Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate sales tax amounts, total prices after tax, or reverse-calculate the pre-tax amount from a total including tax.
About this Calculator
Calculate sales tax amounts, total prices after tax, or reverse-calculate the pre-tax amount from a total including tax.
Formula & Calculations
Formula
Total = Amount × (1 + TaxRate/100)Where:
- Total=Final price including tax
- Amount=Pre-tax price
- TaxRate=Sales tax percentage
Assumptions
- Assumes a flat percentage sales tax rate.
- Does not account for local, county, or combined tax jurisdictions.
- Rounds to two decimal places for currency accuracy.
Calculation Examples
Example 1
Inputs:Amount: $150.00, Tax Rate: 8.5%
Result:Tax Amount: $12.75, Total: $162.75
An 8.5% tax on a $150 purchase adds $12.75, bringing the total to $162.75.
Example 2
Inputs:Total (with tax): $218.00, Tax Rate: 9%
Result:Pre-Tax Amount: $200.00, Tax Amount: $18.00
Working backwards, a $218 total with 9% tax means the original price was $200.00.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between sales tax and VAT?
Sales tax is applied only at the final point of sale to the consumer, while VAT (Value Added Tax) is applied at each stage of production and distribution.
Why do some states have no sales tax?
States like Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon do not levy state-level sales tax, funding government operations through other taxes such as income or property taxes.