Reverse Sales Tax Calculator
Ever looked at a receipt and wondered — what was the price before tax? Our free reverse sales tax calculator lets you find the original pre-tax price in seconds. Simply enter the total amount you paid and the sales tax rate — we will instantly calculate the price before tax and the exact tax amount.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter Total Price — Type the final amount you paid (tax included)
- Enter Tax Rate (%) — Enter your state/local sales tax rate
- Click Calculate — Get the pre-tax price and tax amount instantly
Example: You paid $107.50 at checkout. Sales tax rate is 7.5%.
Pre-tax price = $107.50 / 1.075 = $100.00 | Tax paid = $7.50
Reverse Sales Tax Formula
Pre-Tax Price = Total Price / (1 + Tax Rate/100)
Tax Amount = Total Price - Pre-Tax Price
Tax Rate = (Total Price/Pre-Tax Price - 1) x 100
Example with 8% tax: Total paid $216.00 / 1.08 = $200.00 pre-tax | Tax = $16.00
When Do You Need a Reverse Sales Tax Calculator?
| Situation | Why It Helps |
|---|---|
| Reading receipts | Find actual item price before tax |
| Expense reports | Separate tax from total for accounting |
| Business bookkeeping | Record pre-tax costs accurately |
| Price comparison | Compare tax-inclusive vs tax-exclusive prices |
| Reimbursement claims | Show exact tax paid for IRS records |
| E-commerce returns | Calculate refund amount before tax |
US State Sales Tax Rates 2026
| State | Tax Rate | State | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 4.00% | Montana | 0.00% |
| Alaska | 0.00% | Nebraska | 5.50% |
| Arizona | 5.60% | Nevada | 6.85% |
| Arkansas | 6.50% | New Hampshire | 0.00% |
| California | 7.25% | New Jersey | 6.63% |
| Colorado | 2.90% | New Mexico | 5.00% |
| Connecticut | 6.35% | New York | 4.00% |
| Delaware | 0.00% | North Carolina | 4.75% |
| Florida | 6.00% | North Dakota | 5.00% |
| Georgia | 4.00% | Ohio | 5.75% |
| Hawaii | 4.00% | Oklahoma | 4.50% |
| Idaho | 6.00% | Oregon | 0.00% |
| Illinois | 6.25% | Pennsylvania | 6.00% |
| Indiana | 7.00% | Rhode Island | 7.00% |
| Iowa | 6.00% | South Carolina | 6.00% |
| Kansas | 6.50% | South Dakota | 4.50% |
| Kentucky | 6.00% | Tennessee | 7.00% |
| Louisiana | 4.45% | Texas | 6.25% |
| Maine | 5.50% | Utah | 6.10% |
| Maryland | 6.00% | Vermont | 6.00% |
| Massachusetts | 6.25% | Virginia | 5.30% |
| Michigan | 6.00% | Washington | 6.50% |
| Minnesota | 6.88% | West Virginia | 6.00% |
| Mississippi | 7.00% | Wisconsin | 5.00% |
| Missouri | 4.23% | Wyoming | 4.00% |
Note: Local/county taxes may apply on top of state rates. Combined rates can be higher.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a reverse sales tax calculator?
A reverse sales tax calculator works backward from the total price (tax included) to find the original price before tax. Instead of adding tax to a price, it removes the tax to show what you actually paid for the item itself.
How do I calculate sales tax backwards?
Divide the total price by (1 + tax rate as decimal). For example, if you paid $110 with 10% tax: $110 / 1.10 = $100 pre-tax price. The tax paid was $10.
What is the difference between tax-inclusive and tax-exclusive prices?
Tax-exclusive price is the item price before tax is added. Tax-inclusive price is the final amount you pay — item price plus tax. Our calculator converts tax-inclusive back to tax-exclusive.
How do I find the sales tax rate for my state?
Check the state tax rates table above. Note that local city/county taxes may add to the base state rate. For exact local rates, check your state Department of Revenue website.
Can I use this calculator for VAT?
Yes! The formula is identical. Enter your VAT-inclusive total and VAT rate percentage — you will get the ex-VAT price and VAT amount.
Is there a sales tax in all US states?
No. Five states have zero sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon.
How accurate is this reverse sales tax calculator?
100% accurate for standard flat-rate calculations. Formula: Pre-Tax Price = Total / (1 + Rate/100).