How it’s calculated
Adding tax
- Sales Tax
- equals Price × (Rate ÷ 100)
- Total
- equals Price + Sales Tax
Removing tax from a total
- Pre-tax Price
- equals Total ÷ (1 + Rate ÷ 100)
- Sales Tax
- equals Total − Pre-tax Price
To remove tax, divide by (1 + rate) — don’t subtract the rate from the total. Subtracting 7% from a $107 total gives $99.51, not the correct $100.
Worked example
Two everyday cases:
- Invoicing $1,250 of goods at a 7.25% rate: tax = $90.63, total = $1,340.63
- A receipt shows $53.50 including 7% tax: pre-tax price = $53.50 ÷ 1.07 = $50.00, tax = $3.50
Assumptions and limitations
- You must supply the rate. The calculator doesn’t look up rates by address, and combined state, county, city and district rates vary widely.
- Tax is rounded to the nearest cent on the total amount. Some systems round per line item, which can differ by a cent.
- Whether a sale is taxable at all depends on the product, the buyer and the jurisdiction (exemptions, resale certificates, digital goods rules). This tool doesn’t make that determination.
Results are estimates for information only and are not financial, tax or legal advice. See our disclaimer.
