Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate state and local sales tax, pre-tax subtotals, and total purchase prices.
Calculate exact sales tax amounts and total purchase costs. Calculate forward to add tax to a purchase, or calculate backward (reverse tax) to extract the pre-tax price from a tax-inclusive receipt.
About Sales Tax Calculator
Sales Tax Calculator simplifies retail bookkeeping, business expense tracking, and consumer price verification by computing forward sales tax and backward reverse deductions instantly.
How to Use Sales Tax Calculator
- Enter purchase amount: Enter the pre-tax price or the final receipt total.
- Enter sales tax rate: Input the combined state and municipal tax percentage.
- Review tax breakdown: See the exact tax amount and the corresponding subtotal.
- Copy or export numbers: Copy calculated values for bookkeeping or invoices.
Key Features
- Forward calculation (Pre-tax to Total)
- Reverse calculation (Total to Pre-tax)
- Supports state + local combined tax rates
- Instant real-time math
- 100% private
Common Use Cases
- Verifying sales tax charges on business expense receipts.
- Calculating final out-of-pocket prices before making large consumer purchases.
- Preparing tax-compliant customer invoices and billing estimates.
Formula & Calculation Logic
Sales Tax = Pre-Tax Amount × (Tax Rate / 100). Final Price = Pre-Tax Amount + Sales Tax. Reverse Subtotal = Final Price / (1 + Tax Rate / 100).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate reverse sales tax from a receipt total?
Divide the total receipt price by (1 + Tax Rate / 100). For example, with an 8% tax rate, divide total by 1.08 to find the pre-tax subtotal.
Can I calculate combined state and county tax?
Yes, simply sum the state and local percentages together (e.g. 6% state + 2.5% city = 8.5%) and enter the combined total.
Does this tool support international VAT or GST?
Yes! VAT and GST operate on the exact same percentage calculation mechanics.
Are groceries and prescription drugs subject to sales tax?
In many US states and jurisdictions, grocery staples and prescription medicines are exempt from state sales tax or taxed at reduced rates.
Privacy Guarantee
All math is computed locally in your web browser.
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