Sales Tax Calculator and VAT Calculator
Our sales tax calculator adds tax to a price, removes it from a total or finds the rate from two prices. It works as a VAT calculator too, with common US state rates and VAT rates ready to pick. Enter a price and a rate to see the tax and the total.
What Sales Tax Is
Sales tax is a charge added to the price of goods and some services when you buy them. The seller collects it at the till and passes it on to the government. In the US it is set by states, counties and cities, so the rate depends on where you shop.
Many other countries use a value added tax, or VAT, instead. VAT works differently behind the scenes, since it is charged at each stage of production. For the buyer, though, the math is the same, which is why one tool can serve as a sales tax calculator and a VAT calculator.
How to Use the Sales Tax Calculator
- Choose to add tax, remove tax or find the rate.
- Enter the price and the tax rate, or pick a rate from the list.
- Read the tax amount, the price before tax and the total.
The list includes statewide rates for large US states and standard VAT or GST rates for several countries. Pick one to fill the rate box of the VAT calculator, or type your own exact local rate. Every result shows the formula used, so you can check the math.
How to Calculate Sales Tax
To add tax, multiply the price by the rate and divide by 100. A $150 purchase at 8.25% has a tax of 150 × 8.25 ÷ 100 = $12.38, so the total is $162.38. You can also multiply the price by 1.0825 to get the total in one step.
To find the rate from a receipt, subtract the price before tax from the total, divide by the price and multiply by 100. That is the way to find a rate when a store does not print it. The rate mode of the sales tax calculator does this for any two prices.
Reverse Sales Tax: Removing Tax From a Total
Sometimes you only know the final price, such as a receipt total or a price that includes VAT. To find the price before tax, divide the total by 1 plus the rate. A receipt of $108.25 at 8.25% tax means 108.25 ÷ 1.0825 = $100.00 before tax, with $8.25 of tax.
A common mistake is to take 8.25% off the total, which gives $99.32 and is wrong. The tax was charged on the lower price, not on the total. The remove mode of the calculator always divides, so the answer comes out right.
Sales Tax Calculator Examples
A Purchase in Texas
Texas has a state rate of 6.25%, and cities and counties can add up to 2% more. In many Texas cities the combined rate is 8.25%. A $1,200 laptop there costs $1,299.00 with $99.00 of tax, as the sales tax calculator shows.
A UK Price With VAT
UK shop prices usually include 20% VAT. A £120 price means 120 ÷ 1.2 = £100 before VAT, with £20 of VAT. Pick "UK VAT 20%" in the VAT calculator and use the remove mode to split any price.
Checking a Receipt
A receipt shows $150.00 before tax and $162.38 in total. The rate mode gives 8.253%, which rounds to the 8.25% local rate. Small differences like this come from rounding to the nearest cent.
US Sales Tax Rates by State
45 states and Washington DC charge a statewide sales tax. Five states have no statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon. Alaska still lets local governments charge their own.
| State | Statewide rate |
| California | 7.25% |
| Texas | 6.25% |
| New York | 4% |
| Florida | 6% |
| Illinois | 6.25% |
| Pennsylvania | 6% |
| Ohio | 5.75% |
| New Jersey | 6.625% |
| Washington | 6.5% |
| Tennessee | 7% |
These are statewide rates only, and most buyers pay more. Check your state revenue department for the current figure before you file or price a product. Rates can change at the start of any year.
Local Rates on Top of State Tax
Counties, cities and special districts can add a local sales tax on top of the state rate. In parts of Louisiana, Tennessee and Washington, the combined rate can reach 10% or more. Two stores a few miles apart can charge different totals for the same item.
To get the full rate, add the state rate and every local rate that applies at the store address. Many states publish a lookup tool by address or ZIP code. Then type that combined rate into the sales tax calculator for an exact result.
What Is Usually Taxed
Most states tax physical goods such as clothes, furniture and electronics. Groceries and prescription drugs are often exempt or taxed at a lower rate. Services and digital products vary widely from state to state.
Online Shopping and Use Tax
Since the 2018 Supreme Court case South Dakota v. Wayfair, states can require large online sellers to collect sales tax even without a store in that state. Most big retailers now charge tax at checkout based on your delivery address. The rate is usually the same one you would pay in a local shop.
If a seller does not charge tax, many states still expect you to pay a use tax yourself, and the sales tax calculator can work out the amount. It is usually equal to the combined rate where you live. Some people report it on their state income tax return each year.
VAT Around the World
VAT and GST are used in more than 170 countries. Prices are usually tax inclusive, so the price on the shelf is the price you pay. Businesses often need the price before tax, which is where a VAT calculator helps.
| Country | Standard rate |
| United Kingdom | 20% VAT |
| Germany | 19% VAT |
| France | 20% VAT |
| UAE | 5% VAT |
| Saudi Arabia | 15% VAT |
| Pakistan | 18% sales tax |
| India | 18% GST (main slab) |
| Canada (Ontario) | 13% HST |
| Australia | 10% GST |
Many countries also have reduced rates for food, books or energy, which you can type into the VAT calculator. Standard rates in the EU range from 17% in Luxembourg to 27% in Hungary. For Indian GST with CGST and SGST splits, use our GST Calculator.
How VAT Differs From Sales Tax
US sales tax is charged once, at the final sale to the customer. VAT is charged at every step, from raw materials to the shop, and each business claims back the VAT it paid on its own costs. In both systems the final buyer carries the tax.
For shoppers, the main difference is how prices look. US price tags leave the tax out and it appears at the till, while VAT prices already include it. A VAT calculator helps travelers and online buyers compare prices between the two systems.
Businesses that sell abroad deal with both. A VAT calculator splits a foreign price into its net and tax parts, and the sales tax calculator adds US tax at checkout. Using both side by side keeps invoices and price lists consistent.
Sales Tax for Small Businesses
If you sell taxable goods, you usually need to register with your state, collect tax and file returns. The tax you collect is not income, since it belongs to the state. Keep it separate from your sales so it does not get spent by accident.
Price your products with tax in mind. In countries where shelf prices include tax, the price must cover the VAT, so your real revenue is lower than the sticker. The VAT calculator shows what you keep from each sale.
Use the remove mode of the VAT calculator to split each sale into revenue and tax for your records. Check the rules with a tax adviser, since registration limits and filing dates differ. This tool helps with the math, not with legal advice.
Tips to Avoid Sales Tax Mistakes
- Use the full combined rate, including local taxes.
- Divide, never subtract, when you remove tax from a total.
- Round tax to the nearest cent once, on the total, not on each line.
- Check if your state has a sales tax holiday for school supplies or energy saving goods.
Small rounding differences between receipts and the tool are normal. Large ones usually mean a different rate or an item that is taxed differently. Run the receipt through the rate mode of the sales tax calculator to find out.
Why Use Our Sales Tax Calculator
It adds tax, removes it and finds the rate, with US state rates and world VAT rates built in. Every answer shows the formula, so nothing is hidden. It runs in your browser with no sign up. Enter a price and calculate your tax now.
Frequently asked questions
Is this sales tax calculator free?
Yes, it is free with no sign up and no limit.
How to calculate sales tax on a price?
Multiply the price by the rate and divide by 100, then add it to the price.
How do I do a reverse sales tax calculation?
Divide the total by 1 plus the tax rate, then subtract to find the tax.
Can I use it as a VAT calculator?
Yes, the math is the same, and common VAT rates are in the list.
Does the VAT calculator work for GST?
Yes, GST uses the same math, so pick or type the GST rate.
Which states have no sales tax?
Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon have no statewide sales tax.
Does the list include local sales tax?
No, it shows statewide rates, so add your local rate for the full figure.
What does tax inclusive mean?
The price already contains the tax, which is normal for VAT prices.
Related calculators
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