US Sales Tax Calculator

What the sales tax calculator does

This sales tax calculator adds tax to a pre-tax price to give the total you will pay, or removes tax from a total to give the underlying price and the tax portion. US sales tax is added at the point of sale, and the rate is rarely a single number, so you enter the combined state and local rate that applies and the tool does the arithmetic.

Adding tax versus removing tax

Adding tax starts with a pre-tax amount, applies the rate and gives the total. Use it when you know a shelf or list price and want the checkout figure, or to budget a purchase before you reach the register.

Removing tax starts with a tax-inclusive total and gives the pre-tax amount plus the tax charged. Use it to reconcile a receipt, separate tax for bookkeeping or an expense claim, or check that an all-in quote from a supplier matches the pre-tax price you expected.

Removing tax is not the same as subtracting the rate from the total. The tax was calculated on the smaller pre-tax figure, so you recover that figure by dividing the total by one plus the rate. Doing it by hand the wrong way is a common source of small bookkeeping errors; the calculator applies the correct operation in each mode.

The formula

Total = pre-tax amount × (1 + rate) Pre-tax amount = total ÷ (1 + rate) Tax portion = total − pre-tax amount

Finding the right rate

The US sets sales tax at the state level, and states let counties, cities and special districts add their own portions, so combined rates can differ from one address to the next. The correct rate depends on where the sale is treated as taking place, neighboring towns can carry noticeably different combined rates, and some goods and services are taxed differently or not at all. That is why the calculator asks you for the combined rate.

How US sales tax differs from a national tax

Many countries have a single value-added tax included in displayed prices, so the label shows what you pay. In the US, tax is usually added at the register, so the advertised price and the amount you pay differ. And because rates are set locally, the same product can cost a slightly different total in two nearby towns.

For anyone selling across locations, the rate that applies often depends on where the sale is sourced, which can be the buyer's location for some transactions. If you shop or operate in more than one area, run the same price at each combined rate to compare totals.

Things to keep in mind

The calculator is precise for the rate you give it, but it cannot know the correct rate for a specific sale or whether a particular item is taxable. Combined rates change when jurisdictions adjust their portions, and the treatment of certain goods and services varies by state. For business use especially, check the applicable rate and taxability for your jurisdiction with an authoritative source before relying on the result.

This is general information, not financial advice.

About This Sales Tax Calculator

Use this sales tax calculator to get an instant estimate based on the figures you enter. Adjust the inputs above to match your situation, or browse all our calculators to plan your next step.