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US Sales Tax Calculator — All 50 States 2026

Calculate sales tax for any US state — with total cost and per-item breakdown

Pre-Tax Amount ($)

State

State Sales Tax Rate (%)

Local / County Tax Rate (%)

Pre-Tax Price$1,000.00

State Sales Tax—

Local / County Tax—

Combined Tax Rate—

Total Tax Amount—

Total Price (incl. tax)—

Pre-Tax Price

Sales Tax

Why a $1,200 Laptop Costs $111 More in Tennessee But $0 More in Oregon

The United States has no federal sales tax. Instead, 45 states (plus Washington DC) each set their own sales tax rate — and within those states, thousands of counties and cities can add further local taxes on top. The result is over 12,000 distinct sales tax jurisdictions across the country. Tennessee and Louisiana have the highest combined average rates (around 9.55%), making a $1,200 laptop cost approximately $1,311 at checkout. In Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, Delaware, and Alaska, there is no state sales tax — that same laptop costs exactly $1,200. This difference matters significantly for large purchases: a car, appliances, or electronics bought in a no-tax state can save hundreds of dollars.

2026 State Sales Tax Rates — All 50 States

Category	States	State Rate
No state sales tax	Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, Delaware, Alaska	0%
Lowest (under 5%)	Colorado (2.9%), Alabama, Georgia, Hawaii, NY, Wyoming (4%)	2.9%–4%
Middle range	Wisconsin, Maine, Florida, Michigan, Maryland, Texas, Illinois	5%–6.25%
Higher range	California (7.25%), Tennessee (7%), Indiana, Mississippi, RI	7%+
High combined (with locals)	Louisiana (~9.55–10.11%), Tennessee (~9.55%), Arkansas (~9.46%)	Varies

State rates are base rates. Combined rates with local taxes vary significantly by city and county. California's 7.25% goes up to 10.75% in some cities. Enter the local rate manually if you know your specific jurisdiction.

Why Do Rates Vary So Much? The Revenue Trade-Off

States without income taxes (Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Nevada, Washington) often have higher sales taxes to compensate for the missing revenue. Tennessee charges 0% income tax but has a 7% state sales tax. Oregon charges 0% sales tax but has a 9.9% top income tax rate. For consumers, this trade-off determines whether you pay more tax on what you earn or on what you spend. High earners typically prefer sales tax states (they spend less proportionally of their income). Lower-income households often pay a higher percentage of their income in sales taxes, making it a somewhat regressive tax structure.

What's Exempt from Sales Tax?

Most states exempt groceries and prescription medicines from sales tax, but exact rules vary:

Fully exempt (food for home): California, Florida, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and ~30 states
Reduced rate on food: Tennessee (4%), Virginia (2.5%), North Carolina (2%), Missouri (1.225%)
Full rate on food: Alabama, Idaho, Mississippi, South Dakota (no grocery exemption)
Illinois: Made groceries permanently exempt starting January 2026 (previously temporary suspension)

💡 Online Sales Tax After Wayfair: Since the 2018 Supreme Court ruling in South Dakota v. Wayfair, US online sellers must collect sales tax in any state where they have "economic nexus" — typically $100,000 in annual sales or 200+ transactions. As of 2026, all 45 sales-tax states have adopted economic nexus rules. Etsy, Amazon, Shopify, and other platforms typically handle this automatically for marketplace sellers, but independent online businesses are responsible for tracking and filing their own state returns.

FAQ

Is sales tax included in the listed price in the US? ＋

No — unlike European countries where prices are legally required to be displayed VAT-inclusive, US prices are typically listed before tax. Sales tax is calculated and added at the checkout, which is why a $10 product at a 10% tax rate rings up as $11. This is very different from the UK, EU, and Australia where the shelf price you see includes all taxes.

Can I avoid sales tax by buying online from another state? ＋

No longer. Before 2018, online sellers without a physical presence in a state didn't have to collect that state's sales tax. The 2018 Wayfair ruling changed this — online sellers now must collect and remit sales tax in every state where they have economic nexus, regardless of whether they have a physical store or office there. Some states have a "use tax" that requires residents to self-report and pay tax on out-of-state purchases, though enforcement for individuals is rare.

Why does California sometimes charge more than 7.25%? ＋

California's base state rate is 7.25% (which includes a mandatory 1.25% local add-on). But California allows cities and counties to add further local taxes through voter approval. In some cities like Los Angeles, the combined rate reaches 10.25–10.75%. Always check the rate for your specific ZIP code for large purchases rather than relying on just the state rate.