Sales tax is a percentage added to the purchase price at the point of sale. Multiply the price by the tax rate to get the tax amount, then add it to the original price for the total you pay.
For example, a $200 purchase in California (7.25% state rate): tax is $14.50, total is $214.50. A $500 purchase in Texas (6.25%): tax is $31.25, total is $531.25.
These rates are state base rates only. Most counties and cities add additional local taxes — your actual checkout total may be higher depending on exactly where you shop.
Common sales tax examples by state
Real-world examples for the most commonly searched state and price combinations.
Texas · 6.25%
$500 purchase — electronics or furniture
Tax: $31.25 · Total: $531.25
California · 7.25%
$1,000 purchase — appliance or laptop
Tax: $72.50 · Total: $1,072.50
Florida · 6.00%
$75 purchase — clothing or shoes
Tax: $4.50 · Total: $79.50
New York · 4.00%
$250 purchase — state rate only (NYC adds ~4.875%)
Tax: $10.00 · Total: $260.00
Illinois · 6.25%
$150 restaurant bill — state rate only
Tax: $9.38 · Total: $159.38
Washington · 6.50%
$3,000 purchase — used car or furniture set
Tax: $195.00 · Total: $3,195.00
Tennessee · 7.00%
$85 grocery run — Tennessee taxes most food
Tax: $5.95 · Total: $90.95
Oregon · 0.00%
$500 purchase — no sales tax in Oregon
Tax: $0.00 · Total: $500.00
Frequently asked questions
Which US states have no sales tax?
Five states charge no sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. Note that Alaska allows local municipalities to charge their own rates, so some Alaskan cities do have local sales tax up to 7.5%.
Which state has the highest sales tax rate?
California has the highest state base rate at 7.25%. When local taxes are included, some cities in Louisiana and Tennessee can reach combined rates above 11%. Tennessee and Mississippi have among the highest combined average rates nationwide.
What is the difference between state and local sales tax?
State tax applies uniformly across the whole state. Local tax is layered on top by counties, cities, or special districts and varies by exact location. At checkout you pay the combined rate. This calculator shows state base rates — use the "custom rate" option if you know your local combined rate.
Is sales tax charged on groceries?
It depends on the state. Most states exempt groceries from sales tax, but Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, South Dakota, and a few others tax food at the full or a reduced rate. Prepared food and restaurant meals are taxed in virtually every state.
Do I pay sales tax on online purchases?
Yes, in most cases. Since the 2018 Supreme Court ruling in South Dakota v. Wayfair, states can require online retailers to collect sales tax regardless of whether they have a physical store in that state. Most major online retailers now collect tax based on your delivery address.
How do I calculate sales tax manually?
Multiply the price by the rate divided by 100. Example: $80 item in Ohio (5.75%) — $80 × 0.0575 = $4.60 tax, total $84.60. To find the pre-tax price from a total, divide the total by (1 + rate/100).
Is US sales tax the same as VAT?
No. US sales tax is only collected at the final point of sale — the consumer pays it once. VAT (Value Added Tax), used in Europe and many other countries, is collected at each stage of production. The end cost to the consumer is similar but the mechanism is different.