Sales Tax Calculator

About this calculator

A free sales tax calculator that turns a pre-tax price and a tax rate into the sales tax owed and the total amount due. Select a state to pre-fill its 2026 statewide base rate and average combined state-plus-local rate from the Tax Foundation, then adjust the rate to match your exact local jurisdiction. The rate is editable because local rates vary by address and some items are exempt. It runs entirely in your browser and is an estimate, not tax advice.

How sales tax is calculated

Sales tax is a percentage added to a pre-tax price at the point of sale. The math is simple — price multiplied by the rate gives the tax, and price plus tax gives the total — but the rate is the hard part, because what you actually pay is a combined rate stacked from several layers of government.

Pick a state to pre-fill its 2026 statewide base rate and the average combined state-plus-local rate from the Tax Foundation, then edit the rate to match your exact city or county. The field stays editable on purpose, because two addresses in the same state can owe different amounts.

Why the combined rate is what matters

Most states let counties, cities, and special districts add their own sales tax on top of the statewide base, so the combined rate at a given address is usually higher than the state rate alone. A handful of states levy no statewide sales tax at all, while others reach combined rates well above nine percent once local taxes are included.

That is why the pre-filled figure is a statewide average and not a guarantee. For a purchase you are about to make, enter the combined rate for the exact delivery or store address — your receipt or your local tax authority lists it.

Exemptions and reverse sales tax

Not every purchase is taxed at the headline rate. Many states exempt or reduce tax on groceries, prescription drugs, or clothing, and rules differ by state, so adjust the rate down when an item is exempt. This calculator estimates the tax on a standard taxable purchase and is not a substitute for tax advice.

To work backward from a tax-included total — figuring out the pre-tax price and the tax already inside it — divide the total by one plus the rate. The same engine that adds tax forward supports that reverse calculation.

By variant

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming
• District of Columbia

Questions

Where do the state rates come from?

Statewide base rates and average combined state-plus-local rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2026 Sales Tax Rates by State, published January 2026. They are pre-filled when you pick a state and remain editable.

Why is the rate editable?

Because local sales-tax rates vary by the exact delivery or purchase address, and the pre-filled figure is a statewide average. Enter your city or county's combined rate for a precise result.

Does it handle reverse sales tax?

The calculator computes tax forward from a pre-tax price. To back out tax from a tax-included total, divide the total by one plus the rate; the same engine supports that reverse calculation.

Is it free and private?

Yes. There is no account, and the price you enter is calculated in your browser and never uploaded or stored.