Sales Tax Calculator

Calculate sales tax and prices before/after tax

About Sales Tax Calculator

A sales tax calculator finds the total price after tax, the tax amount, or the pre-tax price, depending on which value you already know. Sales tax rates vary by state, county, and city, so this calculator lets you enter your specific local rate.

Formula

Total Price = Price × (1 + Tax Rate); Price Before Tax = Total Price / (1 + Tax Rate)

How It Works

Enter the pre-tax price and your local sales tax rate
The calculator multiplies price by the tax rate to find the tax amount
Adding tax to price gives the total price paid
You can also enter a total price to work backward and find the pre-tax price and tax amount

Tips

Sales tax rates are often a combination of state, county, and city rates — check your specific location's combined rate
Some items (groceries, prescription drugs) are exempt or taxed at a reduced rate in many states
Sales tax applies to the price after any discounts, not the original list price

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate sales tax on a purchase?

Multiply the price by the tax rate (as a decimal). For example, an $80 item with 7% sales tax: $80 × 0.07 = $5.60 tax, for a total of $85.60.

How do I find the pre-tax price from a total?

Divide the total price by (1 + tax rate). For example, a $107 total with 7% tax: $107 / 1.07 = $100 pre-tax price.

Why do sales tax rates vary so much by location?

Sales tax is typically a combination of state, county, and city rates, which are set independently — this is why identical purchases can be taxed differently just a few miles apart.

Is sales tax calculated before or after a discount?

After. Tax is calculated on the price actually paid, so a discount should be applied first, then tax calculated on the discounted subtotal.

Are all items taxed at the same rate?

No — many states exempt or reduce tax on groceries, prescription drugs, and certain other categories, while general merchandise is taxed at the full local rate.