US Sales Tax Calculator

Sales tax is a tax added to the price of goods and services. This calculator helps shoppers, online sellers, and small business owners estimate it. You can enter a purchase amount, discount, shipping, and exempt amount. You can also use state and local rates or one combined rate.

Sales tax is usually based on the taxable amount of a purchase. The calculator subtracts your discount first. Then it adds shipping if you enter it. Next it subtracts any tax-exempt amount. Finally it applies the sales tax rate. You see the taxable amount, tax amount, and final total.

The calculator has two tax modes. In tax-exclusive mode, tax is added on top of the price. This is common at checkout. In tax-included mode, the price already contains tax. The calculator splits it into a pre-tax amount and a tax portion. This helps with receipts and marketplace listings.

Rate presets are included for quick planning. You can pick a no-tax, low-rate, average-rate, or high-rate estimate. Or you can enter a custom rate. Custom is most accurate when you know your actual rate. Presets are shortcuts, not official state rates.

A combined rate is one total rate for a sale. Many real rates combine state, county, city, and district taxes. Instead of entering each part, you enter one rate. The calculator applies it to the taxable amount. This works well for invoices and checkout tests.

Discounts can change the tax amount. Tax is usually calculated after eligible discounts. So the calculator subtracts the discount before tax. Real rules can vary by coupon type and state. For planning, the discount gives a more realistic total.

Shipping can also affect sales tax. Some states tax shipping and some do not. The calculator includes shipping in the subtotal by default. If shipping is not taxable for you, use the exempt amount field. That keeps shipping outside the taxable amount.

The exempt amount field is for tax-free parts of a purchase. Some buyers are exempt from sales tax. This may apply to groceries, prescriptions, or resale items. The calculator simply removes that amount from the taxable base. It does not decide if you are legally exempt.

People search for sales tax calculator, state sales tax, and tax included calculator. Most want one answer: the tax amount and final price. You can also use this tool to split a receipt. Enter a tax-included total to see the pre-tax amount and tax portion.

Online sellers face extra rules like nexus and marketplace laws. This calculator is not a compliance tool. It gives a simple estimate for one transaction. Businesses should use tax software or state guidance to collect and file sales tax. Shoppers can use it to check the final cost before buying.