Sales Tax Calculator
Add sales tax to a price, or work backwards from a total to find the price before tax and the tax paid
Last updated: October 28, 2026
How to Use the Sales Tax Calculator
How to calculate sales tax
- Choose a mode. Pick Add tax to a price to find the total at the register, or Remove tax from a total to work backwards from a receipt.
- Enter the amount. This is the pre-tax price in the first mode, or the tax-inclusive total in the second.
- Enter the tax rate. Use your combined state and local rate. You can find it on a receipt or your state's revenue website.
- Add a quantity (optional). Open Advanced options if you are buying several identical items.
- Read the result. You will see the tax amount, the price before tax and the total.
Rates and taxable items differ by location. Some places do not tax groceries or clothing, so check what applies to your purchase.
Formula & Methodology
Sales tax formulas
Sales tax = Price before tax × Tax rate ÷ 100
Total price = Price before tax + Sales tax = Price × (1 + Tax rate ÷ 100)
Worked example: adding tax
An item costs $120 and the sales tax rate is 8.25%.
- Tax = 120 × 0.0825 = $9.90
- Total = 120 + 9.90 = $129.90
Removing tax from a total
If you only know the final price, divide by one plus the tax rate:
Price before tax = Total ÷ (1 + Tax rate ÷ 100)
A receipt total of $129.90 with 8.25% tax means the price before tax was 129.90 ÷ 1.0825 = $120.00, and the tax paid was $9.90.
Do not simply subtract 8.25% from the total. The tax was calculated on the smaller pre-tax price, so subtracting the percentage from the larger total removes too much.
Combined rates
In the US the rate you pay is usually a combination of a state rate and local (county or city) rates. Add them together to get the combined percentage to use here.
About Sales Tax Calculator
Our sales tax calculator is a free, easy-to-use tool designed to help you add sales tax to a price, or work backwards from a total to find the price before tax and the tax paid. For professionals or those who need quick calculations, our calculator provides accurate results instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you calculate sales tax?
Multiply the price by the tax rate as a decimal. At 8.25%, a $120 item has tax of 120 × 0.0825 = $9.90, so the total is $129.90.
How do I find the price before tax?
Divide the total by 1 plus the tax rate as a decimal. If the total was $129.90 and the rate was 8.25%, the price before tax was 129.90 ÷ 1.0825 = $120.00. Choose "Remove tax from a total" above to do this automatically.
Why can't I just subtract the tax percentage from the total?
Because tax is charged on the pre-tax price, not on the total. Subtracting 8.25% of $129.90 gives $119.18, which is wrong. Dividing by 1.0825 gives the correct $120.00.
What is my sales tax rate?
It depends on where you shop. In the US it is a state rate plus any county or city rates, so it can differ between neighboring towns. Your receipt, your state revenue department's website or the store can tell you the rate that applies.
Which states have no sales tax?
A few US states, including Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon, do not charge a statewide sales tax. Local taxes or other charges can still apply in some of them, so check before assuming a purchase is tax-free.
Is sales tax the same as VAT?
They work in a similar way but are collected differently. VAT, used in the UK, EU and many other countries, is charged at each stage of production and is usually shown inside the price. Sales tax is charged once, at the final sale. You can use the "Remove tax from a total" mode with a VAT rate to find a price without VAT.
Is tax calculated before or after a discount?
In most places tax is charged on the discounted price, so a discount also lowers the tax. Some coupons are treated differently. Use the discount calculator to find the sale price first, then enter it here as the pre-tax amount.
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