Sales Tax Calculator

Five states have no state-level sales tax: Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, and Alaska. However, Alaska allows local jurisdictions to charge sales tax, so some areas in Alaska do have a local sales tax.

Louisiana and Tennessee have the highest average combined state and local sales tax rates at approximately 9.55%. However, specific localities in other states can have even higher combined rates.

Since the 2018 South Dakota v. Wayfair Supreme Court decision, most states require online retailers to collect sales tax if they meet certain sales thresholds in that state. You generally pay the sales tax rate of your delivery address.

State sales tax is set by the state government and applies statewide. Local sales tax is set by counties, cities, or special districts and varies by location. Your total sales tax is the combination of both.

It varies by state. Most states exempt unprepared food (groceries) from sales tax. However, some states like Alabama, Mississippi, and South Dakota tax groceries at the full rate. Others tax groceries at a reduced rate.

Divide the total by (1 + tax rate as decimal). For example, if the total is $108.20 and the combined tax rate is 8.2%, the pre-tax price is $108.20 ÷ 1.082 = $100.00.

No, unlike many other countries, sales tax in the US is typically added at the register and not included in the displayed price. The price tag shows the pre-tax amount.

Generally, you pay the sales tax rate of the state where you make the purchase or where the item is delivered. If you buy in a no-tax state, you may owe 'use tax' to your home state, though this is rarely enforced for small purchases.