Sales Tax Calculator USA
The US has no national VAT or GST — sales tax is state-level. Pick your state's rate, then add sales tax to a net price or extract it from an inclusive total. Updated for 2026 (Single filer, federal only).
Sales Tax amount
$73
7.25% on $1,000 net
Net (excl. tax)
$1,000
Gross (incl. tax)
$1,073
The US has no national VAT or GST. The rates above are typical state-level sales tax. Many cities and counties add their own additional tax on top — check your local rate.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does the US have a national VAT or GST?▾
No. The United States is the only major developed economy without a national VAT/GST. Instead, individual states (and many cities and counties) charge their own sales taxes. This means the rate you pay can vary even within the same state depending on the locality. The federal government collects income tax, payroll tax, and excise taxes — but not a value-added or sales tax.
Which states have no sales tax?▾
Five states have no state-level general sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. However, Alaska and Montana allow local cities to levy their own sales tax (some Alaska localities reach 7.5%+). The other three are truly zero-tax. New Hampshire makes up for it with the highest property tax in the country.
What are the highest sales tax states?▾
Combined state + average local sales tax: Tennessee (~9.55%), Louisiana (~9.5%), Arkansas (~9.45%), Washington (~9.4%), Alabama (~9.3%). California's state rate is 7.25%, but local additions push the average to ~8.9%. New York City has a combined rate of ~8.875% (4% state + 4.5% city + 0.375% MCTD).
Do I need to charge sales tax in every state?▾
Only states where you have 'nexus' — physical or economic presence. Physical nexus = office, employees, warehouse. Economic nexus (post-Wayfair v. South Dakota, 2018) is triggered by exceeding state-specific thresholds — typically $100k in sales OR 200 transactions per year into that state. Once you have nexus, you must register, collect, and remit sales tax in that state.
What's tax-exempt?▾
Varies wildly by state. Common exemptions: groceries (in 32 states), prescription drugs (45 states), clothing (a few states like PA, MN), services (taxed in some states like HI, NM, SD; not most others). Some states exempt food but tax candy and soda. Texas has 'tax-free weekends' for back-to-school. Always check your state's department of revenue for the exact list.
How do I extract sales tax from a total?▾
Use the 'Extract' mode of this calculator. If your receipt shows $107.25 total at 7.25% CA sales tax: $107.25 / 1.0725 = $100 net. Tax = $7.25. Useful for: business expense reports (separating taxable amount from tax), reconciling supplier invoices, calculating tax on a known total.
Is online sales tax different from in-store?▾
Since Wayfair (2018), large online retailers must collect sales tax based on the BUYER's address (destination-based). Smaller sellers below economic-nexus thresholds may not have to collect — but the buyer technically still owes 'use tax' to their own state. In practice, most online platforms (Amazon, Shopify, Etsy) now collect on behalf of sellers.
What is 'use tax'?▾
Use tax is the buyer-side equivalent of sales tax — if a seller doesn't charge you sales tax (e.g. they don't have nexus), you're technically required to pay 'use tax' to your own state at the same rate. Most individuals ignore it; many states added a 'use tax' line on income tax returns to make compliance easier. Businesses are more often audited for unpaid use tax than individuals.