Tax + Discount Calculator: the real register total
Apply a discount percentage and add local sales tax by US state to find the true final price. See your savings, the discounted subtotal, and the tax you'll pay at checkout.
Final price (with tax)
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You save
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After discount
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Sales tax
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Fill in the price and discount to see your true total.
🏛️ How sales tax works with discounts
In the United States, sales tax is a percentage added to most retail purchases at the register. When an item is on sale, the discount is applied first to lower the price, and then sales tax is calculated on that discounted subtotal — not the original sticker price. Our tax + discount calculator follows this exact order so the final total matches what you will actually pay at checkout.
The order of operations
1. Apply the discount to get the sale price. 2. Multiply the sale price by the local sales tax rate. 3. Add the tax to the sale price for your final total.
Worked example
A $100 item at 30% off in a state with 8% sales tax: $100 − $30 = $70 sale price. Tax = $70 × 0.08 = $5.60. Final total = $70 + $5.60 = $75.60.
🗺️ US sales tax by state
Sales tax rates vary by state and often by city and county, since local jurisdictions add their own rates on top of the state rate. The figures in our calculator are approximate state-wide averages. For an exact rate, use the custom tax field with your locality's combined rate.
States with no sales tax
Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon have no state sales tax on most purchases. Alaska has no statewide sales tax, though a few local municipalities levy a small local tax.
Highest sales tax states
Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas, Washington, and Alabama tend to have the highest combined state and local sales tax rates, often above 9%.
State vs. local rates
The number you pay is the combined rate: state base plus any county, city, and special district taxes. Two stores in the same state can charge different totals because of local add-ons.
Tax-exempt items
Most states exempt groceries and prescription drugs from sales tax or tax them at a lower rate. Clothing is tax-exempt in some states like Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
📋 Full US sales tax rate table
Below are approximate combined state and local sales tax averages for all 50 states plus Washington DC. These are the same rates used in the calculator above. Remember that the exact rate in your city or county may differ — use the custom tax field for a precise total.
| State | Avg. combined rate | State | Avg. combined rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 9.29% | Alaska | 1.81% |
| Arizona | 8.4% | Arkansas | 9.47% |
| California | 8.82% | Colorado | 7.78% |
| Connecticut | 6.35% | Delaware | 0% |
| Florida | 7% | Georgia | 7.35% |
| Hawaii | 4.44% | Idaho | 6.03% |
| Illinois | 8.81% | Indiana | 7% |
| Iowa | 6.94% | Kansas | 8.71% |
| Kentucky | 6% | Louisiana | 9.55% |
| Maine | 5.5% | Maryland | 6% |
| Massachusetts | 6.25% | Michigan | 6% |
| Minnesota | 7.49% | Mississippi | 7.07% |
| Missouri | 8.29% | Montana | 0% |
| Nebraska | 6.94% | Nevada | 8.23% |
| New Hampshire | 0% | New Jersey | 6.6% |
| New Mexico | 7.83% | New York | 8.52% |
| North Carolina | 6.98% | North Dakota | 6.96% |
| Ohio | 7.22% | Oklahoma | 8.87% |
| Oregon | 0% | Pennsylvania | 6.34% |
| Rhode Island | 7% | South Carolina | 7.42% |
| South Dakota | 6.4% | Tennessee | 9.55% |
| Texas | 8.2% | Utah | 7.19% |
| Vermont | 6.36% | Virginia | 5.75% |
| Washington | 9.29% | Washington DC | 6% |
| Wisconsin | 5.43% | Wyoming | 5.36% |
Rates are approximate state-wide averages and include an estimate of average local taxes. They are updated periodically and may not reflect recent legislative changes.
🛍️ Sales tax holidays explained
Many US states hold annual sales tax holidays — short windows when certain items are exempt from sales tax. Timing a big purchase around one of these weekends can save you the full sales tax on eligible goods.
Back-to-school holidays
States like Texas, Florida, Ohio, and Virginia waive sales tax on clothing, school supplies, and sometimes computers during a weekend in late summer. Eligible items and price caps vary by state.
Energy Star and hurricane prep
Some states offer tax-free weekends for Energy Star appliances, water-efficient products, or hurricane preparedness supplies like generators and flashlights. These often fall in spring ahead of storm season.
Second Amendment holidays
A few states, including Louisiana and Mississippi, run tax-free weekends on firearms, ammunition, and hunting supplies. Check your state's revenue department for exact dates and eligible items.
How to use a tax holiday
Set the tax rate to 0% in the calculator during a holiday to see your exact savings. Combine a sale discount with a tax-free weekend for the lowest possible price on eligible purchases.
❓ Tax + discount calculator FAQ
Is sales tax applied to the original price or the discounted price?
Sales tax is applied to the discounted price. The discount reduces the taxable amount first, then tax is calculated on what you actually pay. This is how every retail register in the United States works.
Are the state tax rates exact?
The rates are approximate state-wide averages. Because local counties and cities add their own taxes, the real combined rate where you shop may differ. Enter your exact local rate in the custom tax field for a precise total.
Which US states have no sales tax?
Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon charge no state sales tax on most goods. Alaska has no statewide sales tax, though select local areas levy a small tax.
Do coupons affect sales tax?
Manufacturer coupons generally do not reduce the taxable amount, while store coupons and sale discounts usually do. For simplicity, this calculator treats your discount as a store discount that lowers the taxable price.
Are groceries taxed in my state?
Most states exempt unprepared groceries from sales tax or tax them at a lower rate. However, states like Mississippi and Alabama fully tax groceries, and several others apply a reduced rate. Prepared food and restaurant meals are taxed at the full rate almost everywhere.
What is the difference between sales tax and use tax?
Sales tax is collected by the seller at the time of purchase. Use tax is what you owe when you buy something tax-free (often online from another state) and use it in a state that would have charged sales tax. Many online retailers now collect sales tax automatically, but use tax still applies to some out-of-state purchases.
Does online shopping charge sales tax?
Following a 2018 Supreme Court ruling, most online retailers now collect sales tax based on the buyer's location. The rate you pay online should match your local combined state and local rate, the same as buying in a physical store.
How do I find my exact local sales tax rate?
Search your state's Department of Revenue website, which usually provides a lookup tool by ZIP code or address. Enter that exact combined rate in the custom tax field above for a precise final total.