Sales Tax Calculator (US)

This calculator estimates US sales tax, final price, or pre-tax price using the amount and tax rate you enter. It is useful for checking receipts, pricing purchases, and comparing costs across locations.

Sales tax is usually set by state and local rules, which means the rate can vary by city, county, product type, and whether the item is taxable or exempt. Online purchases can also involve marketplace and destination-based tax rules.

Use this for planning and comparison only. Actual tax can vary based on local rules, exemptions, holidays, product categories, and business registration requirements.

If an item costs $100 before tax and the sales tax rate is 8%, the tax is $8 and the final price is $108.

If you already know the final price and want to work backwards, divide the final price by 1 plus the tax rate. For example, a $108 final price at 8% tax gives a pre-tax price of $100.

This reverse calculation is useful when a receipt shows the final total but you want to understand the base price, tax portion, or how much a discount really saved before tax.

US sales tax is not a single national rate. A state may set one rate, then counties, cities, or special districts may add additional local rates. Some products may be exempt, taxed at a reduced rate, or treated differently depending on the state.

That is why two shoppers can buy the same item at the same shelf price and pay different final totals in different locations. For accurate purchasing decisions, use the local combined rate that applies to the transaction.

A common mistake is applying sales tax before a discount when the retailer actually taxes the discounted price, or assuming all products are taxed at the same rate. Food, clothing, digital goods, and services can be treated differently across states.

For businesses, sales tax is more complex than a single percentage. Nexus, exemptions, resale certificates, filing deadlines, marketplace facilitator rules, and product taxability can all matter. This calculator is for quick arithmetic, not compliance advice.