Sales Tax Calculator (US)

By CalculatorBolt Team | Published: | Updated: | Reviewed by: Finance & Policy Editor

Calculate US sales tax on amounts. Choose your state and local tax rates, compute tax on gross/net amounts, and see total tax and effective rate. Includes a reverse tax helper. Rates are editable—always verify with official sources.

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Calculate Sales Tax

Select your state to auto-fill the tax rate (editable in Advanced Options)
Please select a state
This rate is based on your state selection
Enable to add city/county tax
Enter the net amount (exclusive) or gross amount (inclusive)
Please enter a valid amount ≥ 0

Reverse Sales Tax Helper

Have the tax amount and want to find the original net or gross amount? Use this tool.

Enter the known tax amount
Total tax rate (state + local)

Edit State Tax Rates

Customize state tax rates. Changes are saved in your browser.

State Rate (%) Actions
Export/Import Configuration

How it Works

Sales tax is a percentage of the price. If you know the net amount (excluding tax), the formula is: Tax = Net × Rate. If you know the gross amount (including tax), the formula is: Tax = Gross × Rate / (1 + Rate). We support state rates and an optional local tax for city and county jurisdictions.

In Exclusive mode, tax is calculated on the net amount and added to produce the gross. In Inclusive mode, the gross amount already includes tax, so we extract the tax component and calculate the net amount.

Inputs Explained

  • State: Select your state from the dropdown. The state tax rate will auto-populate based on current rates.
  • State Tax Rate: The tax rate for your selected state. This is displayed for reference.
  • Include Local Tax: Enable this to add city/county tax on top of the state rate.
  • Local Tax Rate: Enter the additional local tax percentage (if applicable).
  • Calculation Mode:
    • Exclusive: Tax is added to the net amount (e.g., $100 + 7.25% = $107.25)
    • Inclusive: Tax is included in the gross amount (e.g., $107.25 includes $7.25 tax)
  • Amount: The dollar amount to calculate tax on (net for exclusive, gross for inclusive).
  • Rounding: Choose decimal precision for results (0-3 decimals, default is 2).
  • Currency: Select your currency (USD default). The calculator uses current exchange rates.

Example Calculations

Example 1: Exclusive Mode (California)

Inputs:

  • State: California (7.25%)
  • Local Tax: 0%
  • Mode: Exclusive
  • Amount: $100.00

Calculation:

  • Tax = $100.00 × 7.25% = $7.25
  • Gross = $100.00 + $7.25 = $107.25
  • Effective Rate = 7.25%

Result: Tax = $7.25, Gross = $107.25

Example 2: Inclusive Mode (California)

Inputs:

  • State: California (7.25%)
  • Local Tax: 0%
  • Mode: Inclusive
  • Amount (Gross): $107.25

Calculation:

  • Tax = $107.25 × 7.25% / (1 + 7.25%) = $7.25
  • Net = $107.25 - $7.25 = $100.00
  • Effective Rate = 7.25%

Result: Tax = $7.25, Net = $100.00

Example 3: With Local Tax (New York City)

Inputs:

  • State: New York (4.00%)
  • Local Tax: 4.50% (NYC local tax)
  • Mode: Exclusive
  • Amount: $100.00

Calculation:

  • Total Tax Rate = 4.00% + 4.50% = 8.50%
  • Tax = $100.00 × 8.50% = $8.50
  • Gross = $100.00 + $8.50 = $108.50
  • Effective Rate = 8.50%

Result: Tax = $8.50, Gross = $108.50

Tips & Notes

  • State rates can change: Tax rates are subject to change by state legislation. Always verify current rates with your state's Department of Revenue.
  • No sales tax states: Five states have no state sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. However, some localities in these states may impose local sales taxes.
  • Local taxes matter: Many cities and counties add their own sales tax on top of the state rate. The combined rate can be significantly higher than the state rate alone.
  • Online purchases: For online purchases, sales tax is typically based on the buyer's location (destination-based), not the seller's location.
  • Exemptions: Certain items may be exempt from sales tax (groceries, medicine, etc.) depending on the state. This calculator doesn't account for exemptions.
  • Business use: If you're a business collecting sales tax, make sure you're registered with your state and remit taxes according to your state's schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Select your state in the dropdown above. Rates are editable and based on current state rates, but you should verify with your state's Department of Revenue for the most accurate information. State rates range from 0% (Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon) to 7.25% (California).

Yes. Enable "Include Local Tax" and enter a percentage. Many cities and counties impose additional local sales taxes on top of the state rate. For example, New York City adds 4.50% local tax to New York's 4.00% state rate, for a combined 8.50% rate.

Exclusive means tax is added to the net amount. For example, if an item costs $100 and the tax rate is 7.25%, you pay $107.25 total ($100 + $7.25 tax).

Inclusive means tax is already included in the gross amount. For example, if the total price is $107.25 including 7.25% tax, the net amount is $100 and the tax is $7.25.

No. This is an informational tool. Sales tax rates and rules are set by state and local authorities and can change. Always verify with official state/local tax resources or consult with a tax professional for official guidance.

No. Everything runs in your browser. No data is sent to any server. Your custom state rates and preferences are saved in your browser's local storage. Use Export or Share Link to save your configuration locally.

Five states have no state sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. However, some localities in these states (particularly Alaska) may still impose local sales taxes.

Yes. Click "Advanced Options" and then "Edit State Tax Rates" to add, edit, or delete state rates. You can also reset to default values or import/export custom rate tables as JSON files.

Use the "Reverse Sales Tax Helper" section below the main calculator. Enter the tax amount and the known state/local rates, and it will calculate the original net or gross amount. This is useful when you know how much tax was charged and want to find the pre-tax or post-tax amount.

Disclaimer

Informational estimate only. Sales tax rates and rules are governed by state and local authorities and may change. This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for business decisions. Verify with official state/local tax resources or consult with a tax professional. CalculatorBolt is not responsible for any errors or omissions.

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