Sales Tax by State
Pick a state and enter a purchase price to see the sales tax — plus how every state compares.
Runs entirely in your browser — your numbers never leave this page.
How it works
The US has no national sales tax — every state sets its own base rate, and most let cities and counties stack local taxes on top. Five states have no statewide sales tax at all (Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon).
Sales tax = Purchase price × State rate
- Highest base rate: California at 7.25%. Four states tie at 7.00%: Indiana, Mississippi, Rhode Island, Tennessee.
- Highest combined (state + local average): Louisiana 10.13%, Tennessee 9.61%, Washington 9.57%.
- Lowest non-zero: Colorado at 2.9%.
- No local taxes: Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Rhode Island — the state rate is the whole story there.
- Groceries get special treatment in many states — exempt or reduced in AL, AR, KS, MO, MS, NC, NM, OK, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA. Illinois ended its state grocery tax in Jan 2026.
| State | Base rate | Local add-ons | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 7.25% | Yes | Highest state rate |
| Indiana | 7.00% | No | |
| Mississippi | 7.00% | Yes | Groceries 5% |
| Rhode Island | 7.00% | No | |
| Tennessee | 7.00% | Yes | Groceries 4% |
| Minnesota | 6.875% | Yes | |
| Nevada | 6.85% | Yes | |
| New Jersey | 6.625% | Rare | Enterprise zones half rate |
| Arkansas | 6.50% | Yes | Groceries exempt |
| Kansas | 6.50% | Yes | Groceries exempt |
| Washington | 6.50% | Yes | Groceries exempt |
| Connecticut | 6.35% | No | |
| Illinois | 6.25% | Yes | State grocery tax ended 2026 |
| Massachusetts | 6.25% | No | |
| Texas | 6.25% | Yes | Groceries exempt |
| Utah | 6.10% | Yes | Incl. mandatory add-ons |
| Florida | 6.00% | Yes | |
| Idaho | 6.00% | Yes | Groceries taxed 6% |
| Iowa | 6.00% | Yes | |
| Kentucky | 6.00% | No | |
| Maryland | 6.00% | No | |
| Michigan | 6.00% | No | |
| Pennsylvania | 6.00% | Yes | Groceries/clothing exempt |
| South Carolina | 6.00% | Yes | |
| Vermont | 6.00% | Yes | |
| West Virginia | 6.00% | Yes | |
| Ohio | 5.75% | Yes | |
| Arizona | 5.60% | Yes | |
| Maine | 5.50% | No | |
| Nebraska | 5.50% | Yes | |
| Louisiana | 5.00% | Yes | Raised Jan 2025 |
| North Dakota | 5.00% | Yes | |
| Wisconsin | 5.00% | Yes | |
| New Mexico | 4.88% | Yes | GRT; groceries exempt |
| North Carolina | 4.75% | Yes | |
| Oklahoma | 4.50% | Yes | Groceries exempt |
| Virginia | 4.30% | Yes | 5.3% typical |
| Missouri | 4.225% | Yes | Groceries 1.225% |
| South Dakota | 4.20% | Yes | → 4.5% Jul 2027 |
| Alabama | 4.00% | Yes | Groceries 2% |
| Georgia | 4.00% | Yes | |
| Hawaii | 4.00% | Yes | GET, not sales tax |
| New York | 4.00% | Yes | Clothing <$110 exempt |
| Wyoming | 4.00% | Yes | |
| Colorado | 2.90% | Yes | Lowest non-zero |
| Alaska | 0% | Yes | Local only, up to ~7.9% |
| Delaware | 0% | No | No sales tax |
| Montana | 0% | No | No sales tax |
| New Hampshire | 0% | No | No sales tax |
| Oregon | 0% | No | No sales tax |
Frequently asked questions
Which state has the highest sales tax?
California has the highest state-level rate at 7.25%. But combined state + local averages are highest in Louisiana (10.13%), Tennessee (9.61%), and Washington (9.57%).
Which states have no sales tax?
Five: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. Note Alaska localities can levy their own (up to ~7.9%), and New Hampshire taxes meals, rooms, and rentals at 8.5%.
Why is my checkout tax higher than the state rate?
Cities and counties stack local taxes on top of the state rate in most states. Only 8 states have no local add-ons — everywhere else, the register total exceeds the base rate.
Are groceries taxed?
It depends on the state. Many exempt groceries or tax them lower — including AR, KS, OK, TX, WA, and PA. A few (ID, MS, HI) tax them at or near the full rate.
What changed in sales tax recently?
Louisiana raised its rate to 5% in Jan 2025. Illinois ended its state grocery tax in Jan 2026 (many towns reimposed it locally). Arkansas exempted groceries in Jan 2026. South Dakota's 4.2% reverts to 4.5% in July 2027.
Is Hawaii's GET the same as sales tax?
Functionally similar but technically different — the General Excise Tax applies to business gross receipts and can be passed to customers. Same for New Mexico's Gross Receipts Tax.
Do I pay sales tax on online purchases?
Yes — since the 2018 Wayfair ruling, most states require out-of-state sellers to collect tax based on your delivery address, including its local add-ons.
What is the lowest sales tax state?
Among states with a tax, Colorado at 2.9%. Five states have 0%: AK, DE, MT, NH, OR.
Are clothes taxed?
Usually yes, with exceptions: Pennsylvania exempts most clothing, and New York exempts clothing/footwear under $110 from state tax (localities may still tax it).
How often do sales tax rates change?
States change base rates rarely (Louisiana 2025 was the first in years), but local jurisdictions adjust constantly — always check your ZIP code for the exact checkout rate.