Sales Tax Calculator: Tax Amount & Final Price
Calculate the sales tax and final total on a purchase — split into state, county, city and special-district rates — or work backwards from a tax-inclusive total.
——State Sales Tax Base Rates (2026)
Statewide base rates. Most states also allow local sales taxes, so the rate you pay at the register is usually higher.
| State | State Base Rate | Local Sales Taxes | Groceries | Action |
|---|
South Dakota v. Wayfair & Economic Nexus
The Supreme Court's 2018 Wayfair decision let states require out-of-state sellers to collect sales tax based on their sales into the state, not just physical presence. The most common threshold is $100,000 in annual sales into a state — some states also use a count of 200 transactions, though many have dropped it.
Origin-Based vs Destination-Based Sourcing
Most states use destination-based sourcing: the rate is set by where the buyer receives the goods, including local and special-district rates at that address. A handful of states use origin-based sourcing for some in-state sales, where the seller's location sets the rate.
How sales tax is calculated
Tax = price × rate. Total = price + tax. To reverse a taxed total, divide by (1 + rate).
US rates are state and local, not federal. Groceries and prescriptions are often exempt. Outside the US, most countries use VAT instead — see the VAT Calculator.
By Suhaib Hassan · Formula verified 27 Sep 2026 · How CalculatePilot verifies formulas →
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate sales tax?
Multiply the pre-tax price by the combined sales tax rate as a decimal. For example, $1,250 at 9.5% is $1,250 × 0.095 = $118.75 in tax, for a total of $1,368.75.
How do I remove sales tax from a total?
Divide the tax-inclusive total by (1 + rate). A $1,368.75 total at 9.5% tax is $1,368.75 ÷ 1.095 = $1,250 before tax, so the tax was $118.75.
Which states have no sales tax?
Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon have no statewide or local general sales tax. Alaska has no state sales tax, but many Alaskan localities charge their own.
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