Sales Tax Calculator
Add sales tax, remove it from a total, or find the rate you were charged.
How to use Sales Tax Calculator
- Choose whether to add tax, remove it from a total, or find the rate.
- Enter the price and your state and local rates (or the total you paid).
- Read the tax, the price before tax and the total.
How it works
Add tax: total = price × (1 + rate ÷ 100). Remove tax (reverse sales tax): price = total ÷ (1 + rate ÷ 100), which is not the same as subtracting the percentage from the total. Find the rate: rate = (total − price) ÷ price × 100.
In the US, sales tax is set by states and often topped up by counties, cities and special districts, so the rate at the till is the sum of several rates. Five states have no statewide sales tax. Rates change and depend on the exact address and the kind of goods, so this tool asks for your rate instead of guessing it. Your state’s department of revenue publishes the current figure.
Outside the US the equivalent is usually VAT or GST, which is included in shelf prices; use the VAT calculator for that.
Example
A 100.00 item with a 6.25% state rate and 2% local rate: combined 8.25%, tax 8.25, total 108.25. Working backwards from 108.25: 108.25 ÷ 1.0825 = 100.00.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate sales tax?
Multiply the price by the tax rate as a decimal. At 8.25%: price × 0.0825 is the tax; price × 1.0825 is the total.
How do I remove sales tax from a total?
Divide the total by 1 plus the rate as a decimal. 108.25 ÷ 1.0825 = 100. Subtracting 8.25% of the total gives the wrong answer (99.32).
What is my sales tax rate?
It depends on where the sale happens: state plus county, city and district rates. Look it up on your state department of revenue’s site, or use "Find the rate" with a recent receipt.
Is sales tax the same as VAT?
Both are taxes on purchases. Sales tax is added at the till on the final sale; VAT is collected at each stage and is normally already in the displayed price.
Limitations
- Rates are not built in: they vary by address and product and change often.
- Exemptions (groceries, clothing, medicine in some states) and tax holidays are not modelled.
- For general information; businesses should follow their tax authority’s rules.
Last reviewed November 9, 2026. How we build and test tools.