Sales tax questions, answered

Which states have no sales tax?

Five states levy no statewide sales tax, remembered by the acronym NOMAD: New Hampshire, Oregon, Montana, Alaska, and Delaware. Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon allow no local sales taxes either, so the price on the tag is what you pay. Alaska is the exception, because it has no statewide tax but its cities and boroughs levy local sales taxes averaging 1.82%. See the full rates by state table for the detail.

What is the highest sales tax state?

By average combined rate, Louisiana is highest at 10.13% as of July 2026, made up of a 5% state rate plus a 5.13% average local rate. Tennessee (9.61%), Washington (9.57%), Arkansas (9.48%), and Alabama (9.46%) round out the top five.

Which state has the lowest sales tax?

Four states charge nothing at all: Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. Among states that do tax sales, Alaska is lowest at a 1.82% average combined rate, which comes entirely from local taxes, followed by Hawaii at 4.5% and Wyoming at 5.39%. Colorado has the lowest statewide rate that is not zero, at 2.9%.

How do I calculate sales tax backwards from a total?

Divide the total by 1 plus the tax rate as a decimal; multiplying the total by the rate overstates the tax. The dedicated reverse sales tax calculator does this for you, and the guide walks through a full worked example.

How do I add sales tax to a price?

Multiply the price by the combined rate as a decimal, then add it back. A $250 purchase at a combined 8.2% rate is $250 times 0.082, which is $20.50 in tax, for a total of $270.50. The calculator splits the state and local portions automatically. The full guide walks through both directions with more examples.

Why did I pay more than my state's sales tax rate?

Because most purchases are taxed at a combined rate, not just the state rate. Counties, cities, and special districts in 38 states add their own sales tax on top of the state rate. In Alabama, for example, the 4% state rate carries an average 5.46% in local taxes, for a 9.46% combined rate. Your receipt reflects the state rate plus every local rate that applies where you bought the item.

Do online orders get taxed?

Usually yes. Since the Supreme Court's 2018 South Dakota v. Wayfair decision, states can require out-of-state sellers to collect sales tax once their sales into the state pass an economic threshold. Large retailers collect based on your delivery address, so online orders are typically taxed at your local combined rate.

Is there a federal sales tax?

No. The United States has no national sales tax. Sales tax is entirely state and local, which is why rates range from 0% in five states to a combined average above 10% in Louisiana. Federal consumption taxes exist only as excise taxes on specific goods such as fuel, alcohol, and tobacco.

Are groceries and other essentials taxed?

It varies by state. Most states exempt unprepared groceries, many exempt prescription medicine, and a few tax them at a reduced rate. Prepared food and restaurant meals are taxable almost everywhere. This calculator applies one combined rate to the whole amount, so treat results for tax-exempt or mixed items as an approximation.

Is this calculator's data current?

Yes. The rates are current as of July 2026, using state rates plus population-weighted average local rates from the Tax Foundation's July 1, 2026 midyear table. Every state and the District of Columbia is included, along with the five no-sales-tax states.

Is my data private when I use the calculator?

Yes. All the math runs locally in your browser. Nothing you type is uploaded, stored, or shared, and there is no sign-up.