Sales Tax Calculator
Example: $100 + 8.25% tax = $108.25 total
Calculate sales tax for a purchase or work backward from a total to find the pre-tax price. The result shows the tax amount and final cost.
Pre-tax price + sales tax
Tax Amount
Total Price
Pre-Tax Price
Effective Rate
How We Calculate This
Forward calculation: Tax = Price × Rate, Total = Price + Tax. Reverse calculation: Price = Total ÷ (1 + Rate), Tax = Total - Price.
Methodology last reviewed: July 2025. How SparkCalc works
Sources: Tax Foundation: State and Local Sales Tax Rates, 2026 · Tax Foundation: State and Local Sales Tax Rates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau: Quarterly Summary of State and Local Government Tax Revenue
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate sales tax?
Multiply the price by the tax rate (as a decimal). For example, $100 × 0.0825 = $8.25 tax. Add to original price: $100 + $8.25 = $108.25 total.
How do I find the pre-tax price from a receipt total?
Divide the total by (1 + tax rate as decimal). For example, $108.25 ÷ 1.0825 = $100 pre-tax price.
What is the average sales tax in the US?
The average combined state and local sales tax rate is around 7.5%. Rates range from 0% (Oregon, Montana, Delaware) to over 10% in some localities.
Is sales tax the same as VAT?
No. Sales tax is collected only at the point of sale. VAT (Value Added Tax) is collected at each stage of production. The US uses sales tax; most other countries use VAT.
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