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Sales Tax Calculator

Calculate the total price of any purchase including sales tax

Results are estimates for informational purposes only — not professional financial, medical, or legal advice. See how we build and verify our calculators.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate sales tax?

Multiply the price by the tax rate (as a decimal). Example: $50 item with 8% sales tax → $50 × 0.08 = $4.00 tax → $54.00 total. Or multiply the price by (1 + rate): $50 × 1.08 = $54.00.

What states have no sales tax?

Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, Delaware, and Alaska have no statewide sales tax (though Alaska allows local taxes). These 5 states are popular for large purchases. Most states range from 4–10%.

What is the highest sales tax in the US?

Combined state + local rates can exceed 12% in some areas. Louisiana, Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, and Oklahoma regularly top the combined rate rankings. California has the highest base state rate at 7.25%.

Do online purchases require sales tax?

Yes, since the 2018 South Dakota v. Wayfair Supreme Court decision. Online retailers are now required to collect sales tax in states where they have economic nexus (usually $100,000+ in sales or 200+ transactions per year).

Are groceries taxed?

It depends on the state. Many states exempt food for home consumption (groceries). However, prepared food (restaurants, hot deli items) is usually taxable. About 37 states exempt most grocery items from sales tax.

Reverse Sales Tax Calculation

If you know the total paid (with tax) and want to find the pre-tax price:

Pre-tax price = Total ÷ (1 + tax rate)

Example: $108 total with 8% tax → $108 ÷ 1.08 = $100 pre-tax

Useful when a receipt shows the total and you need to separate the tax for expense reports or accounting.

What Is and Isn't Taxed

Usually Taxable
Electronics, clothing (most states), furniture, cars, prepared food, alcohol
Often Exempt
Groceries (37 states), prescription drugs (most states), medical devices, some services
Varies by State
Clothing (NY/PA exempt, others tax), digital downloads, SaaS software