Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate sales tax, total price, and combined state and local rates, or reverse-calculate pre-tax net amounts from gross receipts.
Base cost without sales tax
State: $10.88 | Local: $3.38
Total cash / card charged at checkout
How Sales Tax Works & How to Calculate It
Sales tax is a consumption tax imposed by state and municipal governments on the sale of retail goods and specific services. Because local districts (cities, counties, transit authorities) often add surtaxes on top of state rates, calculating accurate total sales tax requires taking both into account.
Formulas Used
Everyday Applications
- ✓eCommerce & Retail Checkout
Determine the exact combined state and local sales tax to charge customers based on their shipping or billing jurisdiction.
- ✓Reverse Tax from Receipts (Expense Reporting)
Extract the pre-tax base cost and sales tax paid from a final receipt total when creating accounting invoices or tax write-offs.
- ✓Freelancers & Small Business Invoicing
Quickly add statutory local sales tax or VAT onto customer service invoices and quotes.
- ✓Big-Ticket Purchases (Vehicles, Electronics, Equipment)
Estimate out-of-pocket tax burdens before buying high-ticket items like computers, machinery, or home appliances.
Key Calculator Capabilities
Forward & Reverse Tax Calculation
Easily switch between adding tax to a net subtotal or backing tax out of a gross receipt total.
US State Tax Presets
Quickly load statutory base rates for California, Texas, New York, Florida, Washington, and 20+ major states.
State & Local Surtax Separation
Break down payments into statutory state rates versus municipal, city, transit, or county district taxes.
One-Click Receipt Copy & CSV
Copy itemized receipt summaries directly to your clipboard or download an audit-ready CSV file.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you calculate sales tax?
To calculate sales tax on an item, multiply the pre-tax price by the decimal tax rate (Tax Amount = Net Price * (Tax Rate % / 100)). To find the total cost, add the tax amount to the net price: Total = Net Price * (1 + (Tax Rate % / 100)).
How do you calculate reverse sales tax (extracting tax from total)?
To extract the pre-tax net amount from a gross total that already includes sales tax, divide the total price by (1 + Tax Rate in decimal). For example, if total is $108 and tax rate is 8%: Net Price = 108 / 1.08 = $100, and Tax Paid = $108 - $100 = $8.
What is the difference between state and local sales tax?
In the United States, individual states set a baseline state sales tax rate (e.g. California 7.25%, Texas 6.25%). Additionally, local municipalities, counties, and special transit districts can assess supplemental local sales taxes, bringing the total combined tax rate higher.
Which states have no state sales tax?
Five US states have no statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon (often remembered by the acronym NOMAD). Note that local jurisdictions in Alaska may still assess local sales taxes.
Are shipping and handling charges taxable?
It depends on state sales tax laws. In many states, if shipping charges are separately stated on the invoice and the goods are taxable, shipping is either taxable or exempt depending on whether delivery is mandatory or optional.
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