Reverse Sales Tax Calculator

Calculate the price before sales tax is applied and the total tax amount using the reverse sales tax calculator below.

Total Price After Tax

$

Sales Tax Rate

%

sales tax calculator

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Results: Price Before Sales Tax

$1,000.00

Total Sales Tax

$40.00

Solution

	Price Before Tax:	$1,000.00
+	Sales Tax (4%):	$40.00
	Total Price After Tax:	$1,000.00

Learn how we calculate this below

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By

Joe Sexton

Joe is the creator of Inch Calculator and has over 20 years of experience in engineering and construction. He holds several degrees and certifications.

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Sexton, J. (n.d.). Reverse Sales Tax Calculator. Inch Calculator. Retrieved November 10, 2026, from https://www.inchcalculator.com/reverse-sales-tax-calculator/

How to Calculate the Price Before Sales Tax

Sales tax is a percentage of the price of a good or service that is added to the cost for the consumer. The amount of sales tax you pay depends on the state and local tax rate, which varies depending on the state, county, and city where a purchase is made.

Calculating the price of a good or service before sales tax is fairly simple if you know the sales tax rate. You can calculate the amount of the price that is tax and then subtract that from the total price to determine the price before tax.

Reverse Sales Tax Price Formula

To calculate the price before sales tax, divide the total price by 1 plus the sales tax rate expressed as a decimal. So, if the sales tax rate is 4%, multiply the price by 1 + 0.04, or 1.04.

The formula for calculating the price before sales tax is:

price before tax price = price with tax ÷ (1 + tax rate)

Thus, the price before tax is equal to the total price after tax divided by 1 + the tax rate. It’s important to note that the tax rate must be in decimal form, so divide the rate by 100% to use in this formula.

Once you have the cost before tax is added, you can use our unit price calculator to calculate the cost of each item if you’re purchasing multiple items.

Sales Tax Rates by State

Sales tax rates vary considerably across the United States. Unlike many countries, which have a national value-added tax (VAT), the United States primarily relies on state and local governments to collect sales tax.

Most states impose a statewide sales tax, but some also allow counties, cities, and other local jurisdictions to impose their own taxes in addition. As a result, the actual sales tax rate can vary significantly depending on where you make a purchase.

The following chart shows the statewide sales tax rates and average combined state and local sales tax rates for each state as of 2026.^[1]