Sales Tax Calculator

Calculate tax amount and total price instantly. Supports single tax (US sales tax, VAT) and dual tax (Canadian GST + PST/QST). Switch to reverse mode to find the pre-tax price from a total.

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Canadian Provincial Tax Rates

Canada charges a federal GST (5%) plus provincial taxes. Some provinces combine them into a single HST.

Ontario13% HST
Quebec5% GST + 9.975% QST = 14.975%
British Columbia5% GST + 7% PST = 12%
Alberta5% GST only
Manitoba5% GST + 7% PST = 12%
Saskatchewan5% GST + 6% PST = 11%
Nova Scotia15% HST
New Brunswick15% HST
Newfoundland15% HST
PEI15% HST
Northwest Territories5% GST only
Nunavut5% GST only
Yukon5% GST only

US State Sales Tax Rates

Base state rates only — actual rates may be higher with local city and county taxes.

California7.25%
Texas6.25%
New York8%
Florida6%
Illinois6.25%
Pennsylvania6%
Ohio5.75%
Georgia4%
North Carolina4.75%
Michigan6%
New Jersey6.625%
Washington6.5%
Arizona5.6%
Colorado2.9%
Tennessee7%

No sales tax states

Alaska (no state tax, local taxes may apply), Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon

International VAT / GST Rates

United Kingdom: 20% VAT

Australia: 10% GST

Germany: 19% VAT

France: 20% VAT

Japan: 10% consumption tax

India: 5–28% GST (varies by goods category)

Mexico: 16% IVA

Brazil: 17-25% ICMS (varies by state)

How Sales Tax Works

Sales tax is a percentage added to the purchase price of goods and services, collected by the retailer and remitted to the government. The tax rate varies by state, county, and city. For example, a $100 purchase in Los Angeles at 9.5% tax costs $100 + $9.50 = $109.50.

To calculate sales tax, multiply the price by the tax rate as a decimal: Price × (Rate ÷ 100). To find the pre-tax price from a total that includes tax, divide by (1 + Rate/100). For example, if you paid $109.50 total with 9.5% tax: $109.50 ÷ 1.095 = $100 pre-tax.

Five US states have no sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. However, Alaska allows local municipalities to charge their own sales tax. Some states exempt groceries, clothing, or prescription medications from sales tax.

Sales Tax vs. VAT vs. GST

The United States uses a sales tax system where tax is collected only at the point of final sale to the consumer. The tax rate varies by jurisdiction, and businesses do not pay sales tax on items purchased for resale.

Most other countries use a Value Added Tax (VAT) or Goods and Services Tax (GST) instead. VAT is collected at every stage of production and distribution, with each business paying tax on the value it adds. The end consumer bears the full tax burden, but the collection mechanism is different. VAT rates are typically higher than US sales tax — the UK charges 20%, Germany 19%, and France 20%.

A key practical difference: in the US, sales tax is added at checkout and not shown in the sticker price. In most VAT countries, the tax is already included in the displayed price, so what you see is what you pay.

Tax-Exempt Purchases

Many states exempt certain categories from sales tax. Common exemptions include groceries (taxed in only 13 states), prescription medications (exempt in all states), and clothing (exempt in states like Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York for items under $110).

Tax holidays are another opportunity for savings. Many states offer annual sales tax holidays — typically before the school year starts — where qualifying purchases like school supplies, clothing, and computers are temporarily exempt from sales tax. Check your state's revenue department for specific dates and qualifying items.