A sales tax calculator computes the tax amount and total price for any purchase at a given sales tax rate.
About this calculator
A sales tax calculator computes the tax amount and total price for any purchase at a given sales tax rate. Unlike GST or VAT (which use input tax credits across the supply chain), sales tax is a single-stage tax applied at the point of final sale to the consumer.
Sales tax rates vary by state and even by city in the US, where combined state and local rates range from 0% to over 10%.
Common uses
- Calculate total cost of a purchase including sales tax
- Determine how much of a price is tax vs the base price
- Compare total costs in states with different sales tax rates
- Calculate sales tax collected for business remittance
Frequently asked questions
How is sales tax different from VAT or GST?
Sales tax is collected only at the final point of sale to the consumer. VAT and GST are collected at each stage of the supply chain with input tax credits. VAT/GST systems reduce tax cascading (tax on tax) that can occur with sales tax in complex supply chains.