US Sales Tax Calculator — Find Exact Sales Tax for Any Purchase
Calculate sales tax for any purchase in any US state and city. See combined state county and city tax rates for accurate total cost calculation.
Sales tax in the US varies dramatically by location with combined rates ranging from 0% in Oregon Montana Delaware and New Hampshire to over 10% in parts of Louisiana Tennessee and Arkansas. Unlike India GST there is no single national sales tax in the US — each state sets its own rate and cities can add additional local taxes. This makes calculating the true cost of a purchase confusing without a calculator.
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Key Information
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Highest State Rate | Louisiana (combined up to 11.45%) |
| States with No Sales Tax | OR, MT, DE, NH, AK (mostly) |
| Average State Rate | 6.5% - 7% combined |
| Taxable vs Non-Taxable | Most goods taxed, groceries vary by state |
Calculate US sales tax
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Use Calculator NowFrequently Asked Questions
Why does sales tax vary by state in the US?
The US Constitution gives states the power to levy taxes independently. Each state decides its own sales tax rate and whether to tax groceries clothing and services. Local governments (counties and cities) can add additional taxes. This creates over 11000 different tax jurisdictions across the country making sales tax one of the most complex aspects of US taxation.
Which US state has the highest sales tax?
Louisiana has the highest combined average sales tax rate at around 9.55% when you include state and local taxes. Tennessee Arkansas and Washington state also have high combined rates above 9%. However some specific cities in other states can have even higher rates due to special district taxes.
Are groceries taxed in the US?
It depends on the state. Most states exempt unprepared grocery food from sales tax but 13 states do tax groceries at some rate. Alabama Mississippi and South Dakota tax groceries at the full state rate. Some states like Illinois and Virginia tax groceries at a reduced rate. Prepared food from restaurants is almost always taxed in every state.
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Last updated: 24 March 2026