Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate US sales tax: add tax to a pre-tax amount, or back out the base price from a tax-included total, with quick-select state example rates.
Tax Mode
$
%
Results
Total
$107.25
Base Price
$100.00
Tax Amount
$7.25
How is Sales Tax Calculated?
Sales tax is a percentage added to the price of goods and services. In the default "tax not included" mode, enter the pre-tax amount and the tax amount is computed as Amount × Rate. In "tax included" mode, enter the total you paid and the tool backs out the pre-tax base with Base = Total ÷ (1 + Rate).
Base (tax included) = Total ÷ (1 + Rate)
Example
A $100 purchase in California at 7.25%: tax = 100 × 0.0725 = $7.25, so the total is $107.25. If instead you paid $107.25 and want the pre-tax price, base = 107.25 ÷ 1.0725 = $100 and the tax portion is $7.25.
Common Use Cases
- Estimating the final cost of an item including local sales tax.
- Working out how much of a receipt is tax versus product price.
- Building accurate cost estimates for purchases and budgets.
- Comparing effective tax rates across different states.
FAQs
Is the state rate the full tax I'll pay?
Not necessarily. Many cities, counties, and special districts add their own local sales tax on top of the state rate, and some states exempt certain goods (like groceries) or apply reduced rates. Check your local rate for a precise figure; the presets below are illustrative state-level examples.
How do I remove tax from a total?
Switch to "Tax included" mode and enter the total. The calculator divides by (1 + rate) to find the pre-tax base and shows the tax portion separately.
Is tax charged on shipping?
This varies by state and whether the carrier charges per-delivery fees. In many states shipping is taxable when the underlying goods are taxable. It's excluded from this simple calculation unless you add it into the amount.