Sales Tax Calculator

How to use the Sales Tax Calculator

1. To add tax, enter the price and your local sales tax rate. You'll see the tax and the total.
2. To remove tax, enter the total you paid and the rate. You'll get the original price and how much of it was tax.
3. To find a rate, enter the pre-tax price and the total from a receipt.

How it's calculated

Removing tax divides by (1 + rate) rather than subtracting the rate from the total, because the tax was calculated on the smaller, pre-tax price.

Frequently asked questions

What sales tax rate should I use?
Rates depend on your state, county and city, and can change. Check your local tax authority or a recent receipt for the combined rate where you're shopping.

Why can't I just subtract 8% from the total to remove 8% tax?
Because the tax was 8% of the pre-tax price, not of the total. Subtracting 8% of the total removes slightly too much. Dividing by 1.08 gives the exact original price.

Does this work for VAT or GST?
Yes. The math for adding or removing VAT and GST is the same. Just enter your country's rate.