Reckonary / Finance / Sales tax calculator
Total with tax
Sales tax is added on top of the listed price at checkout, so the amount you actually pay is more than the sticker. This calculator takes a pre-tax price and a rate, then shows the tax and the final total. Enter the rate that applies where the sale happens and read off what the register will charge.
Sales tax is a percentage charge collected by the seller and passed to the government. The tax is figured on the price, so a higher rate or a higher price both raise the total. The total is simply the price plus that tax — nothing else is added here.
In the United States there is no single national sales tax. Each state sets its own rate, and counties and cities often add their own on top, so two stores a few miles apart can charge different totals. A handful of states charge no sales tax at all. Always use the rate for the place where you are buying.
US prices are usually shown tax-exclusive: the shelf price is before tax, and the tax is added at the till. That is the opposite of many countries, where the displayed price already includes tax. This tool assumes a tax-exclusive price, which is why it adds the tax rather than pulling it back out.
I know the after-tax total — can I find the pre-tax price?
Not with this tool, which adds tax to a price you enter. To work backward, divide the total by one plus the rate as a decimal. For example, $107.50 at a 7.5% rate came from $100, since 107.50 divided by 1.075 is 100.
Should I include shipping in the taxable amount?
It depends on the state. Some tax shipping when it is part of a taxable sale, others do not tax separately stated delivery charges. Enter only the amount your state actually taxes.
How do I combine a state and a local rate?
Add them together and enter the single combined percentage. If the state charges 6% and the city adds 1.5%, use 7.5% as the rate.
Why is my receipt a cent off from this calculator?
Stores round the tax to the nearest cent, and rounding rules differ slightly between registers. A one-cent gap on a single item is normal and not an error.
Last reviewed June 2026. This tool is for education, not financial advice.