Sales Tax Calculator
Add US sales tax to a price, or back it out of a tax-inclusive total, at any state or local rate — with the tax amount and pre-tax price shown instantly.
About this calculator
This free sales tax calculator does the math both directions: add sales tax to a listed price, or back the tax out of a total that already includes it. Enter any combined state and local rate and it shows the tax amount and the pre-tax price instantly.
How it works
Adding tax: tax = price × (rate ÷ 100), and total = price + tax. Removing tax (reverse): pre-tax price = total ÷ (1 + rate ÷ 100), and the tax is the difference. Dividing — not subtracting the percentage — is what makes the reverse calculation correct.
Worked example
A $100 item at 7.25% tax comes to $107.25 ($7.25 tax). Working backwards from a $107.25 total at the same rate returns exactly $100 pre-tax — note that 7.25% of $107.25 would be $7.78, the wrong answer, which is why you divide.
Working out a discount too? Use the discount calculator, or the percentage calculator for any percent math.
Why use this sales tax calculator
Works both directions
Add tax to a price, or back it out of a tax-inclusive total (reverse sales tax) — the second is easy to get wrong by hand.
Any state or local rate
Enter the combined rate for wherever the sale happens and get the tax and pre-tax price instantly.
Clear breakdown
It shows the tax amount and the pre-tax price separately, so receipts and invoices are easy to reconcile.
Common use cases
- Add local sales tax to a price before you buy
- Find the pre-tax price from a receipt total for expenses or bookkeeping
- Check the tax portion of an invoice
- Compare the out-the-door cost across two tax rates
Frequently asked questions
Multiply the pre-tax price by the tax rate to get the tax, then add it to the price. For example, $100 at 7.25% is $100 × 0.0725 = $7.25 tax, for a $107.25 total. In 'Add tax' mode the calculator does this instantly.
Divide the tax-inclusive total by 1 + the rate. At 7.25%, divide by 1.0725. You can't just subtract 7.25% of the total — that overcounts, because the tax was calculated on the smaller pre-tax price. Use 'Remove tax' mode to do it correctly.
US sales tax is set by state, county and city, so the combined rate varies by location — from 0% in a few states to over 10% in some cities. Enter the combined rate for where the sale happens.
No. Unlike VAT or GST in many countries, the US has no federal sales tax. Rates are set locally, which is why the same item can cost different totals in different places.
Yes. The calculator runs in your browser and stores nothing you enter.
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