Sales Tax Calculator

Sales tax is charged by the seller at the point of sale and is a percentage of the taxable price. In most states the rate has two layers: a statewide rate set by the legislature, and local rates set by counties, cities, and special districts. The seller collects the tax and remits it to the state and local authorities.

Local layers of tax change at municipal boundaries, so two addresses in the same state can pay different rates. A ZIP code is usually the smallest area most shoppers can name, which is why this calculator resolves the combined rate from the ZIP when data is available. Where a ZIP is not in the dataset, the page falls back to the state average and labels it as an estimate.

Four states — Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon — have no statewide sales tax. Alaska also has no state rate, but local boroughs and cities may levy their own tax. Some states tax groceries at a reduced rate or not at all, so the effective rate on a food receipt can be lower than the headline rate.

It depends on the state. Some states exempt unprepared food entirely, others tax it at a reduced rate, and a few tax it at the full rate. Prepared food and restaurant meals are more commonly taxed at the full rate. Always confirm the rule for your specific state and locality.

Sales tax is collected by the seller at the point of sale. Use tax is the equivalent tax owed when you buy something out of state or online and the seller does not collect tax. The buyer is responsible for reporting and paying use tax directly to their state.

Taxpayers who itemize deductions may choose to deduct either state and local income tax or state and local sales tax, but not both. The sales tax deduction can be based on actual receipts or on IRS tables for your state and locality. Consult a tax professional for guidance on your situation.

After you calculate the tax and total, use the calculator's call to action to open the receipt generator with the subtotal, tax, and total pre-filled. You can then pick a template, adjust the line items, and print or save the receipt. The pre-filled values do not persist into unrelated later sessions. You can also use the Receipt maker.