Sales Tax Calculator

Sales tax is a consumption tax imposed by state and local governments on the sale of goods and services. It’s typically a percentage of the purchase price, collected by the seller at the point of sale and remitted to the tax authority. Rates vary by state and even by city or county, making a combined rate the true cost.

Five states currently have no statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. However, some local jurisdictions in Alaska may impose a local sales tax. Our calculator uses average combined rates that are zero for these states unless you manually adjust the local rate.

The combined rate is the sum of the state sales tax rate plus all applicable local taxes (county, city, and special district taxes). Because local rates vary, we auto‑fill an average combined rate for each state based on population‑weighted data. You can override it with the exact rate for your specific location.

Online sellers usually charge sales tax based on the delivery address (destination‑based sourcing). Use the “Add tax” mode: enter your item price, select the delivery state, and optionally update the local rate to match your city or county. The calculator will show the total including tax.

Yes. Switch to “Reverse (from total)” mode and enter the total amount you paid. The tool will back‑calculate the original price before tax and the exact tax amount, using the rate you provide. This is useful for expense reports or verifying tax charges.

Our default combined rates are based on January 2024 data from the Tax Foundation, reflecting population‑weighted averages of state and local sales taxes. While highly reliable for estimation, local rates can differ. For precise filing, confirm your specific rate with your state’s department of revenue.