Sales Tax Calculator (U.S.)

Pick a state to auto-fill the base statewide rate. You can add a local rate or enter a custom total rate. Works forward and reverse.

What this calculator does

Sales tax can be deceptively simple. There’s a statewide base percentage, then many cities and counties layer on their own local rates. This page helps you move quickly without memorizing tables. Choose a state and we’ll prefill its base rate. Add your local percent (if any) or override everything with a custom total rate when you already know the exact number at the register. You can calculate in either direction: from a pre-tax subtotal to the final total, or from a known total back to the subtotal for budgeting and reimbursement math.

The tool also handles splits. Set the number of people and you’ll get clean per-person amounts for subtotal, tax, and total—handy for roommates, team lunches, or event expenses. When you need to sanity-check percentages, the Percentage Calculator is a good sidekick. If you’re estimating tips, pair this with the Tip Calculator. For freelancers, the Self-Employment Tax Calculator helps you plan quarterly payments so sales tax doesn’t ambush your cash flow.

Region & Rates

Statewide base only. Many cities/counties add local tax.
Rates vary by locality and change over time. For exact totals, check your receipt or local tax authority.

Direction

All calculations run in your browser.

Summary

Total$0.00

Per person

How to use this calculator

  1. Choose a state. We fill in the statewide base rate automatically. If your city or county adds a local rate, type it into the “Local rate” box.
  2. Already know the total rate? Use “Override total rate” to replace the state + local math with your exact combined rate—great for stores you frequent.
  3. Pick a direction. “Subtotal → total” adds tax to a pre-tax amount. “Total → subtotal” backs tax out when you only know the final charge.
  4. Enter the amount. The label will switch between “Subtotal” and “Total” based on the direction you choose.
  5. Split the bill (optional). Set the number of people to see fair per-person amounts for subtotal, tax, and total.
  6. Download the CSV. Save a breakdown for expense reports or budgeting. Pair with the Percentage Calculator for quick checks.

Reading the results

Effective rate. The calculator shows your combined percentage as “State + local rate.” If you typed a custom rate, that number replaces the state and local sum.

Forward direction. We multiply the subtotal by the effective rate to get tax, then add it to reach the total. Rounding is to cents after each key step.

Reverse direction. When you enter a total, we divide by (1 + rate) to find the subtotal, then compute the difference as the tax.

Per-person math. Subtotal, tax, and total are divided evenly by the number of people. If you’re splitting unevenly, export the CSV and adjust manually.

If you’re also tipping, run the food total (before tip) through the Tip Calculator, then add the numbers back here if your area taxes prepared food differently.

FAQ

Why don’t you include local rates by city?

Local rates change frequently and can vary within a metro area. This tool gives you the statewide base and a clean “local” box so you can plug in the exact local percent on your receipt or jurisdiction website.

Is tax applied before or after discounts?

In most places, sales tax is applied after store discounts and before tips. Coupons funded by manufacturers can be treated differently. Always follow your local rules.

Do some items have different rates?

Yes. Groceries, clothing, prepared foods, and services can be taxed differently depending on the state. Use the custom override when needed.

Can I change currency?

This page is focused on U.S. sales tax in USD. For percent math outside the U.S., the Percentage Calculator is still useful.