Add sales tax to a pre-tax price, or find the original pre-tax price from a tax-included total. Covers all US state rates and any custom tax rate worldwide.
Adjust the values — your tax updates live.
Total Price (with Tax)
Pre-Tax Price
$100.00
Tax Amount
$7.25
Total Price
$107.25
Tax Rate
7.25%
| State | Rate | Tax on Your Price | Total Price |
|---|
About Sales Tax
US sales tax is collected at the point of final sale by the retailer, then remitted to state and local governments.
Rates vary by state from 0% to over 9% (combined), and many cities add local surtaxes on top of state rates.
Top US State Rates
The Formula
Two simple algebraic identities cover every sales tax scenario. Adding tax multiplies the pre-tax price by (1 + r); reverse-calculating divides the tax-included total by the same factor. The tax amount is always the difference between the two.
Formula
About This Tool
A sales tax calculator handles the two most common consumption-tax computations: adding tax to a quoted pre-tax price, and reverse-engineering the pre-tax price from a tax-included total. Both directions are essential — for shoppers checking final cost at the register, and for anyone splitting a receipt between item cost and tax.
The trickier of the two is the reverse calculation. A common mistake is to subtract the percentage directly from the total, which gives the wrong answer. The correct formula divides by (1 + rate) — this calculator handles both modes automatically.
While focused on US state sales tax, the calculator works for any consumption tax globally — GST in Australia (10%), HST in Canada, or any custom percentage worldwide. Use the State Rates tab to compare your price across the most common US state rates.
Both Directions
Add tax to a pre-tax price, or reverse-calculate from a tax-included total.
All US State Rates
Pre-loaded state rates, or enter any custom rate worldwide.
Visual Breakdown
Donut chart shows the proportion of total price that is tax.
Receipt Verification
Quickly check that a vendor calculated the tax correctly.
Works Worldwide
Use any custom rate for VAT, GST, HST, or other consumption taxes.
Live Updates
Results recompute instantly as you adjust price or rate.
Get an accurate tax calculation in seconds.
Select Add Tax to Price if you have the pre-tax price and need the total, or Remove Tax from Total to find the pre-tax price from a tax-included amount.
Type the price or drag the slider. The label updates based on the mode you selected — pre-tax or tax-included total.
Use the state dropdown to auto-fill the rate, or type any custom rate directly into the tax rate field.
The summary card shows the total, pre-tax, tax amount, and rate together. Everything updates live as you adjust inputs.
The By State tab shows your price at common US state rates side-by-side, useful for cross-border shopping.
The Schedule tab lists your exact total at the major US state tax rates — handy for quick reference.
Quick reference
Multiply the price by 1 + the tax rate, written as a decimal. At 8.25%, $22.98 × 1.0825 = $24.88. The tax alone is $22.98 × 0.0825 = $1.90. To remove tax from a receipt total, divide instead: $108.25 ÷ 1.0825 = $100.00 before tax.
| Price | +5% | +7% | +8.25% | +10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1.50 | $1.58 | $1.61 | $1.62 | $1.65 |
| $3.75 | $3.94 | $4.01 | $4.06 | $4.13 |
| $7.79 | $8.18 | $8.34 | $8.43 | $8.57 |
| $12.49 | $13.11 | $13.36 | $13.52 | $13.74 |
| $22.98 | $24.13 | $24.59 | $24.88 | $25.28 |
| $39.99 | $41.99 | $42.79 | $43.29 | $43.99 |
| $49.99 | $52.49 | $53.49 | $54.11 | $54.99 |
| $59.99 | $62.99 | $64.19 | $64.94 | $65.99 |
| $100.00 | $105.00 | $107.00 | $108.25 | $110.00 |
| $349.99 | $367.49 | $374.49 | $378.86 | $384.99 |
Your real rate is the state rate plus any county and city rates, so two stores in the same state can charge different totals. Pick your state in the calculator above, or type your combined local rate. Stores round tax to the nearest cent, so a total can differ from a hand calculation by a penny.
Outside the U.S., most countries charge VAT instead of sales tax. The math is the same, and you can use the VAT calculator. For discounts and markups, use the percentage calculator.
Common questions about sales tax calculations in the US and beyond.
Multiply the pre-tax price by the tax rate as a decimal. Tax = Pre-tax × rate. Total = Pre-tax + Tax. For example, a $200 item with 8.5% tax: Tax = $200 × 0.085 = $17. Total = $217.
Divide the tax-included total by (1 + rate): Pre-tax = Total ÷ (1 + rate). For $217 with 8.5% tax: $217 ÷ 1.085 = $200 pre-tax, so the tax was $17. Use the Remove Tax from Total mode to do this automatically.
Five states have no state-level sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. However, Alaska permits local municipalities to impose sales taxes, so some Alaskan cities and boroughs do charge sales tax.
Most states allow counties and cities to add local sales taxes on top of the state rate. California's state rate is 7.25%, but some cities add up to 3% in local taxes for a combined rate above 10%. This calculator uses state base rates — check your local jurisdiction for the exact combined rate.
It depends on the state and the type of food. Grocery food (unprepared) is exempt from sales tax in 32 states. Prepared food (restaurant meals, hot food) is typically taxed. Candy and soda may be taxed differently from other food items even within the same state.
US sales tax is collected only at the final sale to the consumer. VAT (Value Added Tax) — used in Europe, UK, Australia, and most of the world — is collected at every stage of the supply chain, with each business reclaiming the VAT it paid. Both result in the consumer bearing the tax.
Yes. Enter the applicable rate as a custom rate. Canada has federal GST (5%) and some provinces use HST: Ontario (13%), Nova Scotia, NB, PEI, and Newfoundland (15%). Quebec uses QST (9.975%) on top of GST.
Results are estimates for education and planning. They are not financial, tax or legal advice. Rates, fees and tax rules change, so confirm the figures with your lender, the IRS or a qualified professional before you make a decision.
Spotted an error or out-of-date figure? Tell us. We review every report and correct confirmed mistakes promptly.