The United States has no national VAT. Retail sales tax is set by state and local governments, so the combined rate varies by location. Enter a pre-tax price and your combined rate.
8.25% is a representative combined state and local rate, not a national rate. Some states have no sales tax, and many exempt groceries or prescriptions. Use your actual local rate.
The United States does not have a national VAT. Instead, states and local governments levy a retail sales tax, and the combined rate depends on where the purchase is made. This calculator converts a pre-tax price into the sales tax and the total.
Enter the price before tax and the combined state and local rate. The default of 8.25% is only a representative figure; your actual rate may be 0% in states such as Oregon or higher in cities with additional local taxes.
Sales tax is normally calculated on the selling price and collected by the retailer. Some states exempt groceries, prescriptions or clothing, so the same rate may not apply to every item.
Sales tax = Price × rate ; Total = Price + Sales taxNo. The US uses a retail sales tax rather than a national VAT. Rates are set by state and local governments, and the combined rate can vary within a state.
Check your state tax authority or a recent receipt. Add the state rate and any county or city rate. The default 8.25% is a planning figure, not a legal rate.
Divide the total by 1 + rate. At 8.25%, a $108.25 total corresponds to a $100 pre-tax price and $8.25 tax. Do not subtract 8.25% from the total, which would understate the tax.
It depends on the state. Many states exempt groceries, prescriptions and some clothing, while others tax them at the full or a reduced rate. Check the rules for your state.
2026-10-19