General Merchandise Sales Tax Calculator
Estimate a general-merchandise purchase from the state and local rates that apply to it. Pick a state base rate and enter the local rate; the initial zero-rate example does not represent a national average or a researched local quote.
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Pre-filled: Tax Foundation
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Total Sales Tax
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Detailed Breakdown
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only. Results should not be considered financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional for your specific situation.
How this calculator works
For ordinary merchandise taxable at the general rate, tax equals the entered purchase amount times (state rate + local rate) / 100. The two portions are shown separately and added to the original price. Choose a state to fill only the state base rate; enter the actual local rate for your purchase location. Zero local tax is an unfilled starting input. This calculator does not determine taxability, sourcing jurisdiction, special-district rules, grocery or clothing exemptions, vehicle taxes or seller obligations. The table describes the existing dataset’s category rules as context; those categories need their own local treatment and are not calculated here.
Source: Tax Foundation checked
State base rates and category rules
Existing state-page dataset; no new rate verification is claimed. General state rates come from the existing Tax Foundation compilation. Grocery and clothing notes retain the state-page descriptions and their limitations; confirm current law with the state authority.
| State | General state rate | Grocery rule context | Clothing rule context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 4% | Qualifying groceries: 2% state rate; local tax can apply. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Alabama taxes clothing at the same 4% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Alaska | 0% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Alaska has no state sales tax, so clothing isn't taxed. Check local treatment separately. |
| Arizona | 5.6% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Arizona taxes clothing at the same 5.6% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Arkansas | 6.5% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Arkansas taxes clothing at the same 6.5% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| California | 7.25% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | California taxes clothing at the same 7.25% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Colorado | 2.9% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Colorado taxes clothing at the same 2.9% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Connecticut | 6.35% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Connecticut taxes clothing at the same 6.35% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Delaware | 0% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Delaware has no state sales tax, so clothing isn't taxed. Check local treatment separately. |
| Florida | 6% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Florida taxes clothing at the same 6% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Georgia | 4% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Georgia taxes clothing at the same 4% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Hawaii | 4% | Qualifying groceries: general 4% state rate. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Hawaii taxes clothing at the same 4% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Idaho | 6% | Qualifying groceries: general 6% state rate. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Idaho taxes clothing at the same 6% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Illinois | 6.25% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Illinois taxes clothing at the same 6.25% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Indiana | 7% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Indiana taxes clothing at the same 7% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Iowa | 6% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Iowa taxes clothing at the same 6% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Kansas | 6.5% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Kansas taxes clothing at the same 6.5% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Kentucky | 6% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Kentucky taxes clothing at the same 6% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Louisiana | 5% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Louisiana taxes clothing at the same 5% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Maine | 5.5% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Maine taxes clothing at the same 5.5% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Maryland | 6% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Maryland taxes clothing at the same 6% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Massachusetts | 6.25% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Massachusetts exempts the first $175 of each clothing item's price from sales tax — only the amount above $175 per item is taxed. Check local treatment separately. |
| Michigan | 6% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Michigan taxes clothing at the same 6% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Minnesota | 6.875% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Minnesota fully exempts clothing and footwear from sales tax. Check local treatment separately. |
| Mississippi | 7% | Qualifying groceries: 5% state rate; local tax can apply. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Mississippi taxes clothing at the same 7% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Missouri | 4.225% | Qualifying groceries: 1.225% state rate; local tax can apply. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Missouri taxes clothing at the same 4.225% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Montana | 0% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Montana has no state sales tax, so clothing isn't taxed. Check local treatment separately. |
| Nebraska | 5.5% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Nebraska taxes clothing at the same 5.5% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Nevada | 6.85% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Nevada taxes clothing at the same 6.85% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| New Hampshire | 0% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | New Hampshire has no state sales tax, so clothing isn't taxed. Check local treatment separately. |
| New Jersey | 6.625% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | New Jersey fully exempts clothing and footwear from sales tax. Check local treatment separately. |
| New Mexico | 4.875% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | New Mexico taxes clothing at the same 4.875% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| New York | 4% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | New York exempts clothing and footwear priced under $110 per item from state sales tax; items priced $110 or more are fully taxable at the general rate. Local taxes may still apply even below the threshold. Check local treatment separately. |
| North Carolina | 4.75% | Qualifying food is exempt from state tax but subject to 2% local food tax (NCDOR food guidance). Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | North Carolina taxes clothing at the same 4.75% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| North Dakota | 5% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | North Dakota taxes clothing at the same 5% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Ohio | 5.75% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Ohio taxes clothing at the same 5.75% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Oklahoma | 4.5% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Oklahoma taxes clothing at the same 4.5% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Oregon | 0% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Oregon has no state sales tax, so clothing isn't taxed. Check local treatment separately. |
| Pennsylvania | 6% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Pennsylvania fully exempts clothing and footwear from sales tax. Check local treatment separately. |
| Rhode Island | 7% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Rhode Island exempts clothing and footwear priced under $250 per item from state sales tax; items priced $250 or more are fully taxable at the general rate. Local taxes may still apply even below the threshold. Check local treatment separately. |
| South Carolina | 6% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | South Carolina taxes clothing at the same 6% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| South Dakota | 4.2% | Qualifying groceries: general 4.2% state rate. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | South Dakota taxes clothing at the same 4.2% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Tennessee | 7% | Qualifying groceries: 4% state rate; local tax can apply. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Tennessee taxes clothing at the same 7% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Texas | 6.25% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Texas taxes clothing at the same 6.25% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Utah | 6.1% | Qualifying groceries: 3% state rate; local tax can apply. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Utah taxes clothing at the same 6.1% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Vermont | 6% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Vermont fully exempts clothing and footwear from sales tax. Check local treatment separately. |
| Virginia | 5.3% | Qualifying groceries: 1% combined flat rate. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Virginia taxes clothing at the same 5.3% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Washington | 6.5% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Washington taxes clothing at the same 6.5% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| West Virginia | 6% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | West Virginia taxes clothing at the same 6% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Wisconsin | 5% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Wisconsin taxes clothing at the same 5% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
| Wyoming | 4% | No state tax on qualifying unprepared groceries. Check food definitions and local treatment with the state authority. | Wyoming taxes clothing at the same 4% general rate — there's no clothing-specific exemption. Check local treatment separately. |
Rates are percentages of taxable price. Compiled rate data is carried from the existing pages and is not represented as a fresh primary-source check. This calculator does not use a fraction of a state’s maximum local rate as a local estimate. The local input stays yours to verify.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does choosing a state find my local tax rate?
No. A state choice fills its general state rate and resets the local entry to zero so a previous state’s local input is not carried over. Enter the city, county and special-district rate that applies at the actual purchase location. A state with no general state tax can still have local or special taxes.
Can I use this result for groceries, clothing or a car?
This estimate is for general merchandise taxable at the entered rates. Grocery, clothing and vehicle rules differ by state and locality. The state table preserves category context, but the calculator does not apply those exceptions. Use the linked state authority for the applicable treatment.
All Calculators
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Arizona Sales Tax Calculator
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California Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate California sales tax instantly. State rate: 7.25%. Combined with local taxes up to 10.75%. Free calculator.
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Calculate Colorado sales tax instantly. State rate: 2.9%. Combined with local taxes up to 11.20%. Free calculator.
Connecticut Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate Connecticut sales tax instantly. State rate: 6.35%, and Connecticut has no local sales taxes. Free calculator.
Georgia Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate Georgia sales tax instantly. State rate: 4%. Combined with local taxes up to 8.90%. Free calculator.
Hawaii Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate Hawaii sales tax instantly. State rate: 4%. Combined with local taxes up to 4.50%. Free calculator.
Illinois Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate Illinois sales tax instantly. State rate: 6.25%. Combined with local taxes up to 11.00%. Free calculator.
Indiana Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate Indiana sales tax instantly. State rate: 7%. Combined with local taxes up to 7.00%. Free calculator.
Iowa Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate Iowa sales tax instantly. State rate: 6%. Combined with local taxes up to 7.00%. Free calculator.
Louisiana Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate Louisiana sales tax instantly. State rate: 5%. Combined with local taxes up to 12.00%. Free calculator.
Maryland Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate Maryland sales tax instantly. State rate: 6%. Combined with local taxes up to 6.00%. Free calculator.
Massachusetts Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate Massachusetts sales tax instantly. State rate: 6.25%. Combined with local taxes up to 6.25%. Free calculator.
Missouri Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate Missouri sales tax instantly. State rate: 4.225%. Combined with local taxes up to 9.99%. Free calculator.
New Jersey Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate New Jersey sales tax instantly. State rate: 6.625%. Combined with local taxes up to 6.63%. Free calculator.
New Mexico Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate New Mexico sales tax instantly. State rate: 4.875%. Combined with local taxes up to 9.19%. Free calculator.
North Carolina Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate North Carolina sales tax instantly. State rate: 4.75%. Combined with local taxes up to 7.50%. Free calculator.
North Dakota Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate North Dakota sales tax instantly. State rate: 5%. Combined with local taxes up to 8.50%. Free calculator.
Ohio Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate Ohio sales tax instantly. State rate: 5.75%. Combined with local taxes up to 8.00%. Free calculator.
Oklahoma Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate Oklahoma sales tax instantly. State rate: 4.5%. Combined with local taxes up to 11.50%. Free calculator.
Pennsylvania Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate Pennsylvania sales tax instantly. State rate: 6%. Combined with local taxes up to 8.00%. Free calculator.
Tennessee Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate Tennessee sales tax instantly. State rate: 7%. Combined with local taxes up to 9.75%. Free calculator.
Texas Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate Texas sales tax instantly. State rate: 6.25%. Combined with local taxes up to 8.25%. Free calculator.
Utah Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate Utah sales tax instantly. State rate: 6.1%. Combined with local taxes up to 9.05%. Free calculator.
Washington Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate Washington sales tax instantly. State rate: 6.5%. Combined with local taxes up to 10.50%. Free calculator.
Wisconsin Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate Wisconsin sales tax instantly. State rate: 5%. Combined with local taxes up to 6.75%. Free calculator.