Free Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate exact tax amounts. Add sales tax to a price or extract the pre-tax amounts from a final total with our reversible calculator.
Last Updated: 15 Jan 2026
Details
Sales Tax Helper
Calculate price with tax or extract tax from total
Understanding Sales Tax
Sales tax is a consumption tax imposed by governments on the sale of goods and services. It's collected by retailers at the point of sale and remitted to tax authorities. Sales tax rates vary significantly by country, state, province, and even city, making accurate calculation essential for businesses and consumers.
In the United States, sales tax rates range from 0% (in states like Oregon and New Hampshire) to over 10% in some areas when combining state, county, and city taxes. Understanding how to calculate sales tax helps you budget accurately, price products correctly, and comply with tax regulations.
Why Use Our Free Sales Tax Calculator?
Add or Reverse Tax
Calculate final price with tax added, or extract pre-tax price from a total. Both calculations are essential for different scenarios.
Universal Support
Works with sales tax (US), VAT (UK/EU), GST (Australia/Canada), and any percentage-based consumption tax worldwide.
Instant Calculations
Calculate tax amounts instantly as you adjust prices and rates. No complex formulas needed—get accurate results immediately.
Common Use Cases for Sales Tax Calculation
Shopping & Retail
Price Planning
Calculate final prices including tax to budget accurately for purchases, especially for large items like electronics or furniture.
Receipt Analysis
Reverse calculate pre-tax prices from receipts to understand item costs, verify tax amounts, or extract tax for expense reports.
Online Shopping
Calculate total cost including sales tax for online purchases, especially when tax isn't shown until checkout.
Business Operations
Pricing Products
Calculate selling prices that include tax, ensuring customers pay the intended amount while you collect correct tax for remittance.
Expense Reporting
Extract pre-tax amounts from receipts for business expense reports, separating taxable amounts from tax for accounting purposes.
Tax Compliance
Calculate correct tax amounts for different jurisdictions, ensuring accurate tax collection and remittance to tax authorities.
Why Reverse Tax Calculation Matters
The Common Mistake
Many people incorrectly calculate pre-tax price by simply subtracting the tax percentage from the total. This gives the wrong answer!
❌ Wrong Method:
$108 total - 8% = $99.36 (INCORRECT)
✅ Correct Method:
$108 ÷ 1.08 = $100.00 (CORRECT)
Business Expense Reports
Extract pre-tax amounts from receipts to separate taxable expenses from tax for accurate accounting and tax deduction purposes.
Receipt Analysis
When you only have a final total on a receipt, reverse calculation is the only accurate way to determine the original pre-tax price.
VAT/GST Extraction
In countries where VAT or GST is included in listed prices, reverse calculation helps extract the tax component for business accounting.
Types of Consumption Taxes
Sales Tax (US)
Added at point of sale, not included in listed price.
Rates: 0-10%+ (varies by state/city)
VAT (Value Added Tax)
Included in listed price, common in UK/EU.
Rates: 5-27% (varies by country)
GST (Goods & Services Tax)
Similar to VAT, used in Australia, Canada, India.
Rates: 5-18% (varies by country)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate price with tax?
Multiply the original price by (1 + Tax Rate / 100). For example, $100 with 8% tax is 100 * 1.08 = $108.
How do I calculate price BEFORE tax (Reverse Tax)?
Divide the total amount by (1 + Tax Rate / 100). For example, $108 with 8% tax included is 108 / 1.08 = $100. Simply subtracting the tax percentage from the total gives an incorrect result.
What is Sales Tax vs VAT?
Sales Tax is typically added at the point of sale (US model), while VAT (Value Added Tax) is often included in the listed price (UK/EU model). This calculator handles both calculations mathematically, as the underlying math is the same.
Do I need to pay sales tax on online purchases?
In the US, online retailers must collect sales tax if they have nexus (physical presence) in your state. Many states now require tax collection regardless. Check your specific state's rules.
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