Free Sales Tax Calculator
Select any US state for 2025 state + average local combined sales tax rates, or enter a custom rate. Add tax to a pre-tax amount, or back-calculate the original price from a tax-inclusive total. Switch to cart mode to add multiple items and get the tax and total across your full order.
Tax Rate
State Rate
7.25%
Avg Local
1.57%
Combined
8.82%
State rates sourced from Tax Foundation 2025 data. Local rates are averages — your exact rate may vary by city and county. Always verify with your state's revenue department for compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which US states have no sales tax?+
Five states have no state-level sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. However, Alaska allows local governments to impose sales taxes, so the combined average rate in Alaska is 1.76%. The other four (Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon) have no state or general local sales tax.
What is the difference between state sales tax and the combined rate?+
The state sales tax rate is set by the state government and applies statewide. On top of that, many counties, cities, and special districts add their own local sales taxes. The combined rate is the state rate plus the average local rate. For example, California's state rate is 7.25%, but with average local taxes of 1.57%, the combined average is 8.82%. Your actual rate depends on the specific city and county.
How do I calculate the pre-tax price from a total that already includes sales tax?+
Use the "Remove Tax from Total" mode. The formula is: Pre-tax price = Total ÷ (1 + tax rate). For example, if you paid $108.50 and the tax rate is 8.5%, the pre-tax price = $108.50 ÷ 1.085 = $100.00, and the tax was $8.50. This is also called reverse sales tax calculation.
Are the rates in this calculator accurate?+
State rates are accurate for 2025 per Tax Foundation data. Average local rates are averages — your exact combined rate depends on your specific city and county. For high-accuracy compliance (e-commerce, payroll, etc.), always look up the rate for the precise zip code using your state's revenue department website or a tax compliance service.
Does sales tax apply to services?+
It depends on the state. Most states tax sales of physical goods. Services are taxed much less consistently — some states tax most services, some tax only specific services (like telecommunications), and others don't tax services at all. Digital goods and SaaS are treated differently state by state. Always verify with your state's revenue department for your specific product or service category.
US Sales Tax — How It Works
The United States does not have a federal sales tax. Instead, sales taxes are levied at the state, county, and city level — resulting in thousands of different combined rates across the country. As of 2025, 45 states and Washington DC impose a state sales tax ranging from 2.9% (Colorado) to 7.25% (California). Five states — Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon — have no state sales tax.
State Rate vs. Combined Rate
The rate you actually pay at the register is usually the combined rate: the state base rate plus any county and city add-ons. Tennessee has the highest combined average rate at 9.55%, while Louisiana ties at 9.55%. On the low end, Alaska averages 1.76% (local-only), and Hawaii averages 4.44%. Always check the specific combined rate for the city where the transaction occurs for compliance purposes.
Reverse Sales Tax — Working Backwards from a Total
If you know the final amount paid (including tax) and need to find the original pre-tax price, you cannot simply subtract the tax rate percentage. The correct formula is: Pre-tax price = Total ÷ (1 + rate). For example, $108.00 total at 8% sales tax: $108.00 ÷ 1.08 = $100.00 pre-tax, with $8.00 in tax. A common mistake is to calculate $108.00 × 8% = $8.64, which would be wrong because you would be applying the tax rate to the already tax-inclusive amount.