Sales Tax Calculator
Enter a price and tax rate to see the tax amount and total price. Toggle reverse mode to find the pre-tax price from a total that already includes tax.
Tax amount
$0.00
Total price
$0.00
About Sales Tax
Sales tax is a consumption tax charged at the point of sale on goods and services. In the United States, rates vary by state, county, and city — ranging from 0% in states like Oregon to over 10% in parts of Louisiana and Tennessee. Unlike VAT (value-added tax) used in most other countries, U.S. sales tax is typically added on top of the listed price. This calculator lets you compute tax both ways: enter a pre-tax price to find the total, or enter a tax-inclusive total to back out the pre-tax amount.
FAQ
How do I calculate sales tax?
Multiply the pre-tax price by the tax rate as a decimal. For example, on a $50 item at 8.25% tax: $50 x 0.0825 = $4.13 tax, for a total of $54.13.
What is the difference between sales tax and VAT?
Sales tax is collected only at the final point of sale and is typically added on top of the listed price. VAT (value-added tax) is collected at every stage of production and distribution and is usually included in the displayed price. Both are consumption taxes, but they differ in how and when they are applied.
What is tax-inclusive vs tax-exclusive pricing?
Tax-exclusive pricing shows the price before tax — you pay more at checkout. Tax-inclusive pricing means the listed price already contains the tax. Most U.S. stores use tax-exclusive pricing, while most European and Australian retailers use tax-inclusive pricing.
How do I find the pre-tax price from a total?
Divide the total by (1 + tax rate / 100). For example, if your total is $54.13 at 8.25% tax: $54.13 / 1.0825 = $50.00 pre-tax price.