A sales tax calculator computes how much tax is applied to a purchase and the final amount you pay. You can either add tax to a pre-tax price or remove tax from a total to find the pre-tax amount — essential for budgeting, reimbursements, and business bookkeeping.
Sales tax rates vary by state, county, and city. This tool works with any rate, so you can calculate for your exact location or a rate you enter manually.
Add Tax vs. Remove Tax
Adding tax: price × (1 + rate). A $100 item at 8% tax costs $108 total. Removing tax: total ÷ (1 + rate). If you paid $108 and the rate is 8%, the pre-tax price was $100.
Both modes are built into this calculator — just toggle between them. This is especially useful for freelancers and small businesses tracking tax-deductible purchases.
How to Use
Enter the price — either pre-tax or the total you paid
Enter the applicable tax rate (e.g. 8.25 for 8.25%)
Choose Add Tax or Remove Tax mode
Read the final result and the exact tax amount
Features
⚡ Both ModesAdd tax to prices or reverse-calculate pre-tax amounts.
🌎 Any RateWorks with US state, county, city rates or international VAT.
🧮 PreciseTwo-decimal accuracy for exact dollar amounts.
🆓 100% FreeUnlimited tax calculations. No signup required.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate sales tax on a price?
Multiply the price by the tax rate divided by 100, then add the result to the original price. A $50 item at 6% tax: tax = $3, total = $53.
How do I find the price before tax?
Divide the total by (1 + rate). Total of $53 at 6%: $53 ÷ 1.06 = $50 pre-tax.
What is the average sales tax rate?
US state sales tax averages around 6-7%, but combined state+local rates range from under 5% to over 10% depending on location.
Is this sales tax calculator free?
Yes — completely free and unlimited for personal or business use.