Add US sales tax to a price, or back the tax out of a tax-inclusive total.
$108.25
Sales tax
$8.25
Price before tax
$100.00
Price before tax
$100.00
92.4%Sales tax
$8.25
7.6%The United States has no federal sales tax, so the rate you pay depends entirely on the state and local jurisdictions where you shop. A purchase taxed at 8.25% in one city might be taxed at 7% across the street in the next county. This calculator works both directions: add tax to a before-tax price to see what you actually pay at the register, or extract the tax from a receipt total to answer "how much of what I paid was really just tax?". Combined state and local rates typically range from 0% to around 10%; consult your state Department of Revenue for your specific rate.
A $100 item at 8.25% sales tax costs $108.25, with $8.25 going to tax.
A receipt shows $100. If the tax rate was 8.25%, you paid $92.38 for the item itself and $7.62 in tax.
How do I calculate sales tax backwards?
If you know the total you paid and the tax rate, divide the total by (1 + rate fraction) to get the pre-tax price. For example, on a $100 receipt at 8.25% tax: $100 ÷ 1.0825 = $92.38 pre-tax. The tax is the difference: $100 − $92.38 = $7.62.
Why do sales tax rates differ between cities?
The US has no federal sales tax; instead, states set a base rate, and cities or counties can layer on additional local tax. This happens because local taxes fund schools, roads, and other services in that specific area. Moving a few miles across a county or state line can change the rate you pay.
Which states have no sales tax?
A small handful of US states do not impose a sales tax, including Oregon, Delaware, New Hampshire, and Montana. Some of these states compensate with other taxes or fees, so the overall tax burden depends on what you buy and where you live.