Free · No sign-up

Sales Tax Calculator

Sticker price isn't the final price. Enter the item price and your local tax rate — see the tax and the true total before you check out.

By the SmartKitly team · Last updated: October 4, 2026

Item price (before tax, $)

Sales tax rate (%)

How it works

Enter the pre-tax price.
Enter your combined state + county + city rate.
See the tax amount and the true total instantly.

US rates vary by state, county and city — from 0% (Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon; Alaska allows local taxes) to 10%+ in some cities. When in doubt, check your city's official rate.

Worked example

A $100 item at 8.25%: tax = $8.25 → total $108.25. On a $1,200 laptop at 9.5%, that's $114 in tax — worth knowing before you budget.

The math behind it

Tax = price × rate ÷ 100. Total = price + tax. To work backwards from a tax-included total: pre-tax price = total ÷ (1 + rate ÷ 100).

Common mistakes

Using only the state rate and missing county/city add-ons.
Forgetting some items are exempt — groceries and clothing get breaks in several states.
Not accounting for tax when budgeting a big purchase to the dollar.
Assuming online orders are tax-free — they're taxed based on the delivery address.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the rate vary so much?

States set a base rate, then counties and cities can stack their own on top. Two addresses a mile apart can have different totals.

Which states have no sales tax?

Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon have no statewide sales tax (Alaska has no state tax but allows local ones).

Is online shopping taxed?

Usually yes — online retailers collect tax based on your delivery address in most states.

What's the difference between sales tax and VAT?

US sales tax is charged once, at the final sale. VAT (used in Europe and elsewhere) is collected in small slices at every stage of production.

Are groceries taxed?

It depends on the state — many exempt groceries entirely or tax them at a lower rate than other goods.