Sales Tax Calculator
Enter a price and a sales tax rate to get the tax and the total. Or enter a total that already includes tax to find the price before tax and the tax that was in it.
Last updated November 3, 2026
Result
Total with tax = $108.00
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Price before tax | $100.00 |
| Sales tax | $8.00 |
| Total | $108.00 |
Rates differ by state, county and city, and some items are exempt. Enter the combined rate that applies at the point of sale.
Show the work
Formula: tax = price × rate ÷ 100; total = price + tax
- You entered a price of $100.00 and a 8% sales tax.
- Tax: $100.00 × 8% ÷ 100 = $8.00.
- Total: $100.00 + $8.00 = $108.00.
Result: Total with tax = $108.00
How sales tax is calculated
tax = price × rate ÷ 100
total = price + tax
Sales tax is a percentage of the price before tax. Multiply the price by the rate written as a decimal to get the tax, then add it to the price to get the total. A $100 item at 8% has $8 of tax and costs $108.
To go backwards, divide the total by 1 plus the rate as a decimal. A $108 total at 8% is $108 ÷ 1.08 = $100 before tax. Subtracting the tax-free price from the total shows how much of the total was tax.
See how we calculate for the formulas, sources and review schedule behind every calculator.
Also useful alongside this calculator: Percentage Calculator.
Which rate to enter
In the United States sales tax is set by the state and often by the county and city as well, so the rate at a given store is the combined total of all of them. A few states have no state sales tax, and some local jurisdictions add their own. Look at a receipt or the seller’s tax page for the combined rate, and type it in as one number.
Rates change, so a rate you used last year may be out of date. This calculator does the arithmetic with the rate you give it and does not look rates up by address.
Taking tax out of a total
Many receipts show only the total. To find what the item cost before tax, use the Price before tax mode. A common mistake is to subtract the rate from the total, for example taking 8% off $108. That removes $8.64 and leaves $99.36, which is wrong because the tax was 8% of the smaller, pre-tax price, not of the total.
The right way is to divide by 1.08, which gives $100.00 and a tax of $8.00. The same method works for any rate, for example 6.5% or 8.25%.
Rounding and receipts
Stores round tax to the nearest cent, and a few round per item rather than on the whole bill. The calculator shows the amount rounded to the cent, so a $249.99 purchase at 8.25% has tax of $20.62 (the exact value is $20.6242) and a total of $270.61.
If your receipt differs by a cent or two, the seller may round each line separately or apply different rates to different items. Groceries, clothing and medicine are taxed at a lower rate or not at all in some places, so enter the rate for the item, not for the whole basket.
Sales tax is not the same as VAT
Sales tax is charged once, on the final sale to the customer. A value-added tax, used in many other countries, is charged at every step of production and is usually already included in the price you see. The Price before tax mode gives you the net price from a VAT-inclusive total when you enter the VAT rate.
How to use the Sales Tax Calculator
- Choose Total price with tax or Price before tax.
- Enter the price or the total.
- Enter the combined sales tax rate.
- Read the tax and the total, then Copy, Print or Share.
Worked example
A jacket costs $249.99 and the combined rate is 8.25%. The tax is $249.99 × 8.25 ÷ 100 = $20.62, rounded to the cent. The total is $249.99 + $20.62 = $270.61.
| Rate | Tax | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 4% | $4.00 | $104.00 |
| 6% | $6.00 | $106.00 |
| 7.5% | $7.50 | $107.50 |
| 8.25% | $8.25 | $108.25 |
| 10% | $10.00 | $110.00 |
Frequently asked questions
How do I add sales tax to a price?
Multiply the price by the tax rate as a decimal and add the result to the price. At 8%, multiply by 1.08 to get the total in one step.
How do I find the price before tax?
Divide the total by 1 plus the rate as a decimal. Do not subtract the rate percentage from the total.
Does this look up the tax rate for my address?
No. You enter the rate, and the calculator does the arithmetic. Use a receipt or your state’s revenue site to find the combined rate.
Is sales tax charged on a discounted price?
Usually yes, on the price you actually pay after a store discount. Manufacturer coupons can be treated differently, so check the receipt.
Are my numbers stored or sent anywhere?
No. The calculation runs in your browser and nothing you enter is saved or uploaded.