United States
US Sales Tax Calculator
Work out sales tax on any amount using current combined state and local rates.
How to use the US Sales Tax Calculator
- Enter the pre-tax amount.
- Select your state to load its combined rate, or enter your local rate directly.
- Read the tax and total. Switch to remove mode to work backwards from a receipt.
State sales tax rates
The state rate is only part of the story — counties, cities and transit districts stack on top, which is why two addresses in the same state can pay different tax.
| State | State rate | Typical combined | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 7.25% | 7.25–10.75% | Highest state-level rate in the country |
| Texas | 6.25% | 6.25–8.25% | Local add-ons capped at 2% |
| New York | 4.00% | 7.00–8.88% | NYC combined is 8.875% |
| Florida | 6.00% | 6.00–7.50% | No state income tax |
| Illinois | 6.25% | 6.25–11.00% | Chicago is among the highest in the US |
| Washington | 6.50% | 7.00–10.60% | No state income tax |
| Tennessee | 7.00% | 8.50–9.75% | Highest average combined rate |
| Louisiana | 4.45% | 8.00–11.45% | Highest local add-ons |
| Colorado | 2.90% | 2.90–11.20% | Lowest state rate with local add-ons |
| Alaska | 0% | 0–7.50% | No state tax; local tax in some boroughs |
| Delaware | 0% | 0% | No sales tax at all |
| Montana | 0% | 0% | No sales tax at all |
| New Hampshire | 0% | 0% | No sales tax at all |
| Oregon | 0% | 0% | No sales tax at all |
Sales tax versus VAT
They reach a similar destination by structurally different routes, and confusing them causes real problems for anyone selling across the Atlantic.
US sales tax is charged once, at the final retail sale, to the end consumer. Businesses buying for resale present an exemption certificate and pay nothing. It is never reclaimable, and it is displayed exclusive of the price — a $100 item in Chicago costs $110.25 at the register and nothing on the shelf says so.
VAT is charged at every stage of production, with each business reclaiming what it paid on inputs. Consumer prices in the UK and EU are legally required to be displayed inclusive of it.
The practical consequence for a European selling into the US: you cannot simply price like VAT. Nexus rules mean you may owe tax in states where you have no physical presence, the rate depends on the buyer’s exact address rather than their state, and there is no equivalent of an EU One-Stop Shop covering all of them.
Economic nexus after Wayfair
Before 2018, a state could only require sales tax collection from businesses with a physical presence there. South Dakota v. Wayfair ended that.
Every state with a sales tax now has an economic nexus threshold. Cross it, and you must register, collect and remit — regardless of where you are located, including from outside the US.
The common threshold is $100,000 in sales or 200 separate transactions into that state in the current or previous calendar year. Several states have dropped the transaction count, and California and Texas use $500,000.
The compliance burden is the real cost. Registering in twenty states means twenty filing calendars, twenty rate tables and twenty sets of exemption rules. Most sellers past the threshold use automated tax software rather than tracking it by hand.
What is taxable varies by state
Groceries are exempt or reduced in most states and fully taxable in a handful. Clothing is exempt in Minnesota, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and exempt below a price cap in New York and Massachusetts. Prescription drugs are exempt almost everywhere; over-the-counter medicines usually are not.
Digital goods and SaaS are the least settled area. Roughly half the states tax downloaded software and streaming; several tax SaaS explicitly; several explicitly do not. This is where remote sellers most often get it wrong.
Many states also run sales tax holidays — usually a weekend before the school year, on clothing and supplies under a price cap. They are announced annually and the rules change.
Frequently asked questions
Which states have no sales tax?
Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon. Alaska permits local sales taxes in some boroughs, so the effective rate is not always zero there.
What is the highest sales tax in the US?
Combined state and local rates peak around 11.5% in parts of Louisiana. California has the highest state-level rate at 7.25%.
Is US sales tax included in the displayed price?
Almost never. It is added at the register, which is the opposite of the VAT-inclusive convention in the UK and EU.
Do I need to collect sales tax if I sell online from abroad?
Yes, once you cross a state’s economic nexus threshold — commonly $100,000 in sales or 200 transactions. Physical presence has not been required since the 2018 Wayfair decision.
Is sales tax charged on services?
It varies widely. Most states tax goods and only specified services. Some tax a broad range. Digital services and SaaS are the least consistent category.
Can I reclaim sales tax like VAT?
No. Sales tax is not reclaimable. Businesses buying for resale avoid it upfront with an exemption certificate instead.
Are these rates current?
They reflect 2026 published rates and change regularly, particularly local add-ons. Verify against your state department of revenue for filing.