Add or remove sales tax from any price. All US state rates included.
To add sales tax, multiply the price by the tax rate and add it: $50 × 8% = $4 tax, $54 total. To remove tax from a total, divide by (1 + rate): $54 ÷ 1.08 = $50. Five US states have no sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon.
Unlike many countries where tax is included in the displayed price (VAT), US retailers almost always show prices before tax. Tax is added at checkout. The rate depends on both the state and the local jurisdiction — the same item can have different effective tax rates depending on which county or city you're in.
The state rate listed here is the base state-level rate. Most counties and cities add their own tax on top, so the rate you actually pay is often 1–3% higher. California's state rate is 7.25%, but in Los Angeles County the combined rate is 10.25%. Always check your receipt for the actual rate charged.
To find the pre-tax price when you only have a tax-inclusive total, divide by (1 + tax rate). At 8% tax: $108 total ÷ 1.08 = $100 pre-tax. This is useful for expense reports, accounting, and resellers who need to separate tax from revenue.