Enter a tax-inclusive total to back out the pre-tax amount and the tax portion. Pick a state to auto-fill the rate, or type your own — built for receipts, invoices, and expense reports.
For a tax-inclusive receipt of $108.25 with a combined local rate of 8.25%:
Step 1: Convert rate to decimal (0.0825).
Step 2: Add 1 to create divisor (1.0825).
Step 3: Divide total by divisor ($108.25 / 1.0825 = $100.00).
Result: Original Price is $100.00 and isolated tax is $8.25.
For informational purposes only. Tax rates change frequently — verify with your state's Department of Revenue before filing. This tool is not a substitute for professional tax advice.
· Rate source metadata is tracked in the TaxesLedger tax data registry.
A receipt or card charge often shows only the final amount, with the tax already inside it. To record the expense, reclaim tax, or check a vendor's pricing, you need the price before tax and the tax itself. Enter the final amount and the rate that was charged; the calculator divides the total by one plus the rate to find the pre-tax price and shows the tax as the difference.
To perform these calculations manually, you can use the standard formulas:
When calculating, make sure the tax rate is converted into a decimal format. For example, a rate of 8% is written as 0.08 in the equation. You first divide the gross final price by 1 plus this decimal rate to isolate the price before tax. Then, subtract that base price from the total price to find the exact tax amount.
A restaurant bill of $216.50 in a city with a 7% rate: $216.50 ÷ 1.07 = $202.34 before tax, and $216.50 − $202.34 = $14.16 of tax. Multiplying the total by 7% instead would give $15.16, overstating the tax by a dollar.
Understanding how to extract these numbers is helpful when cross-referencing values. For state-specific removal workflows, use the reverse sales tax calculator hub. If you need the full formula explanation, examples, and Excel setup, read the calculate tax from total guide. To compare rates before removing tax, visit the US sales tax by state map.
Tax was added as a percentage of the price before tax, so the final total is the price plus that percentage of the price: 108.25% of the price at an 8.25% rate. Taking 8.25% off the total takes the percentage of a bigger number and always understates the price. Dividing by 1.0825 undoes the multiplication exactly.
A register rounds tax on each line; this calculator rounds once on the total. On a receipt with several items the two can differ by a cent or two. That is normal, and the receipt's own tax line is the figure to book when you have it.
The calculator assumes the whole total was taxed at one rate. Check the receipt first if the transaction includes:
Quick answers to the most common questions users ask.
Divide the total by one plus the rate as a decimal. A $108.25 total at 8.25% is $108.25 ÷ 1.0825 = $100.00 before tax, and the tax is the difference, $8.25.
Because the tax was calculated on the pre-tax price, not on the total. Taking 8.25% off $108.25 gives $99.32, which is 68 cents too low. Division reverses the original multiplication exactly.
If the receipt shows the tax amount and the subtotal, divide tax by subtotal to get the rate. If it shows only the total, use the combined rate for the store's location; the sales tax by ZIP code lookup gives it for US addresses.
Yes. The arithmetic is the same for any tax that was added as a percentage of the price. A UK receipt at 20% VAT is divided by 1.20, a Canadian HST receipt at 13% by 1.13.
The receipt. Registers round tax per line item and this calculator rounds once on the total, so multi-item receipts can differ by a cent or two. Book the figure printed on the receipt.
In most states, yes, as long as the customer is told the price includes tax and the tax is still reported and remitted on the pre-tax amount. Some states require the tax to be shown separately on the receipt, so check your state's rule before advertising tax-included prices.
All rates, thresholds, and regulatory guidance cited on this page are sourced from official government publications and non-partisan research institutions.
IRS Sales Tax Calculator
The official Internal Revenue Service tool for determining deductible state and local sales tax for federal income tax purposes.
irs.govU.S. Census Bureau
Official government repository for quarterly state and local tax revenue statistics and government finance data.
census.govSupreme Court — Wayfair Decision
The official government opinion for South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., establishing modern economic nexus standards for remote sellers.
supremecourt.govSBA Business Tax Guide
Official Small Business Administration guidance on understanding federal and state tax obligations for small business owners.
sba.govStreamlined Sales Tax Board
The official inter-governmental organization facilitating the simplification of sales tax administration across 24 member states.
streamlinedsalestax.orgCalifornia CDTFA
Official CA tax rates portal, address-specific lookup tools, and district tax publications.
cdtfa.ca.govTexas Comptroller
The official Texas sales tax rate locator, local jurisdiction database, and nexus guidance.
comptroller.texas.govNew York Tax & Finance
Official NY jurisdiction lookup for combined state, local, and MTA rates, and clothing exemptions.
tax.ny.govFlorida Dept. of Revenue
Official FL resource for state sales tax rates, county surtaxes, and annual tax holidays.
floridarevenue.comMyTax Illinois
Official Illinois Department of Revenue portal for address-based tax rate lookups and filings.
tax.illinois.govPennsylvania Revenue
Official PA portal for sales, use, and hotel occupancy tax rates and regulatory guidance.
revenue.pa.govOhio 'The Finder'
Official Ohio Department of Taxation tool for looking up rates by address, ZIP, or GPS coordinates.
thefinder.tax.ohio.govGeorgia Dept. of Revenue
Official Georgia sales and use tax rate charts and local jurisdiction tax distribution data.
dor.georgia.govNorth Carolina DOR
Official NCDOR portal for state, local, and transit tax rates by county and jurisdiction.
ncdor.govMichigan Treasury
Official Michigan Department of Treasury resources for the statewide 6% sales and use tax.
michigan.govTaxesLedger is an independent educational tool. We are not affiliated with any government agency. Rate records include source metadata and verification status; always confirm with the tax authority for your jurisdiction before filing. Last registry update: September 11, 2026.