Sales Tax Calculator 2026
Calculate sales tax for any US state. Add tax to a pre-tax price or remove tax from a total. Uses official state rates + average local rates. Updated June 2026.
How US Sales Tax Works
Unlike most countries that use a federal value-added tax (VAT), the United States has no federal sales tax. Instead, each state sets its own sales tax rate, and local governments (cities and counties) can add additional rates on top. This means the actual sales tax you pay depends on the exact location where the purchase is made.
States with No Sales Tax
Five states impose no statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. Note that Alaska allows local governments to levy sales taxes — some Alaskan boroughs and cities do collect local sales taxes with an average combined rate around 1.95%.
State Rate vs. Combined Rate
The state rate is the base rate set by the state legislature, uniform across the state. The combined rate adds the average local (city/county) rate on top. For example, Colorado has a low state rate of just 2.9%, but cities like Denver add significant local taxes, pushing the combined rate to around 7.22%. Always check your specific city or county for the exact rate.
2025–2026 Key Changes
Several notable changes have taken effect recently: Louisiana raised its state rate from 4.45% to 5% in January 2025, making it the highest combined rate in the nation at ~10.17%. Kansas eliminated its grocery sales tax entirely in 2025 (state food rate reduced to 0%). South Dakota slightly reduced its state rate from 4.5% to 4.2%.
Grocery & Food Tax Rules
Sales tax on groceries varies widely. About 30 states exempt most unprepared food entirely. Some states tax groceries at a reduced rate: Tennessee (4%), Virginia (2.5%), North Carolina (2%), Arkansas (0.125%). A few states — Alabama, Idaho, Mississippi, and South Dakota — apply the full sales tax rate to groceries. Prepared foods (restaurant meals, deli items, hot foods) are taxed at the full rate in almost all states regardless of any grocery exemption.
Frequently Asked Questions
Five states have no statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. However, Alaska allows local governments to levy sales taxes, so some Alaskan cities and boroughs do collect local sales tax (average ~1.95% combined). Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon have no sales tax at either the state or local level.
Louisiana has the highest combined average sales tax rate at approximately 10.17% (5% state + ~5.11% average local). Tennessee is second at ~9.62% (7% state + ~2.75% average local). Among state-only rates, California, Indiana, Mississippi, Rhode Island, and Tennessee all tie at the highest state rate of 7%.
Multiply the pre-tax price by the sales tax rate (as a decimal). For example, on a $100 purchase with an 8.25% tax rate: $100 × 0.0825 = $8.25 tax, making the total $108.25. To reverse-calculate (find the pre-tax price from a total), divide by (1 + rate): $108.25 ÷ 1.0825 = $100.00.
It depends on the state. About 30 states fully exempt unprepared grocery food. Some apply a reduced rate (Tennessee 4%, Virginia 2.5%). A few states — Alabama, Idaho, Mississippi, South Dakota — apply the full rate to groceries. Kansas eliminated its grocery tax entirely in 2025. Prepared foods and restaurant meals are taxable at the full rate in virtually every state.
The state sales tax is set by the state and applies uniformly across the state. Local sales taxes are additional rates added by cities, counties, or transit districts. The combined rate is what you actually pay. For example, Texas has a 6.25% state rate; local governments can add up to 2%, so the maximum in Texas is 8.25%.
No. VAT (Value-Added Tax) is collected at every stage of the supply chain (production, distribution, retail), while US sales tax is only collected at the final point of sale to the consumer. The US also has no federal sales tax — only state and local governments impose them. Most other countries use a national VAT system.
Yes, if you itemize deductions on Schedule A, you can deduct either state income tax or sales tax paid — whichever is greater. This is particularly valuable for residents of no-income-tax states like Texas, Florida, and Washington. Under the OBBBA (2025+), the combined SALT deduction cap is $40,000 for most filers (previously $10,000), subject to phase-out above $500,000 MAGI.