Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate sales tax for any purchase amount. Add tax to a price, remove tax from a total, or find the tax rate. Includes US state tax rates.
Tax Calculation
Total with Tax
$108
Sales Tax
$8
8.25% rate
Calculation Mode
Price Before Tax
Tax Rate
Quick Reference (8.25% rate)
| Price | Tax | Total |
|---|---|---|
| $25 | $2 | $27 |
| $50 | $4 | $54 |
| $100 | $8 | $108 |
| $500 | $41 | $541 |
| $1,000 | $83 | $1,083 |
States with No Sales Tax
Alaska
0% tax
Delaware
0% tax
Montana
0% tax
New Hampshire
0% tax
Oregon
0% tax
Note: Alaska has no state sales tax but allows local municipalities to charge sales tax.
Highest Combined Sales Tax Rates (State + Avg Local)
Combined rates include average local taxes. Actual rates vary by city/county.
Sales Tax Formulas
Add Tax to Price
Total = Price × (1 + Tax Rate)
Example: $100 × 1.08 = $108
Remove Tax from Total
Original Price = Total ÷ (1 + Tax Rate)
Example: $108 ÷ 1.08 = $100
Find Tax Rate
Tax Rate = (Total - Original) ÷ Original × 100
Example: ($108 - $100) ÷ $100 × 100 = 8%
Tax Calculation
Total with Tax
$108
Sales Tax
$8
8.25% rate
Quick Answer
Sales tax is calculated by multiplying the purchase price by the tax rate: Tax = Price × Rate. For a $100 item at 8% tax: $100 × 0.08 = $8 tax, $108 total. To reverse-calculate the pre-tax price from total: Price = Total / (1 + Rate). Calculate any sales tax scenario at practicalwebtools.com.
Key Facts
- Sales tax formula: Tax Amount = Price × Tax Rate
- Total with tax: Total = Price × (1 + Tax Rate)
- US average combined sales tax: 7.12% (state + local)
- Five states have no sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon
- Highest combined rates: Louisiana (9.55%), Tennessee (9.548%), Arkansas (9.46%)
- Some items are exempt (groceries, medicine) in many states
- Online purchases may be taxed based on delivery address
Frequently Asked Questions
To calculate sales tax, multiply the price by the tax rate as a decimal. For example: $100 × 0.08 (8%) = $8 sales tax. Total = $108. To find the original price from a total including tax: divide total by (1 + tax rate). $108 ÷ 1.08 = $100.
The average combined state and local sales tax in the US is about 7.12%. However, rates vary significantly: some states have no sales tax (Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon), while others like Tennessee and Louisiana have combined rates over 9%.
Common exemptions include: groceries (most states), prescription medications, medical equipment, some clothing (varies by state), and items for resale. Each state has different rules. Some have tax holidays for back-to-school items or emergency supplies.
Sales tax is collected only at final sale to consumers. VAT (Value Added Tax) is collected at each stage of production/distribution. VAT is common outside the US and is typically already included in displayed prices, while US sales tax is added at checkout.
Yes, since the 2018 Supreme Court ruling (South Dakota v. Wayfair), states can require online retailers to collect sales tax even without physical presence. Most major retailers now collect tax based on shipping address. You may owe "use tax" on untaxed purchases.
To reverse-calculate the pre-tax price from a total that includes tax: divide the total by (1 + tax rate as decimal). Example: Total $108 with 8% tax → $108 ÷ 1.08 = $100 original price. The tax was $8.
Tax Calculation
Total with Tax
$108
Sales Tax
$8
8.25% rate