Calculators

Sales Tax Calculator

Add state and local sales tax to a price, or work back from a receipt total, for any US state.

How it works

US sales tax stacks: the state sets a base rate, and counties, cities and special districts add their own on top. Multiply the pre-tax price by the combined rate to get the tax. To find the pre-tax price from a receipt total, divide by one plus the combined rate.

tax = price × (state rate + local rate) | price = total ÷ (1 + rate)
State rate
The statewide base, from 0% (Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, Delaware) to 7.25% (California)
Local rate
City, county and district add-ons, up to about 5% more
State average
Tax Foundation's population-weighted average local rate, July 2026

Worked example

A $100 purchase in California at the state's average combined rate.

  1. 1State rate: 7.25%
  2. 2Average local add-on: 1.78%
  3. 3Combined rate: 9.03%
  4. 4Tax: 100 × 9.03% = $9.03

The total at the register is $109.03, of which $7.25 goes to the state and $1.78 to local governments.

Frequently asked questions

Which states have no sales tax?

Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire and Delaware have no statewide or local general sales tax. Alaska has no state sales tax, but many of its towns and boroughs charge their own, averaging about 1.8%.

Which state has the highest sales tax?

California has the highest statewide rate at 7.25%. Counting local taxes, Louisiana has the highest average combined rate at about 10.1%, followed by Tennessee, Washington, Arkansas and Alabama, all above 9.4%.

How do I find the price before tax from a receipt?

Divide the total by 1 plus the combined rate. At 8.25%, a $54.13 total is 54.13 ÷ 1.0825 = $50.00 before tax. Choose Including tax in the calculator to do this for you.

Is everything taxed at the same rate?

No. Most states exempt or reduce the rate on groceries and prescription drugs, some exempt clothing, and services are often not taxed at all. This calculator applies one rate to the whole amount, so check your state's rules for those items.

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