Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate sales tax for any US state. Forward and reverse calculation supported.
US Sales Tax Rates by State (state + avg local)
Combined rates include state sales tax plus the average local tax. Actual local rate varies by city/county. Five states have no statewide sales tax.
| State | State Rate | Avg Combined |
|---|
How Sales Tax Works in the US
Unlike VAT in most other countries, US sales tax is added at checkout — not included in the listed price. Rates vary widely by state, county, and city. Some states have no sales tax at all, while others combine state and local rates of over 9%.
States with no sales tax
Five states ("NOMAD") have no statewide sales tax: New Hampshire, Oregon, Montana, Alaska, and Delaware. Alaska allows local sales taxes (some cities charge 1–7%), and Montana has limited local resort taxes.
How to calculate sales tax
Tax = Price × (Rate ÷ 100)
Total = Price + Tax
For reverse calculation (finding the pre-tax price from a total that already includes tax):
Pre-Tax = Total ÷ (1 + Rate ÷ 100)
What's typically taxed?
- Tangible goods — most retail merchandise
- Prepared food — restaurant meals, often at higher rates
- Some services — varies dramatically by state
- Digital goods — increasingly taxed (software, streaming)
Common exemptions
- Groceries — exempt or reduced rate in most states
- Prescription medication — exempt nationwide
- Clothing — exempt in some states (PA, NJ, MN, etc.)
- Sales tax holidays — back-to-school events in many states
Online purchases
Since the 2018 South Dakota v. Wayfair ruling, most online retailers must collect sales tax in any state where they have economic nexus (typically over $100,000 in sales or 200 transactions). You'll see sales tax added at checkout based on your shipping address.
Use tax
If you buy something out of state (or online) and don't pay sales tax, you may technically owe a "use tax" to your state at the same rate. Most consumers don't pay this on small items, but enforcement is increasing for big-ticket purchases.