🧾 Sales Tax Calculator
Add sales tax to a price, or reverse it out of a receipt total, at any combined state and local rate.
Quick answer: Sales tax = price × rate ÷ 100. For example, 8.25% sales tax on a $120 item is $9.90, so you pay $129.90 – and working backwards, $129.90 ÷ 1.0825 = $120.00 before tax.
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Sales Tax Calculator inputs
Result
Total price with tax
$129.90
$9.90 sales tax at 8.25%
| Pre-tax price | $120.00 |
| Sales tax (8.25%) | $9.90 |
| Total | $129.90 |
Sales tax on $120.00 at other rates
| Rate | Tax | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 4% | $4.80 | $124.80 |
| 5% | $6.00 | $126.00 |
| 6% | $7.20 | $127.20 |
| 6.25% | $7.50 | $127.50 |
| 7% | $8.40 | $128.40 |
| 7.5% | $9.00 | $129.00 |
| 8% | $9.60 | $129.60 |
| 8.875% | $10.65 | $130.65 |
| 9.5% | $11.40 | $131.40 |
| 10% | $12.00 | $132.00 |
How sales tax is calculated
Sales tax is a percentage of the selling price, collected by the seller at the till and passed on to the state and local government. To find it, multiply the price by the rate and add the result to the price.
Tax = Price × Rate ÷ 100 · Total = Price + Tax
Example: a $120 jacket in an area with an 8.25% combined rate → tax $9.90, total $129.90.
Reverse sales tax (price before tax)
When you only know the total on a receipt, divide by one plus the rate. Do not simply subtract the rate from the total – that understates the original price.
Pre-tax price = Total ÷ (1 + Rate ÷ 100) · Tax = Total − Pre-tax price
Example: $129.90 ÷ 1.0825 = $120.00, so $9.90 of the total was tax. Subtracting 8.25% of $129.90 would wrongly give $119.18.
Sample combined rates
| Location | Approx. combined rate |
|---|---|
| Oregon, Montana, Delaware | 0% |
| Colorado (state only) | 2.9% |
| Texas (state + typical local) | 8.25% |
| New York City | 8.875% |
| Chicago | 10.25% |
Rates change regularly, so confirm the current figure with the relevant state department of revenue.
Practical tips
- Most states tax the price after store discounts but before manufacturer rebates.
- Groceries, prescription drugs and clothing are exempt or reduced in many states.
- Businesses should keep tax collected separate from revenue – it belongs to the state.
- For large purchases, a 1% rate difference between neighbouring towns can be worth a short drive.
Estimates for educational purposes, not financial or tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate sales tax backwards from a total?
Divide the total by 1 plus the rate as a decimal. For a $54.00 receipt at 8%, the pre-tax price is 54 ÷ 1.08 = $50.00 and the tax is $4.00. Choose "Remove tax from a total" above to do this automatically.
What sales tax rate should I use?
Use the combined rate where the sale takes place: the state rate plus any county, city and special-district rates. Combined US rates range from 0% in a few states to over 10% in some cities.
Which US states have no sales tax?
Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon have no statewide sales tax, although some Alaskan towns charge a local one.
Is sales tax charged on shipping?
It depends on the state. Some tax shipping when it is part of a taxable sale, others exempt separately stated delivery charges. Check your state revenue department’s guidance.