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US Sales Tax Calculator

US Sales Tax Calculator

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Understanding US Sales Tax

Unlike most countries that use a single national value-added tax, the United States relies on a patchwork of state and local sales taxes. There is no federal sales tax, so rates are determined entirely at the state and sub-state level. This means the amount of sales tax you pay can vary significantly depending on where you make a purchase.

State sales tax rates range from 0% in states like Delaware and Oregon to 7.25% in California, the highest base state rate in the nation. On top of the state rate, cities and counties can add their own local taxes, pushing the combined rate even higher. Louisiana and Tennessee, for example, have some of the highest combined rates in the country once local taxes are factored in.

Sales tax applies to most tangible personal property and some services, though exemptions vary by state. Groceries, prescription medications, and clothing are commonly exempt or taxed at a reduced rate. For online purchases, sellers are generally required to collect sales tax in any state where they have a significant economic presence following the 2018 Supreme Court decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair. Use this calculator to estimate the tax on any purchase in your state, and browse the table below for a quick comparison of rates across all 50 states.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How is US sales tax different from VAT?
Sales tax in the United States is applied only at the final point of sale to the consumer, whereas VAT is charged at every stage of production and distribution. Another key difference is that US sales tax rates and rules are set by individual states and localities rather than by the federal government, leading to significant variation across the country.
Do all US states charge sales tax?
No. Five states – Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon – do not impose a state-level sales tax. However, some localities within Alaska do levy local sales taxes. The remaining 45 states and the District of Columbia all charge sales tax at varying rates.
What is local sales tax?
Local sales tax is an additional tax imposed by cities, counties, or special districts on top of the state sales tax. Local rates vary widely even within a single state, so the combined rate you pay depends on the exact location of the purchase. This calculator uses average local rates as a representative estimate.
Are groceries and clothing taxed?
It depends on the state. Many states exempt groceries from sales tax or apply a reduced rate. Clothing is taxable in most states, but a few – such as New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey – exempt clothing purchases below a certain dollar threshold. Always check your specific state's rules for exemptions.

Sales Tax Rates by State

StateState RateAvg. Local RateCombined Rate
Alabama4.0%5.5%9.5%
Alaska0.0%1.8%1.8%
Arizona5.6%2.9%8.5%
Arkansas6.5%3.0%9.5%
California7.3%1.7%9.0%
Colorado2.9%5.0%7.9%
Connecticut6.3%0.0%6.3%
Delaware0.0%0.0%0.0%
District of Columbia6.0%0.0%6.0%
Florida6.0%1.0%7.0%
Georgia4.0%3.5%7.5%
Hawaii4.0%0.5%4.5%
Idaho6.0%0.0%6.0%
Illinois6.3%2.7%9.0%
Indiana7.0%0.0%7.0%
Iowa6.0%0.9%6.9%
Kansas6.5%2.2%8.7%
Kentucky6.0%0.0%6.0%
Louisiana5.0%5.1%10.1%
Maine5.5%0.0%5.5%
Maryland6.0%0.0%6.0%
Massachusetts6.3%0.0%6.3%
Michigan6.0%0.0%6.0%
Minnesota6.9%1.3%8.1%
Mississippi7.0%0.1%7.1%
Missouri4.2%4.2%8.4%
Montana0.0%0.0%0.0%
Nebraska5.5%1.5%7.0%
Nevada6.8%1.4%8.2%
New Hampshire0.0%0.0%0.0%
New Jersey6.6%-0.0%6.6%
New Mexico4.9%2.8%7.7%
New York4.0%4.5%8.5%
North Carolina4.8%2.3%7.0%
North Dakota5.0%2.1%7.1%
Ohio5.8%1.5%7.3%
Oklahoma4.5%4.6%9.1%
Oregon0.0%0.0%0.0%
Pennsylvania6.0%0.3%6.3%
Rhode Island7.0%0.0%7.0%
South Carolina6.0%1.5%7.5%
South Dakota4.2%1.9%6.1%
Tennessee7.0%2.6%9.6%
Texas6.3%1.9%8.2%
Utah6.1%1.3%7.4%
Vermont6.0%0.4%6.4%
Virginia5.3%0.5%5.8%
Washington6.5%3.0%9.5%
West Virginia6.0%0.6%6.6%
Wisconsin5.0%0.7%5.7%
Wyoming4.0%1.6%5.6%