Sales Tax Calculator
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sales tax Calculator — Complete USA Sales Tax Guide (Rates, Steps & State Calculators)
sales tax Calculator is the fastest way to know exactly how much tax you’ll pay at checkout anywhere in the USA. In this guide I’ll explain what sales tax is, how to calculate it step-by-step, give clear examples, show a compact state rate table for quick reference, and point you to state-specific calculators you can link to from this article (so readers can jump straight to the calculator for their state).
What is sales tax (quick primer)
Sales tax is a consumption tax charged on the sale of goods and (in some states) services. In the U.S. sales tax is levied at the state level as a base rate and often supplemented by local (county/city) rates. For consumers the final % you pay is the combination of state + local rates; for sellers it determines how much tax they must collect and remit.
How to calculate sales tax — step by step
Follow these steps to calculate sales tax accurately:
Find the correct tax rate — use the state base rate (below) plus any local rate that applies to the buyer’s delivery or pickup location. If you’re unsure, use a state or city sales tax lookup or a state-specific sales tax calculator (examples and links below).
Decide if the item is taxable — some goods (e.g., groceries, prescription drugs) may be exempt or taxed at a reduced rate depending on the state.
Use the formula — the basic formula is:
Sales Tax = Price × Tax Rate
Total Price = Price + Sales TaxRound properly — many businesses round the tax to the nearest cent. Check your state or company policy.
Collect and remit — sellers must collect the calculated tax at the point of sale and remit it to the appropriate tax authority on the state’s schedule.
Formula and a couple of clear examples
Formula:
Sales Tax = Item Price × (Tax Rate ÷ 100)
Final Price = Item Price + Sales Tax
Example 1 — retail purchase
Item price: $150.00
State base rate: California 6.00% (we’ll use the base rate for example)
Sales Tax = $150 × 6.00% = $150 × 0.06 = $9.00
Final Price = $150 + $9.00 = $159.00
Example 2 — higher rate (state with 7% base)
Item price: $299.99
State base rate: Tennessee 7.00%
Sales Tax = $299.99 × 0.07 = $20.9993 → round to $21.00
Final Price ≈ $299.99 + $21.00 = $320.99
Example 3 — vehicle purchase (state base only)
Car price: $20,000
State base rate: Texas 6.25%
Sales Tax = $20,000 × 0.0625 = $1,250
Final Price = $21,250
(Important: vehicle purchases sometimes include title/license fees or county surtaxes. For that use a vehicle-specific calculator like “tax title and licence calculator texas” or the state car calculator.)
| State | State base rate |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 7% |
| Alaska | 0% |
| Arizona | 5.60% |
| Arkansas | 6.50% |
| California | 6.00% |
| Colorado | 2.90% |
| Connecticut | 6.35% |
| Delaware | 0% |
| Florida | 6% |
| Georgia | 4% |
| Hawaii | 4% |
| Idaho | 6% |
| Illinois | 6.25% |
| Indiana | 7% |
| Iowa | 6% |
| Kansas | 6.50% |
| Kentucky | 6% |
| Louisiana | 4.45% |
| Maine | 5.50% |
| Maryland | 6% |
| Massachusetts | 5.60% |
| Michigan | 6% |
| Minnesota | 6.88% |
| Mississippi | 7% |
| Missouri | 4.23% |
| Montana | 0% |
| Nebraska | 5.50% |
| Nevada | 4.60% |
| New Hampshire | 0% |
| New Jersey | 6.63% |
| New Mexico | 5.13% |
| New York | 4% |
| North Carolina | 4.75% |
| North Dakota | 5% |
| Ohio | 5.75% |
| Oklahoma | 4.50% |
| Oregon | 0% |
| Pennsylvania | 6% |
| Rhode Island | 7% |
| South Carolina | 6% |
| South Dakota | 4.50% |
| Tennessee | 7% |
| Texas | 6.25% |
| Utah | 4.70% |
| Vermont | 6% |
| Virginia | 4.30% |
| Washington | 6.50% |
| Washington, D.C. | 6.00% |
| West Virginia | 6% |
| Wisconsin | 5% |
| Wyoming | 4% |
State-by-state quick guides & calculators (integrated)
West & Pacific states
California’s base rate is 6.00% but many cities add local surtaxes — if you’re buying electronics or furniture in CA, use the California sales tax calculator to combine state and local rates and get a final checkout number. Washington and Washington, D.C. both have layered local rates too; the Washington sales tax calculator will help when you need exact city/county totals. Oregon and Montana have no state sales tax, so most purchases are tax-free — for nearby cross-border shopping, use a regional calculator to compare final prices.
Mountain states
In Arizona (5.60% base) and Colorado (2.90% base), local rates vary a lot; the Arizona sales tax calculator and Colorado sales tax calculator let you enter a city or ZIP to return the exact combined rate. Utah’s base is 4.70% — use the Utah sales tax calculator to check for county add-ons that often appear on vehicle or furniture purchases. Idaho shoppers can check exemptions and local levies with the Idaho sales tax calculator.
Southwest & Texas
Texas has a 6.25% state rate but vehicle purchases often include title and license fees; the Texas sales tax calculator or the more specific tax title and licence calculator texas will produce a full out-the-door cost. New Mexico (5.13%) is destination-based for some services — try the New Mexico sales tax calculator to confirm whether your purchase is taxed at the seller’s or buyer’s location. Arizona and New Mexico calculators are handy when comparing regional price differences.
Southeast & Gulf
Florida (6%) and Georgia (4%) both rely heavily on local additions — the Florida sales tax calculator and Georgia sales tax calculator produce the exact total for your county or city. Louisiana’s base rate (4.45%) plus strong parish-level variation means the Louisiana sales tax calculator is ideal for car and appliance buyers. Tennessee has a 7% base; for vehicle buyers the Tennessee car sales tax calculator gives an accurate total including common local fees.
Mid-Atlantic & Northeast
New York’s 4% base plus city/county add-ons can change totals dramatically; if you live in NYC try the New York sales tax calculator (or nyc tax calculator sales for city-specific calculations) to capture local surcharges. New Jersey (6.63%) and Pennsylvania (6%) have their quirks — use the New Jersey sales tax calculator and Pennsylvania sales tax calculator to check exemptions like clothing or groceries. Massachusetts and Connecticut have comparatively stable bases (5.60% and 6.35%); the Massachusetts sales tax calculator and Connecticut sales tax calculator will quickly confirm taxability for services versus goods.
Midwest
Illinois (6.25%), Indiana (7%), and Michigan (6%) often layer county/city taxes; the Illinois sales tax calculator and Michigan sales tax calculator are helpful when you want to see combined rates for a ZIP code. Missouri’s 4.23% base and some local municipal taxes make the Missouri sales tax calculator handy; for vehicle purchases use the missouri car tax calculator to include title and registration. Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Minnesota each have different exemptions — try the Iowa sales tax calculator, Kansas sales tax calculator, Nebraska sales tax calculator, or Minnesota sales tax calculator to check if your item is taxed at a reduced rate.
South & Appalachia
Texas, Oklahoma (4.50%), and Arkansas (6.50%) all have local add-ons; use the Oklahoma sales tax calculator or sales tax calculator arkansas to get county-level numbers. For Arkansas vehicle buyers, try the arkansas car sales tax calculator. West Virginia and Virginia calculators (West Virginia sales tax calculator, Virginia sales tax calculator) are great when you’re checking seasonal exemptions or reduced tax rules.
Smaller states & New England
Maine’s 5.50% excise rules (and special rules for services) make the Maine sales tax calculator useful, and Rhode Island’s 7% base is simple but local fees can apply — use the Rhode Island sales tax calculator. Massachusetts and Connecticut calculators (mentioned above) are good references for online sellers who need to know whether a service is taxable.
Great Lakes & Upper Midwest
Ohio (5.75%), Wisconsin (5%), and Michigan (6%) have important local surtaxes and small exemptions; use the Ohio sales tax calculator, Wisconsin sales tax calculator, and Michigan sales tax calculator to verify county/city totals. Minnesota and Minnesota-adjacent states can be checked with the Minnesota sales tax calculator and Nebraska sales tax calculator.
Special notes for online sellers & buyers
If you sell across state lines, check nexus rules and use the buyer’s delivery ZIP with the state’s sales tax calculator — for example, a buyer in New Jersey should use the New Jersey sales tax calculator while a buyer in Maryland should use the Maryland sales tax calculator. For high-value items (cars, boats, appliances) always use the state-specific vehicle or title calculators where available (for instance, tn car sales tax calculator, arkansas car sales tax calculator, missouri car tax calculator).
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