Instantly calculate sales tax on any purchase and find the total price after tax. Compare rates across all 50 US states and understand when and where sales tax applies.
State averages and reference rates across the country
Enter any price and tax rate to find the total amount due including tax. Works for any state or country rate.
Open Tax Calculator →The formula for calculating sales tax is straightforward:
Tax Amount = Price × (Tax Rate ÷ 100)
Total Price = Price + Tax Amount = Price × (1 + Tax Rate/100)
Example: You buy a laptop for $999 in Texas, which has an 8.25% combined sales tax rate.
Tax = $999 × 0.0825 = $82.42
Total = $999 + $82.42 = $1,081.42
To find the pre-tax price from a total that includes tax: Pre-tax Price = Total ÷ (1 + Tax Rate/100). This is useful when you see a "tax included" price and want to know the base amount.
Five US states collect no statewide sales tax, making them popular destinations for large purchases like electronics and appliances. These states are Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, Delaware, and Alaska. However, Alaska allows local governments to impose their own sales taxes, so some Alaskan cities and boroughs do charge rates up to 7%. New Hampshire, Oregon, Montana, and Delaware truly have zero sales tax at any level.
Shoppers near state borders sometimes drive to neighboring no-tax states for major purchases. However, most states with sales tax technically require residents to pay "use tax" on items purchased out of state for use in their home state — though this is rarely enforced for individual consumers.
Combined sales tax rates (state + average local) vary dramatically across the US:
Highest combined rates: Louisiana ~9.55% | Tennessee ~9.55% | Arkansas ~9.46% | Alabama ~9.29% | Oklahoma ~8.99%
Mid-range: Texas 8.25% | California 8.68% avg | Illinois 8.83% avg | New York 8.52% avg
Lowest (with tax): Alaska ~1.76% | Hawaii 4.44% | Wyoming 5.36% | Maine 5.50%
No state tax: Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, Delaware, Alaska (state level)
Local taxes can add significantly to the base state rate. In California, the state rate is 7.25%, but Los Angeles adds local taxes bringing the total to 10.25% in some areas.
Before 2018, online retailers only had to collect sales tax in states where they had a physical presence (a store, warehouse, or employees). The 2018 Supreme Court ruling in South Dakota v. Wayfair changed everything. The court ruled that states can require online sellers to collect sales tax based on economic nexus — the volume of sales made in a state — regardless of physical presence.
Today, most states have economic nexus thresholds of $100,000 in annual sales or 200 separate transactions. This means virtually every major online retailer (Amazon, Walmart, eBay, Etsy, etc.) now collects sales tax in all states that impose it. Small businesses selling online must also track and comply with these rules if they exceed thresholds in multiple states.
Sales tax nexus refers to having a sufficient connection to a state that creates a tax collection obligation. There are two types:
Physical nexus: Having a store, office, warehouse, employees, or even attending a trade show in a state creates nexus. Economic nexus: Post-Wayfair, exceeding a state's sales or transaction threshold creates nexus even without physical presence. Most states set this at $100,000/year or 200 transactions.
For consumers, the practical implication is simple: if you're buying from any significant online retailer, expect to pay sales tax based on your delivery address's rate.
If you live near a state border, it can make financial sense to purchase high-ticket items in a lower-tax jurisdiction. The savings can be significant: on a $2,000 purchase, the difference between a 9% and 0% tax rate is $180 in savings. For items like jewelry, electronics, furniture, or appliances, this math can justify the drive. Just be aware of your home state's use tax laws and whether declaring out-of-state purchases is required. For most personal purchases, the risk of enforcement is minimal, but for business purchases it's a real compliance consideration.
Multiply the price by the tax rate (as a decimal). $200 at 8% tax = $200 × 0.08 = $16 tax. Total = $216. Or use the formula: Total = Price × (1 + Rate/100).
Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, Delaware, and Alaska have no statewide sales tax. Alaska allows local sales taxes, but OR, MT, NH, and DE have zero sales tax at every level.
Yes, since the 2018 Wayfair Supreme Court decision. Major retailers now collect sales tax based on your delivery address's rate. Economic nexus thresholds (typically $100K/year) determine when online sellers must collect.
Louisiana and Tennessee are tied at ~9.55% combined (state + local average). California has the highest base state rate at 7.25%, reaching 10.25%+ in some cities with local additions.