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Sales Tax Calculator

Calculate sales tax for any purchase

Total with Tax

$108.00

Tax Amount

$8.00

Tax Rate

8%

No-Tax Savings

$8.00

Pre-Tax

$100.00

Total

$108.00

Tax Amount

$8.00

Tax Rate

8%

Monthly Est.

$32

4x this purchase

Annual Est.

$384

48x this purchase

Price vs Tax

Pre-Tax Price$100.00
Tax Amount$8.00
Total$108.00

Calculation Breakdown

Pre-tax Amount$100.00
Tax Rate8%
Tax Amount+$8.00
Total$108.00

No-Tax State Savings

$8.00

per purchase in a tax-free state

Frequently Asked Questions

Q

How is sales tax calculated?

Sales Tax = Price × Tax Rate. Total = Price + Tax. Example: $100 item with 8% tax = $100 × 0.08 = $8 tax. Total = $108. Combined state + local tax rates range from 0% to 10.25% depending on location.

  • Formula: Tax Amount = Price × (Tax Rate ÷ 100)
  • Total Price = Pre-tax Price + Tax Amount
  • Tax rates combine state + county + city
  • Highest combined rate: ~10.25% (parts of CA, WA)
  • No state tax: AK, DE, MT, NH, OR
Price6% Tax8% Tax10% Tax
$25$1.50 → $26.50$2.00 → $27.00$2.50 → $27.50
$100$6 → $106$8 → $108$10 → $110
$500$30 → $530$40 → $540$50 → $550
$1,000$60 → $1,060$80 → $1,080$100 → $1,100
Q

Which states have the highest and lowest sales tax?

Highest combined rates: California (7.25% state + up to 2.5% local = 10.25%), Tennessee (9.55% average), Louisiana (9.52% average). Lowest: 5 states have 0%: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon.

  • 5 states with no sales tax: AK, DE, MT, NH, OR
  • Alaska has no state tax but allows local taxes
  • Some states exempt groceries and medicine
  • Use tax: Owed on out-of-state purchases
StateState RateAvg LocalAvg Combined
California7.25%+1.57%8.82%
Tennessee7.00%+2.55%9.55%
Texas6.25%+1.94%8.19%
New York4.00%+4.52%8.52%
Florida6.00%+1.01%7.01%
Oregon0%0%0%
Q

How do I calculate the pre-tax price from a total?

Pre-tax Price = Total ÷ (1 + Tax Rate). Example: $108 total with 8% tax. Pre-tax = $108 ÷ 1.08 = $100. The $8 difference was tax. This "reverse" calculation is useful for expense reports and budgeting.

  • Formula: Pre-tax = Total ÷ (1 + Rate as decimal)
  • 8% tax: Divide total by 1.08
  • 10% tax: Divide total by 1.10
  • Tax amount = Total - Pre-tax price
  • Useful for business expense deductions
Total Paid6% Tax Area8% Tax Area10% Tax Area
$53$50 + $3 taxN/AN/A
$108$101.89 + $6.11$100 + $8$98.18 + $9.82
$540$509.43 + $30.57$500 + $40$490.91 + $49.09
Q

What items are exempt from sales tax?

Exemptions vary by state. Commonly exempt: unprepared groceries (31 states), prescription drugs (all states), medical equipment. Sometimes exempt: clothing (PA, NJ, NY partially), school supplies (during tax holidays). Taxable: prepared food, alcohol, electronics.

  • Groceries: Exempt in 31 states, taxed in others
  • Prescription drugs: Exempt in all states
  • Clothing: Fully exempt in PA, NJ, partially in NY
  • Prepared food: Usually taxable (restaurants)
  • Tax holidays: Some states waive tax on school supplies, emergency prep

States have different definitions of "grocery" vs "prepared food." A rotisserie chicken from the deli may be taxable while raw chicken is exempt. When budgeting, assume all non-grocery purchases will be taxed.

Q

What is use tax and do I owe it?

Use tax = sales tax you owe on out-of-state purchases where no tax was charged. Technically, if you buy online from a state with no sales tax (or before economic nexus rules), you owe use tax to your home state. Few individuals pay it, but it's legally required.

  • Use tax rate = your state's sales tax rate
  • Applies to: Online purchases, out-of-state buys
  • Wayfair ruling (2018): Most online sellers now collect tax
  • Still applies to: Small sellers, private purchases
  • Report on state income tax return (line item)

Since the 2018 Wayfair Supreme Court decision, most large online retailers collect sales tax for your state, even if they have no physical presence there. But smaller sellers may not. Technically, you should report and pay use tax on those purchases. Most states include a use tax line on income tax forms.

Q

How do I calculate total cost including tax before buying?

Total = Price × (1 + Tax Rate). Quick estimate: Add 10% for easy math, then adjust. For $79.99 at 8.5% tax: $80 × 1.085 ≈ $87. Use our calculator for exact amounts, especially on big purchases where a few dollars matter.

  • Formula: Total = Price × (1 + Tax Rate)
  • Quick estimate: Round price up, add ~10%
  • For big purchases, calculate exactly
  • Don't forget: Shipping may also be taxable in some states
  • Some items have special tax rates (cars, luxury items)
Item Price6% Tax Total8% Tax Total10% Tax Total
$49.99$53.00$54.00$55.00
$199.99$212.00$216.00$220.00
$999.99$1,060.00$1,080.00$1,100.00
$2,499.99$2,650.00$2,700.00$2,750.00

Example Calculations

1Adding 8% Sales Tax to a $250 Purchase

Inputs

ModeAdd Tax to Price
Price Before Tax$250.00
Tax Rate8%

Result

Total$270.00
Tax Amount$20.00
Pre-Tax Price$250.00

Tax amount = $250.00 x (8 / 100) = $20.00. Total = $250.00 + $20.00 = $270.00.

2Extracting 6.25% Tax from a $159.38 Total

Inputs

ModeExtract Tax from Total
Total Price (Tax Included)$159.38
Tax Rate6.25%

Result

Pre-Tax Price$150.00
Tax Amount$9.38
Total$159.38

Pre-tax price = $159.38 / (1 + 6.25 / 100) = $159.38 / 1.0625 = $150.00 (rounded). Tax amount = $159.38 - $150.00 = $9.38.

3Adding 10% Sales Tax to a $1,500 Electronics Purchase

Inputs

ModeAdd Tax to Price
Price Before Tax$1,500.00
Tax Rate10%

Result

Total$1,650.00
Tax Amount$150.00
Pre-Tax Price$1,500.00
No-Tax State Savings$150.00

Tax amount = $1,500.00 x (10 / 100) = $150.00. Total = $1,500.00 + $150.00 = $1,650.00. Buying this item in a no-tax state (OR, NH, MT, DE, AK) would save you $150.

Formulas Used

Add Tax to Price

Tax Amount = Price x (Tax Rate / 100); Total = Price + Tax Amount

Calculates the sales tax on a pre-tax price and adds it to get the total.

Where:

Price= Pre-tax price of the item or purchase
Tax Rate= Sales tax rate as a percentage (e.g., 8 for 8%)
Total= Final price including sales tax

Extract Tax from Total (Reverse Calculation)

Pre-Tax Price = Total / (1 + Tax Rate / 100); Tax Amount = Total - Pre-Tax Price

Extracts the tax amount from a tax-inclusive total price.

Where:

Total= The total price that already includes tax
Tax Rate= Sales tax rate as a percentage
Pre-Tax Price= The original price before tax was added

Understanding Sales Tax

Sales tax is a consumption tax charged on retail sales of goods and some services. In the US, it varies by state, county, and city, ranging from 0% to over 10% when combined. Unlike VAT in other countries, US sales tax is typically added at checkout.

Different items may be taxed differently. Many states exempt groceries, prescription drugs, and clothing from sales tax. Prepared food, electronics, and luxury items are typically taxable. Always check local laws for specific exemptions.

For businesses, proper sales tax collection and remittance is required for compliance. Most states require registration, regular filing, and payment of collected taxes. E-commerce sellers must navigate nexus rules determining when they must collect tax in each state.

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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2026

This calculator is provided for informational and educational purposes only. Results are estimates and should not be considered professional financial, medical, legal, or other advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making important decisions. UseCalcPro is not responsible for any actions taken based on calculator results.

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