Sales Tax Calculator
Add sales tax to a price or work backward from a tax-inclusive total. Your work stays on this device whenever possible.
How to use Sales Tax Calculator
- Choose a Calculation Mode: "Add (Exclusive / Net to Gross)", "Extract (Inclusive / Gross to Net)" or "Find Rate (from Net and Gross prices)".
- Type the price in Amount ($), then the State / Primary Rate (%) and, if applicable, the Local / City / County Rate (%, optional).
- Or click a preset such as "Preset: Texas (8.25%)" or "Preset: UK VAT (20%)"; it fills both rate boxes and recalculates.
- In Find Rate mode, put the net price in Amount and the gross price in the State / Primary Rate box.
- Press "Calculate" and use "Copy Result" to keep the summary.
Worked example
Choose Extract mode, Amount 214.00, State 5.5% and Local 1.5%. The combined rate is 7%, so net = 214.00 ÷ 1.07 = 200.00 and the embedded charge is 14.00. That 14.00 is split in proportion to the two percentages: state 14.00 × 5.5 ÷ 7 = 11.00 and local 3.00. The summary lists net 200.00, levy 14.00 and gross total 214.00.
When to use this tool
- Finding how much levy is embedded inside an inclusive receipt total.
- Adding state and city percentages to a quote before sending it to a customer.
- Working out the effective percentage from a net and gross invoice amount.
Important limitations
Sales tax rates and exemptions vary by tax jurisdiction, postal code, and product category (e.g. prepared food vs groceries). Confirm specific local rules with your state revenue agency.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between add and extract?
Add multiplies a net price by the combined rate to get a gross total. Extract works backward from an inclusive receipt total by dividing by one plus the combined decimal rate, which is the exact way to separate the embedded levy from a gross figure.
Are the presets exact?
They are approximate combined percentages for illustration. Local jurisdictions change rates and apply special rules by address and product category, so confirm the current percentage with the relevant revenue authority or invoice.
How is the charge split between state and local?
In add mode each percentage is applied to the net price. In extract mode the combined levy is shared in proportion to the two percentages. The two rates are added together rather than compounded on each other.
How does UK VAT fit this calculator?
Use the UK VAT preset with 20% as the primary rate and 0 local, then extract mode to strip VAT from a gross price, or add mode to add it. It does not handle reduced brackets or reverse-charge rules.
Why does Find Rate mode look odd?
That mode reuses the primary-rate box for the gross price. The result gives the effective percentage as (gross − net) ÷ net, and refuses a gross price lower than the net price.