Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate sales tax instantly. Enter the amount and tax rate to get the tax amount and total. Includes US state tax rates, reverse tax calculation, and GST/VAT support. Free online sales tax calculator.
Calculation Breakdown
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between tax exclusive and tax inclusive?
Tax Exclusive (add-on tax): You enter the pre-tax amount and the calculator adds the tax on top. For example, $100 + 8.25% tax = $108.25 total. Tax Inclusive (built-in tax): You enter the total amount that already includes tax, and the calculator extracts the tax portion. For example, $108.25 including 8.25% tax means $100 net + $8.25 tax. Most US retail uses tax exclusive; many countries with GST/VAT use tax inclusive.
How is sales tax calculated?
For tax exclusive: Tax = Amount ร (Rate / 100) and Total = Amount + Tax. For tax inclusive: Net = Total / (1 + Rate / 100) and Tax = Total - Net. For example, if an item costs $200 with 8% tax exclusive, the tax is $16 and the total is $216. If $216 is tax-inclusive at 8%, the net is $200 and the tax is $16.
Are the US state tax rates accurate?
The state tax rates provided are the base state-level sales tax rates. However, actual sales tax can be higher because cities, counties, and special districts may add their own taxes on top. For example, California's state rate is 7.25%, but in Los Angeles the combined rate is approximately 9.5%. Always verify the combined local rate for your specific location.
Can I use this for GST or VAT?
Yes. GST (Goods and Services Tax) and VAT (Value Added Tax) work the same way mathematically as sales tax. Use tax inclusive mode if the price you see already includes GST/VAT (common in Australia, UK, EU, Canada, India, etc.). Use tax exclusive mode if tax is added at checkout (common in the US).
Is this tool free?
Yes, completely free with no sign-up required. All calculations happen in your browser โฆno data is sent to any server.