π§Ύ Sales Tax Calculator
Add tax to a price or pull it out of a total, with state and local rates itemized.
Total With Tax
Estimates for planning only, not financial advice. Rates are 2025 statewide base rates and can change; check your local rules.
How to Use This Calculator
Enter the price, choose a mode, pick your state, and optionally add a local tax rate. In "Add tax to price" mode, enter the pre-tax price and the calculator returns the tax amount and the total. In "Extract tax from total" mode, enter the final total (like a receipt total) and the calculator works backward to show the pre-tax price and how much of the total was tax.
Enter the Price. In add mode this is the shelf price; in extract mode it is the final total you paid.
Pick the Mode: "Add tax to price" for shopping math, or "Extract tax from total" to reverse-engineer a receipt.
Choose your State from the dropdown to load its 2025 statewide base rate.
Add the Local Rate if your city or county charges extra. A quick search for your zip code's sales tax rate usually finds it, and it can add several points.
How Sales Tax Actually Works
Sales tax in the US is not one tax but a stack. The state sets a base rate, then counties, cities, and special districts can pile on their own. That is why two stores twenty miles apart in the same state can charge different totals for the same item. The receipt usually just says "tax," but behind that number there are often three or four separate jurisdictions each taking a cut.
What gets taxed varies too. Most states tax tangible goods and exempt things like groceries, medicine, or clothing below a threshold, while services are a patchwork: some states tax almost none, others are expanding into digital services. Exemptions are the fine print of sales tax, and they differ everywhere.
The Five States With No Sales Tax
Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon charge no statewide sales tax. Before you plan a shopping trip, know the catches: Alaska allows cities and boroughs to levy their own local sales taxes, so parts of Alaska do have sales tax. And every one of these states collects revenue somewhere else, usually through higher income taxes, property taxes, or excise taxes. The tax burden moves around; it rarely disappears.
For online shopping, the rules changed after the 2018 Wayfair decision: sellers can now be required to collect tax in states where they have significant sales, even with no physical presence. So buying from an out-of-state retailer no longer guarantees you skip the tax.
Worked Example
You buy a $1,200 laptop in California with a 2.5 percent local rate on top of the 7.25 percent state base. Combined rate = 9.75 percent. Tax = 1,200 x 0.0975 = $117. The total at checkout is $1,317. The itemized breakdown shows $87 from the state and $30 from the local rate.
Reverse it: a receipt shows $1,317 total and you want the pre-tax price. Pre-tax = 1,317 / 1.0975 = $1,200, and the tax was $117. This comes in handy when splitting bills, expensing purchases, or comparing prices across state lines where the rates differ.
Estimates for planning only, not financial advice. Statewide base rates shown are 2025 figures; rates change, so verify your combined local rate with your city or county tax office.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate sales tax on a price?
Multiply the price by the combined tax rate as a decimal, then add it to the price. For a $100 item at an 8.25 percent rate: 100 x 0.0825 = $8.25 of tax, total $108.25. The combined rate is the state rate plus any local (city or county) rate, which is why the total tax varies even within one state.
How do I remove sales tax from a total (reverse sales tax)?
Divide the total by one plus the tax rate as a decimal. For a $108.25 total at 8.25 percent: 108.25 / 1.0825 = $100 pre-tax price. This is handy when a receipt only shows the total, or when you are comparing prices across states. Switch the Mode to "Extract tax from total" and the calculator does it for you.
Which US states have no sales tax?
Five states charge no statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. But watch the fine print: Alaska lets localities charge their own sales tax, and states without sales tax often make up for it with higher income or property taxes. There is no free lunch, just different taxes.
What is the difference between state and local sales tax?
The state rate is the base set by the state government, like 7.25 percent in California or 6.25 percent in Texas. On top of that, counties and cities can add their own rates, which is why the total rate in Los Angeles is higher than in a small California town. Always add the optional Local Rate field to get the true rate for your zip code.
Do sales tax rates change?
Yes, regularly. States, counties, and cities adjust rates with new legislation or voter measures, and the rates in this calculator are statewide base rates for 2025. Always check your city or county tax office for the current combined rate before a big purchase, because local add-ons can push the total several points above the state base.
Is sales tax charged on services too?
It depends on the state, and the rules are inconsistent. Most states tax goods and only some services, like prepared food or hotel stays. A growing number of states have started taxing digital services such as software subscriptions. If you are buying a service, check your state's rules rather than assuming the goods rate applies.