🧾 Sales Tax Calculator
Use this free sales tax calculator to estimate the tax on a purchase and find the total price after tax.
Select the United States or Canada, then enter the price before tax and the applicable percentage. The calculator instantly shows the estimated tax amount and checkout total in USD or CAD.
You can use a combined US state and local sales tax rate or an applicable Canadian GST, HST, PST, or QST rate.
🧮 Purchase Tax Calculator
Select a country, then enter the purchase price and applicable tax rate.
🌎 Select country
Results are displayed in USD.
Use the combined state and local rate that applies to the purchase.
Estimated Tax Amount
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Estimated Total Price
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Financial disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not provide financial, tax, legal, loan, or investment advice. Actual results may vary depending on lender terms, tax rules, fees, deductions, and personal circumstances.
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📘 How the Sales Tax Calculator Works
Enter the purchase price before tax and the tax rate that applies to the transaction. The calculator converts the percentage into a decimal, multiplies it by the pre-tax price, and adds the tax amount to the original price.
In plain language, enter the price tag and applicable tax percentage to estimate the extra tax and final checkout total.
The result is based on the percentage you provide. The calculator does not automatically look up the current rate or determine whether a product or service is taxable.
🎯 When to Use This Calculator
- 🛍️ Estimate the total price before checkout
- 🧾 Check the sales tax shown on a receipt
- 💳 Plan a shopping, renovation, or project budget
- 🏪 Estimate retail transaction costs
- 📍 Compare combined state and local tax rates
- 🇨🇦 Estimate Canadian GST, HST, PST, or QST
🧮 Sales Tax Formula
The standard sales tax calculation uses the following formulas:
Tax Amount = Price Before Tax × (Tax Rate ÷ 100)
Total Price After Tax = Price Before Tax + Tax Amount
Total Price After Tax = Price Before Tax × (1 + Tax Rate ÷ 100)
💡 Example: 8% tax on a $100 purchase
The same calculation engine used by the interactive tool estimates that a $100 purchase with an 8% rate produces $8.00 in tax and a total price of $108.00.
🌎 Sales Tax in the United States and Canada
🇺🇸 United States Sales Tax
A US purchase may include state, county, city, municipal, or special-district taxes. Together, these components create the combined sales tax rate.
The applicable rate may also depend on the delivery address, product type, exemption, tax holiday, or sourcing rules. Use the combined rate for the specific transaction rather than relying only on a statewide rate.
🇨🇦 Canadian GST, HST, PST and QST
- GST: Goods and Services Tax
- HST: Harmonized Sales Tax
- PST: Provincial Sales Tax
- QST: Québec Sales Tax
The system depends on the province or territory. For a simple estimate, enter the full percentage applicable to the purchase. Tax treatment may also depend on place-of-supply rules, the item, and the transaction details.
⚠️ Important Accuracy Note
This calculator correctly applies the percentage you enter, but it cannot determine the correct rate or tax treatment for a transaction.
Your checkout total may differ because of product exemptions, zero-rated items, tax holidays, delivery rules, additional fees, local tax components, or retailer rounding. Use the result as a planning estimate rather than a legal tax determination.
📚 Method, Sources, and Review
Method: Tax amount = price before tax × user-entered tax rate ÷ 100. Total price = price before tax + estimated tax amount.
Calculation version: Sales Tax Calculator V2
Last reviewed: August 15, 2026
Maintained by: FigureNorth Editorial Team
Review status: Percentage-based planning estimate using a rate supplied by the user; not a tax determination.
USAGov — State and local taxes · CRA — Charge and collect GST/HST
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❓ FAQ
🧮 How do I calculate sales tax on a purchase?
Convert the sales tax percentage into a decimal and multiply it by the price before tax. For example, an 8% rate becomes 0.08. A $100 purchase produces $8 in tax. Add the tax to the original price to get an estimated total of $108.
💰 How do I calculate the total price after sales tax?
Add the calculated tax amount to the price before tax. You can also multiply the pre-tax price by one plus the tax rate written as a decimal. For example, $50 multiplied by 1.06 produces a total of $53 when the tax rate is 6%.
📊 What sales tax rate should I enter?
Enter the combined rate that applies to the purchase. In the United States, this may include state, county, city, and special-district taxes. In Canada, use the applicable GST, HST, or combined GST and PST or QST rate.
📍 Why does the sales tax rate vary by location?
States, provinces, counties, cities, and special districts can apply different taxes. Product categories and delivery locations may also affect the rate, so the same item can have a different final price depending on where it is purchased or delivered.
🧾 How can I check the sales tax on a receipt?
Enter the receipt’s price before tax and the tax rate shown for the purchase. Compare the calculated result with the amount charged. Small differences can occur when a retailer rounds tax per item or for the entire order.
🇺🇸 Can I use this for US state and local sales tax?
Yes. Enter the combined state and local sales tax percentage for the purchase location. The calculator performs the math but does not automatically look up or verify the current rate.
🇨🇦 Can I calculate GST, HST, PST, or QST in Canada?
Yes. Select Canada and enter the applicable Canadian tax percentage. Depending on the province or territory, the purchase may use GST, HST, GST plus PST, or GST plus QST.
🛍️ Are all products and services taxed at the same rate?
No. Groceries, medicines, clothing, digital products, professional services, and delivery charges may receive different tax treatment. A purchase may be taxable, exempt, zero-rated, or covered by a temporary tax holiday.
✅ Is this sales tax calculator accurate?
The calculator accurately applies the standard percentage formula to the values entered. Its accuracy depends on using the correct pre-tax price and applicable rate. It does not verify current rates, exemptions, product rules, fees, or retailer rounding.