Calculate the total cost of your purchase with accurate sales tax rates for every state.
Get precise sales tax calculations for all 50 states with our user-friendly calculator.
Enter your purchase price and select your state to calculate the sales tax and total cost.
Enter your purchase details and click "Calculate" to see the results
Understanding sales tax calculations and how they vary by location.
Sales tax rates vary widely from state to state, ranging from 0% in some states to over 7% in others. Some states like Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon don't have statewide sales taxes.
Many localities (cities, counties) impose additional sales taxes on top of the state rate. This is why the effective sales tax rate can vary significantly even within the same state.
Sales tax is calculated by multiplying the purchase price by the combined tax rate (state + local). For a $100 purchase with a 6% state tax and 2% local tax, you'd pay $8 in total taxes.
Compare sales tax rates across different states.
| State | Base Rate | Max Local Rate | Max Combined Rate | Tax-Free States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 7.25% | 2.50% | 9.75% | No |
| Florida | 6.00% | 2.00% | 8.00% | No |
| New York | 4.00% | 4.875% | 8.875% | No |
| Texas | 6.25% | 2.00% | 8.25% | No |
| Illinois | 6.25% | 4.00% | 10.25% | No |
| Oregon | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | Yes |
| Delaware | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | Yes |
| Montana | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | Yes |
| New Hampshire | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | Yes |
| Alaska | 0.00% | 7.50% | 7.50% | Yes (state level) |
These five states do not impose a statewide sales tax:
Common questions about sales tax calculations.
Sales tax is a consumption tax imposed by governments on the sale of goods and services. The tax is typically calculated as a percentage of the purchase price and collected by the retailer at the time of purchase.
Sales tax is calculated by multiplying the purchase price by the combined tax rate (state rate + local rate). For example, if you purchase an item for $100 in an area with a 7% sales tax rate, you would pay $7 in sales tax for a total of $107.
No, many states exempt certain categories of items from sales tax, such as groceries, prescription medications, and certain clothing items. These exemptions vary widely by state and sometimes by locality.
Sales tax rates vary because they are determined by multiple levels of government. States set their base rates, and then counties, cities, and special taxing districts can add their own additional rates on top of the state rate.
Generally, yes. Following the 2018 Supreme Court decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair, states can require online retailers to collect sales tax even if they don't have a physical presence in the state. Most major online retailers now collect sales tax based on the delivery address.
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