Sales Tax Calculator - Calculate Tax Amount | Calq.dev

Sales Tax Calculator

Calculate sales tax with forward and reverse calculations

Select a US state or choose custom rate

Enter a percentage between 0 and 100

Enter the price before tax

💡 Tip: Sales tax rates vary by state and sometimes by city. The rates shown are state-level base rates. Local jurisdictions may add additional taxes, so your actual rate may be higher.

How to Use the Sales Tax Calculator

What is Sales Tax?

Sales tax is a consumption tax imposed by the government on the sale of goods and services. In the United States, sales tax rates vary by state and sometimes by city or county. Most states charge between 4% and 8% sales tax, though some states like Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon have no state-level sales tax.

Forward vs. Reverse Calculation

  • Forward Calculation: When you know the price before tax and want to calculate the total price including tax. Formula: Total = Price × (1 + Tax Rate / 100)
  • Reverse Calculation: When you know the total price including tax and want to find the original price. Formula: Price = Total / (1 + Tax Rate / 100)

US Sales Tax by State

Our calculator includes preset sales tax rates for all 50 US states. These are base state-level rates. Keep in mind that local jurisdictions (cities and counties) often add additional taxes, so your actual rate may be higher. Always verify the exact rate for your specific location.

Examples

  • Forward: A $100 item in California (7.25% tax) = $107.25 total
  • Reverse: A $107.25 total in California (7.25% tax) = $100 original price
  • Custom: A $50 item with 8.5% tax = $54.25 total

Frequently Asked Questions

How is sales tax calculated?

Sales tax = price × (tax rate / 100). For example, an $80 item with an 8% sales tax adds $80 × 0.08 = $6.40, for a $86.40 total. Our calculator does this in both directions: from price to total, or back-calculating the original price from a total.

Which US states have no sales tax?

Five states have no statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. Note that Alaska allows local sales taxes in some municipalities, so check the specific city or county rate.

How do I calculate the pre-tax price from a total?

Pre-tax price = total ÷ (1 + tax rate / 100). For example, a $107.50 total with a 7.5% tax rate works out to $107.50 ÷ 1.075 = $100. This 'reverse sales tax' is useful for receipts, expense reports, and resale pricing.

Why do I sometimes pay state and local sales tax separately?

Most US states allow cities, counties, and special districts to add their own taxes on top of the state rate. A combined rate like '9.5%' often breaks down as 6% state + 2% county + 1.5% city. Always use the total combined rate at your point of sale.

Is online shopping taxed?

Since the 2018 Supreme Court ruling in Wayfair v. South Dakota, most states require online retailers to collect sales tax based on the buyer's address. The exact rate is the combined state and local rate where the purchase is shipped.

Car Loan Calculator
Calculate your monthly car loan payment with our free auto loan calculator
Currency Converter
Free currency converter with live exchange rates for 30+ currencies
Debt Payoff Calculator
Compare the Debt Snowball and Debt Avalanche methods
Investment Calculator
Calculate investment returns with our free compound interest calculator