Sales Tax Calculator – US State and Local Sales Tax

How to use the sales tax calculator

1. Enter the amount.
2. Choose whether it is before tax (a shelf price) or including tax (a receipt total).
3. Pick your state.
4. Add your local rate — the county, city or district rate on top of the state rate.

You’ll see the sales tax, the total or the pre-tax price, and the state and local parts of the rate.

Sales tax formulas

The rate is the combined rate: state plus local.

Worked examples

• $100 in California with a 1.25% local rate: combined 8.5%, tax $8.50, total $108.50.
• $50 in Texas at 6.25% state plus 2% local: combined 8.25%, tax $4.13, total $54.13.
• $1,000 laptop in Oregon: no sales tax — you pay $1,000.
• $54.13 receipt at 8.25%: price before tax = 54.13 ÷ 1.0825 ≈ $50.00.

Finding your local rate

Your state’s department of revenue publishes local rates, often with a look-up tool by address. Your receipt also shows the combined rate. Rates can change on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July or 1 October, so check if you’re budgeting for a large purchase.

What’s taxed and what isn’t

• Groceries: exempt in most states, taxed at a reduced rate in some.
• Clothing: exempt in a few states, such as Pennsylvania and New Jersey, sometimes with limits.
• Prescription drugs: exempt almost everywhere.
• Services: taxed in some states, not in others.
• Cars: usually taxed, often with the trade-in value deducted — the auto loan calculator handles this.
• Online purchases: most online retailers now collect sales tax based on your delivery address.

Sales tax holidays

Several states run tax-free weekends, often for back-to-school shopping, energy-efficient appliances or emergency supplies. If you’re planning a big purchase, it can be worth checking your state’s calendar.

Use tax

If you buy something from a seller that doesn’t collect your state’s sales tax — for example from another state or another country — many states expect you to pay “use tax” at the same rate yourself, often on your state income tax return. It is easy to overlook for large purchases such as furniture, electronics or equipment for a small business.

For VAT outside the US, use the VAT calculator. To add a tip after tax, try the tip calculator. State base rates are stored with their source and the date we checked them; local rates change often — always confirm with your state or city before filing — see our disclaimer.