the difference, $7.25. This is useful for expense reports and for checking that you were charged correctly.
What is taxed
States decide what is taxable. Many exempt groceries or prescription drugs, or tax them at a lower rate. Clothing, services, digital goods and shipping charges are treated differently from state to state. Online sellers generally collect tax based on where the item is delivered. If part of an order is exempt, run the sales tax calculator only on the taxable part.
Sales tax versus VAT and GST
Many countries use a value-added tax or goods and services tax instead. Those taxes are usually already included in the shelf price, while US sales tax is usually added at the register. The math is the same, so you can use this tool to add VAT to a net price. To remove VAT from a gross price, divide by 1 plus the rate, as above.
Sales tax and income tax
If you itemize deductions on a federal return, you can choose to deduct state and local general sales taxes instead of state and local income taxes. This mostly helps people in states without an income tax. Keep receipts for big purchases such as a car. IRS Topic 503 explains the rules and the yearly limit on state and local tax deductions. The IRS also offers an optional sales tax table, so you do not need every receipt to claim it.
Tips
- Use the combined state and local rate.
- Leave exempt items out of the amount.
- Use the sales tax calculator before big purchases to budget the total.
- Divide by 1 plus the rate to remove tax from a total.
Estimates for education only, not financial advice. Your lender’s figures are final.
Related converters and calculators
Related calculators:
- VAT calculator: value-added tax
- GST calculator: goods and services tax
- Discount calculator: sale prices
- Percentage calculator: percents
Importing goods into the US? The tariff calculator adds duty and customs fees.
Sources
OpenStax Prealgebra 2e, 6.3: Sales tax, commission and discount; U.S. Census Bureau: Annual Survey of State Government Tax Collections; IRS Topic 503: Deductible taxes.
Formula and method
Tax = price × rate ÷ 100. Total = price + tax. Reverse: pre-tax price = total ÷ (1 + rate ÷ 100).
Forward tax on an amount before tax. Does not reverse out tax from a tax-inclusive price.
Questions about this calculator
How do I calculate sales tax?
Multiply the price by the rate and divide by 100.
How do I remove tax from a total?
Divide the total by 1 plus the rate.
Is there a federal sales tax?
No; states and local governments set it.
Which rate should I use?
The combined state and local rate for the delivery address.
Does it handle exempt items?
Leave them out of the amount.
Check the assumptions and units before relying on a result. Financial, tax and health estimates do not replace advice for your individual circumstances.
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