Util Tools How to calculate sales tax
Sales tax is a percentage added to the price of goods and services at the point of sale. To add it, multiply the price by the tax rate and add it on: a $100 item at 8% tax costs $108. This calculator adds tax for all 50 US states plus DC and major world economies, auto-filling the rate by region and totalling multiple items in bulk.
Removing tax from a total
To work backward from a tax-inclusive total to the pre-tax price, divide by 1 plus the rate: pre-tax = total / (1 + rate). A $108 total at 8% tax was $100 before tax, and the tax portion was $8. This reverse calculation is useful for bookkeeping, expense reports, and separating tax on a receipt that only shows the grand total.
Which US states have no sales tax?
Five states have no statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon (a memory aid is "NOMAD"). Note that some of these still allow local sales taxes, and rates elsewhere combine state, county, and city portions, which is why the effective rate at a given address can differ from the headline state rate.
Sales tax vs. VAT, and online sales
US sales tax is charged once, at the final sale to the consumer. VAT (used across Europe and much of the world) is collected at each stage of the supply chain, with businesses reclaiming what they paid. For online sellers, US rules now often require collecting tax based on the buyer's location once you pass certain sales thresholds in a state, so check the economic-nexus rules where your customers are.
Tax rates change and vary by exact location. Verify current rates with official sources; this tool is for estimates, not tax advice.
Last updated: July 2026