Sales Tax Calculator
Free sales tax calculator.
Add sales tax to a price or work backwards to strip tax out of a total. Enter an amount and your tax rate and the calculator shows the tax and the final figure instantly. The reverse mode is handy when you have a tax-inclusive total and need the pre-tax amount — for expense reports, invoices, or bookkeeping.
Adding versus removing tax
Adding tax is straightforward: multiply the net price by the tax rate and add it on. Removing tax is where people slip up. You cannot simply subtract the percentage from the gross total, because the tax was calculated on the smaller net figure, not the gross. To back it out correctly you divide the gross by (1 + rate). For example, a $108.25 total at 8.25% tax comes from a $100 net price — dividing 108.25 by 1.0825 recovers exactly 100. This calculator's reverse mode does that division for you.
Sales tax, VAT, and GST
Different countries use different names and mechanics for consumption tax. US sales tax is added at the register and varies by state, county, and city, so the combined rate can be an odd number like 8.25% or 9.5%. Value-added tax (VAT) in Europe and goods-and-services tax (GST) elsewhere are usually built into the displayed price. The arithmetic this tool performs works for all of them — enter whatever combined rate applies to your purchase. Because rates change and local rules differ, treat the result as a calculation aid rather than tax advice.
Why US rates are rarely round numbers
If your tax rate looks oddly specific — 8.25%, 9.5%, 7.375% — that's because US sales tax is stacked from several layers. A state sets a base rate, then counties, cities, and special districts add their own portions on top, and the combined figure is what appears on your receipt. Two stores a few miles apart can charge different rates for the same item. That's why this calculator lets you type any rate rather than picking from a list: enter the exact combined percentage from your receipt or your locality's tax authority, and both the add-tax and remove-tax modes will match what you were actually charged.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I just subtract the tax percentage from the total?
Because the tax was charged on the pre-tax price, which is smaller than the total. Subtracting the percentage from the gross over-removes it. Divide the gross by (1 + rate) instead — which is what the remove-tax mode does.
Where do I find my local tax rate?
US combined rates depend on your state and locality; your receipt or your state's revenue department lists them. Enter that exact combined percentage.
Is this the same as VAT?
The calculation is the same. VAT and GST are typically price-inclusive, so the remove-tax mode is what you'll usually want for those.
Do all US states have sales tax?
No. A few states have no statewide sales tax at all, while most do. Rates and rules change, so treat results as estimates and verify locally.
Last updated: 2026-01-20