Sales Tax Calculator
Add sales tax to a price or back it out of a total. Enter the amount and your combined tax rate to see the tax and the total.
Enter your combined state + local rate. U.S. sales tax rates vary by city and county.
How to use this calculator
Choose add tax to price or remove tax from total, then enter the amount and your sales tax rate. The calculator shows the tax and the other amount — either the total with tax, or the original pre-tax price.
How sales tax works
Sales tax is a percentage added at checkout. To add it, multiply the price by the rate and add it on. To reverse it — useful for expense reports or pricing — divide the tax-inclusive total by 1 plus the rate to recover the pre-tax price.
Worked example
A $100 purchase at a 7.25% rate adds $7.25 in tax for a $107.25 total. Working backward, $107.25 ÷ 1.0725 returns the $100 pre-tax price.
The formula
Add: Total = Price × (1 + rate) · Remove: Price = Total ÷ (1 + rate)
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate sales tax?
Multiply the price by the sales tax rate as a decimal. For a $100 item at 7.25%, the tax is $100 × 0.0725 = $7.25, for a total of $107.25.
How do I remove sales tax from a total?
Divide the tax-inclusive total by (1 + rate). If a receipt shows $107.25 including 7.25% tax, the pre-tax price is $107.25 ÷ 1.0725 = $100. Switch to 'remove tax' mode to do this.
What sales tax rate should I use?
Use your combined rate — the state rate plus any county and city taxes. Rates vary widely across the US, from 0% in a few states to over 10% in some localities.
Is sales tax charged on every purchase?
No. Many states exempt groceries, prescription drugs, and some clothing, and five states have no statewide sales tax at all. Check your local rules for what's taxable.