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Sales Tax Calculator

Quickly calculate the amount of sales tax and the total cost of a purchase.

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How Sales Tax Works in the United States

The US has no federal sales tax — instead, each state sets its own rate, and counties and cities often add additional local taxes on top. This creates a patchwork of rates from 0% (Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, Delaware, Alaska) to over 10% in some cities when state and local rates combine.

States With No Sales Tax

Five states have no statewide sales tax: Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, Delaware, and Alaska (though Alaska allows local sales taxes). If you're making a large purchase, buying from a retailer in one of these states can represent significant savings.

How to Calculate Sales Tax

To add tax: multiply the price by (1 + tax rate). A $100 item at 8.5% tax = $100 × 1.085 = $108.50. To remove tax from a total: divide by (1 + tax rate). An $108.50 total at 8.5% ÷ 1.085 = $100 pre-tax price. This calculator handles both directions instantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which state has the highest sales tax?

California has the highest statewide sales tax at 7.25%, but combined state + local rates in some Louisiana and Tennessee cities exceed 10–11%. Tennessee and Arkansas have some of the highest combined average rates in the country.

Do online purchases require sales tax?

Yes, since the 2018 Supreme Court ruling (South Dakota v. Wayfair), online retailers must collect sales tax in states where they have "economic nexus" — typically meaning $100,000 in sales or 200 transactions. Most major online retailers now collect tax for all states that have a sales tax.

Are groceries and food taxed?

It depends on the state. Most states exempt unprepared grocery food from sales tax. However, about 13 states tax groceries at the full or reduced rate. Prepared food (restaurant meals, hot food) is taxable in almost all states.