Calculate US sales tax and total price
Enter a pre-tax price to add sales tax, or enter a total to back out the pre-tax amount. Useful for shopping, receipts, and budget checks.
Reference
US Sales Tax Rates by State
Base statewide rates as of 2025. Combined rates (state + county + city) are higher — click your state's revenue department for the exact local rate.
Rates are for reference only. Local jurisdictions may add county or city taxes on top of the state base rate. Always verify with your state revenue authority before quoting prices or filing taxes.
Explainer
Understanding US Sales Tax
What is sales tax?
Sales tax is a consumption tax collected at the point of sale. In the US, it is set and administered by individual states, counties, and cities — not the federal government. When you buy something, the retailer collects the tax and remits it to the relevant government authority.
State rate vs. combined rate
Every state with a sales tax sets a base rate. Counties and cities can layer additional rates on top. The combined rate — what you actually pay at checkout — can be significantly higher than the statewide base. For example, California's base is 7.25%, but some cities exceed 10.75% when local add-ons are included.
Common exemptions
Many states exempt certain goods from sales tax. Unprepared groceries, prescription medications, and clothing are commonly exempt in some states. Prepared food, restaurant meals, alcohol, and tobacco are almost always taxable. Each state has its own exemption list, so check locally if you're unsure.
Online purchases and sales tax
Since the 2018 Supreme Court ruling in South Dakota v. Wayfair, online retailers are required to collect sales tax in states where they have economic nexus — typically $100,000 in sales or 200 transactions per year. This means most online purchases now include sales tax based on your shipping address.
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Tool guide
How to calculate US sales tax from a price or receipt
Use this sales tax calculator to add US sales tax to a pre-tax price, back out tax from a receipt total, or look up the base sales tax rate for any US state. Supports forward (add tax) and reverse (extract tax from total) calculations with any rate you enter.
Recommended workflow
- Enter the pre-tax price and your state or local sales tax rate to calculate the tax amount and final checkout total.
- For reverse calculation, enter a receipt total with the same tax rate to extract the original pre-tax price and the tax embedded in the total.
- Use the US state tax rates table below to find your state's base rate — then add county or city rates on top for the combined rate that applies to your purchase.
Before relying on the result
- Confirm the correct combined local rate (state + county + city) before using the result for quotes, invoices, or business records.
- Some items may be exempt or taxed at a reduced rate — unprepared groceries and prescription drugs are commonly exempt in many states.
- Use accounting software or a qualified tax professional for official sales tax filing, remittance, and compliance decisions.
Help & answers
Frequently Asked Questions
Important disclaimer: Alexonic Tools is completely free to use. There is no charge, and we do not save tool inputs or generated results. We value customer privacy and keep building and fixing each day. Always verify important financial, payroll, legal, tax, business, or production-code results before relying on them. If you see an issue, need a tool, or require an update, send feedback to the developer.
