Edit the symbol box for your currency (e.g. $, €, £, ₹, ¥)
%
Before-Tax Price$100.00
Tax Amount (10%)$10.00
After-Tax Total$110.00
🧾 Tax tool
Add or remove sales tax for any country.
Enter any price and tax rate to instantly calculate the tax amount and final total. Works for VAT, GST, sales tax, or any consumption tax — in any currency.
Any countryAny currencyAdd or remove taxVAT / GST / Sales TaxFree & instant
Step by step
How to use the Sales Tax Calculator
1
Enter your price
Type the before-tax price (to add tax) or the tax-inclusive total (to extract the original price). Edit the currency symbol to match your local currency.
2
Select a country or enter rate
Pick a country from the dropdown to auto-fill the standard rate, or type any custom rate directly. The rate field is always editable.
3
Choose Add or Remove
'Add Tax' calculates the total after tax. 'Remove Tax' works backwards from a tax-inclusive price to find the original pre-tax amount.
4
Read your result
The calculator instantly shows the before-tax price, tax amount, and after-tax total. All three values update as you type.
Why use this calculator?
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Shopping & budgeting
Know the exact final price before checkout. Useful for large purchases where tax adds a meaningful amount to the sticker price.
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Business invoicing
Quickly verify the correct tax amount to add to a client invoice — whether you charge VAT in Europe, GST in India, or sales tax in the US.
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International travel
Compare prices across countries with different tax systems. Some countries include tax in the listed price; others add it at checkout.
How sales tax is calculated — adding and removing
Sales tax, VAT, and GST are all forms of consumption tax — levied on the purchase of goods and services — but they work differently depending on the country. In the United States, sales tax is applied only at the final retail stage and varies by state and city. In most of Europe, VAT is collected at every stage of the supply chain, with businesses claiming back the tax they paid on inputs. In India, GST replaced a fragmented system of central and state taxes with a unified multi-slab structure. Despite these structural differences, the consumer-facing calculation is the same: a percentage of the price is added as tax.
Whether you are a freelancer raising an invoice, a shopper comparing prices across borders, or a business owner verifying a supplier's bill, the core question is always the same — what is the tax amount, and what is the final price? This calculator answers both directions: add a tax rate to a net price, or strip the tax out of a gross price. The currency symbol is fully editable, so it works equally well in rupees, dollars, euros, pounds, or any other currency.
To add tax: multiply the pre-tax price by (1 + rate/100). To remove tax from a tax-inclusive price: divide the total by (1 + rate/100). The tax amount is always the difference between the two figures. This formula works identically for VAT, GST, sales tax, or any other percentage-based consumption tax.
Worked example
A product costs ₹1,000 before GST at 18%. Tax = ₹1,000 × 0.18 = ₹180. Total = ₹1,180. Reverse: a receipt shows ₹1,180 inclusive of 18% GST. Pre-tax price = ₹1,180 ÷ 1.18 = ₹1,000. Tax = ₹180. The same logic applies for a €500 item at 20% VAT in Germany, or a $200 item at 8.25% sales tax in Texas.
A consumption tax is a levy charged on the purchase of goods and services. Depending on the country, it goes by different names — Sales Tax in the United States, Value Added Tax (VAT) across Europe and over 160 other countries, Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India, Australia, Canada, Singapore, and New Zealand, and various other names elsewhere. Despite the different labels, the consumer-facing effect is the same: a percentage of the purchase price is added as tax, either visibly at checkout or already embedded in the listed price.
The key structural difference is where in the supply chain the tax is collected. US sales tax is collected only at the final retail sale. VAT and GST are collected at every stage of production and distribution, but businesses can reclaim the tax they paid on their inputs — so the tax ultimately falls on the end consumer, not on intermediate businesses.
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160+ Countries Use VAT
VAT is the most widely used consumption tax system in the world, covering Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
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Input Tax Credit
Under VAT and GST, businesses recover the tax they paid on purchases, so the tax burden cascades only to the final consumer.
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Inclusive vs Exclusive
Some countries include tax in the displayed price (tax-inclusive). Others show the pre-tax price and add tax at checkout (tax-exclusive).
Standard Tax Rates Around the World
The table below shows the standard VAT, GST, or sales tax rate for major economies. Most countries also have reduced rates for essentials like food and medicine. Use the calculator above with any of these rates.
Country
Tax Type
Standard Rate
Reduced Rate
Australia
GST
10%
0% (food, health)
Brazil
ICMS
~17%
Varies by state
Canada
GST/HST
5–15%
0% (basic groceries)
China
VAT
13%
9% (food, transport)
Denmark
VAT
25%
0% (newspapers)
France
VAT
20%
5.5% (food), 10% (restaurants)
Germany
VAT
19%
7% (food, books)
Hungary
VAT
27%
5% (food, medicine)
India
GST
18% (standard)
5%, 12%, 28% slabs
Indonesia
VAT
11%
0% (basic food)
Italy
VAT
22%
10% (food), 4% (essentials)
Japan
Consumption Tax
10%
8% (food, beverages)
Malaysia
SST
6–10%
0% (basic food)
Mexico
IVA
16%
0% (food, medicine)
New Zealand
GST
15%
0% (financial services)
Norway
VAT
25%
15% (food), 12% (transport)
Philippines
VAT
12%
0% (exports)
Saudi Arabia
VAT
15%
0% (basic food)
Singapore
GST
9%
0% (exports)
South Africa
VAT
15%
0% (basic food)
South Korea
VAT
10%
0% (unprocessed food)
Sweden
VAT
25%
12% (food), 6% (books)
Switzerland
VAT
8.1%
2.6% (food, medicine)
Thailand
VAT
7%
0% (unprocessed food)
UAE
VAT
5%
0% (food, healthcare)
United Kingdom
VAT
20%
5% (energy), 0% (food, children's clothing)
USA
Sales Tax
0–10.25% (state)
Varies by state
Rates change — always verify locally
Tax rates are set by governments and can change with each budget cycle. The rates above reflect general standard rates and may not account for recent changes, special economic zones, or sector-specific rules. Always confirm the applicable rate with a local tax authority or accountant for compliance purposes.
Tax-Inclusive vs Tax-Exclusive Pricing
One of the most common sources of confusion when dealing with sales tax is whether a quoted price already includes the tax or not. The answer depends on the country and the context.
Tax-Exclusive (price + tax at checkout)
The listed price does not include tax. Tax is calculated and added at the point of purchase. Common in the United States, where the shelf price is the pre-tax price and the final amount is higher at the register.
Total = Price × (1 + Rate/100)
Tax-Inclusive (tax already in the price)
The listed price already includes tax. What you see is what you pay. Common in most of Europe, Australia, India, and the UK, where VAT or GST is embedded in the displayed retail price.
Pre-tax = Total ÷ (1 + Rate/100)
Practical tip for international shoppers
When comparing prices between countries, always check whether the displayed price is inclusive or exclusive of tax. A €100 item in Germany already includes 19% VAT — the pre-tax price is €84. A $100 item in the US does not include tax — the final price could be $108 or more depending on the state.
How Businesses Handle Sales Tax
Collecting Tax on Sales
Registered businesses must charge the applicable tax rate on taxable sales, show it clearly on invoices, and remit the collected amount to the tax authority on a regular filing schedule (monthly, quarterly, or annually depending on turnover).
Claiming Input Tax Credit
Under VAT and GST systems, businesses can deduct the tax they paid on business purchases (inputs) from the tax they collected on sales (outputs). Only the net difference is paid to the government. This prevents tax cascading through the supply chain.
Cross-Border Transactions
Exports are typically zero-rated — the seller charges 0% tax, but can still claim input tax credits. Imports are taxed at the destination country's rate. For digital services sold across borders, many countries now require foreign providers to register and collect local VAT/GST.
Registration Thresholds
Most countries only require businesses to register for VAT/GST once their turnover exceeds a threshold. In India it is ₹20–40 lakh depending on the type of supply. In the UK it is £90,000. In Australia it is AUD 75,000. Below the threshold, registration is usually optional.
U.S. Sales Tax
In the United States, sales tax at the federal level does not exist. At the state level, all (including District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam) but five states do not have statewide sales tax. These are Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. States that impose a sales tax have different rates, and even within states, local or city sales taxes can come into play. Unlike VAT (which is not imposed in the U.S.), sales tax is only enforced on retail purchases; most transactions of goods or services between businesses are not subject to sales tax.
The sales tax rate ranges from 0% to 16% depending on the state and the type of good or service, and all states differ in their enforcement of sales tax. In Texas, prescription medicine and food seeds are exempt from taxation. Vermont has a 6% general sales tax, but an additional 10% tax is added to purchases of alcoholic drinks that are immediately consumed. Rules and regulations regarding sales tax vary widely from state to state.
On average, the impact of sales tax on Americans is about 2 percent of their personal income. Sales tax provides nearly one-third of state government revenue and is second only to the income tax in terms of importance as a source of revenue. Florida, Washington, Tennessee, and Texas all generate more than 50 percent of their tax revenue from the sales tax, while New York raises only about 20 percent of its revenues from the sales tax.
State
General State Sales Tax
Max Tax Rate with Local/City Sale Tax
Alabama
4%
13.50%
Alaska
0%
7%
Arizona
5.60%
10.725%
Arkansas
6.50%
11.625%
California
7.25%
10.50%
Colorado
2.90%
10%
Connecticut
6.35%
6.35%
Delaware
0%
0%
District of Columbia
6%
6%
Florida
6%
7.50%
Georgia
4%
8%
Guam
4%
4%
Hawaii
4.166%
4.712%
Idaho
6%
8.50%
Illinois
6.25%
10.25%
Indiana
7%
7%
Iowa
6%
7%
Kansas
6.50%
11.60%
Kentucky
6%
6%
Louisiana
4.45%
11.45%
Maine
5.50%
5.50%
Maryland
6%
6%
Massachusetts
6.25%
6.25%
Michigan
6%
6%
Minnesota
6.875%
7.875%
Mississippi
7%
7.25%
Missouri
4.225%
10.85%
Montana
0%
0%
Nebraska
5.50%
7.50%
Nevada
6.85%
8.375%
New Hampshire
0%
0%
New Jersey
6.625%
12.625%
New Mexico
5.125%
8.688%
New York
4%
8.875%
North Carolina
4.75%
7.50%
North Dakota
5%
8%
Ohio
5.75%
8%
Oklahoma
4.50%
11%
Oregon
0%
0%
Pennsylvania
6%
8%
Puerto Rico
10.50%
11.50%
Rhode Island
7%
7%
South Carolina
6%
9%
South Dakota
4%
6%
Tennessee
7%
9.75%
Texas
6.25%
8.25%
Utah
6.1%
8.35%
Vermont
6%
7%
Virginia
5.30%
7%
Washington
6.50%
10.60%
West Virginia
6%
7%
Wisconsin
5%
7.9%
Wyoming
4%
6%
U.S. History of Sales Tax
When the U.S. was still a British colony in the 18th century, the English King imposed a sales tax on various items on the American colonists, even though they had no representation in the British government. This taxation without representation, among other things, resulted in the Boston Tea Party and contributed to the American Revolution — meaning the birth of the U.S. had partly to do with the controversy over a sales tax.
Since then, sales tax has had a rocky history in the U.S., which is perhaps why there has never been a federal sales tax. Sales tax did not take off until the Great Depression, when state governments were having difficulty raising revenue. Mississippi was the first state to adopt it in 1930, and it quickly spread across the nation. Today, sales tax is imposed in most states as a necessary and generally effective means to raise revenue for state and local governments.
How to Deduct Sales Tax in the U.S.?
When filing federal income tax, taxpayers must choose to either take the standard deduction or itemize deductions. Sales tax can be deducted from federal income tax only if deductions are itemized. In general, taxpayers with sales tax as their only deductible expense may find that itemizing deductions is not worth the time, as it requires meticulous record-keeping and submission of sales tax records such as a year's worth of purchase receipts.
Taxpayers who itemize must also choose between deducting state and local income taxes or sales taxes — not both. Most choose income taxes, but taxpayers who made large purchases (new car, wedding, major appliances) during the year may benefit more from deducting sales tax. In reality, less than 2% of Americans claim sales tax as a deduction each year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between VAT and sales tax?
Both are consumption taxes, but they are collected differently. Sales tax (used in the US) is collected only at the final retail sale — businesses buying from other businesses are generally exempt. VAT (used in most other countries) is collected at every stage of the supply chain, but businesses can reclaim the VAT they paid on their purchases. The end result for the consumer is similar, but VAT is harder to evade because every transaction in the chain is documented.
How do I remove tax from a tax-inclusive price?
Divide the tax-inclusive price by (1 + tax rate/100). For example, if a product costs €120 including 20% VAT, the pre-tax price is €120 ÷ 1.20 = €100. The VAT amount is €20. This is the 'Remove Tax' mode in the calculator above.
Which countries have the highest VAT rates?
Hungary has the highest standard VAT rate in the world at 27%. Several Scandinavian countries — Denmark, Norway, and Sweden — charge 25%. Most EU countries are in the 20–23% range. The UAE and Japan have relatively low rates at 5% and 10% respectively. The US has no federal sales tax, with state rates ranging from 0% to about 10%.
Is food taxed in most countries?
Most countries apply a reduced rate or zero rate to basic food items. The UK, Australia, and Ireland zero-rate most food. Germany applies 7% to food (reduced from the standard 19%). France charges 5.5% on food. The US varies by state — some states exempt groceries entirely, others tax them at the full rate. Prepared food and restaurant meals are almost always taxed at the standard rate.
Do I pay tax on online purchases from foreign websites?
Yes, in most cases. Many countries now require foreign online sellers to register and collect local VAT or GST once they exceed a sales threshold. The EU, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore all have such rules. For goods imported by post, customs duties and import VAT may apply above certain value thresholds, depending on the destination country's rules.
Can I get a VAT refund as a tourist?
Yes — most countries with VAT offer a tax refund scheme for tourists who are not residents of that country. You typically need to spend above a minimum amount in a single store, request a VAT refund form at the point of purchase, and present the goods and form at the airport before departure. The refund is processed either at the airport or by mail. The UK, EU countries, Australia, Singapore, and Japan all offer tourist VAT refund schemes.