Houston, Texas Sales Tax Rate

Enter a price to calculate Houston sales tax at the 8.250% combined local rate, and see the tax amount and final total for 2026.

✓ Houston Combined Rate✓ Texas State Tax✓ 2026 Tax Table

Welcome to the local rate overview. The Houston, Texas sales tax rate is 8.250% in 2026. This combined rate includes the Texas base rate of 6.250% plus applicable local option taxes in the transaction jurisdiction (the local portion is 2.000%). Use the calculator above to easily determine tax totals.

Quick links:Texas calculator by state by ZIP U.S. map national calculator

🛍️ Sales Tax on a $100 Purchase in Houston

Here is a quick reference breakdown of how much sales tax is charged on a standard $100.00 purchase in Houston based on the combined 2026 tax rate of 8.250%:

Purchase Price:$100.00

Sales Tax (8.250%):+$8.25

Total Cost:$108.25

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Need to Calculate the Pre-Tax Price Instead?

If you have the total receipt or checkout price and need to work backward to find the original item price before tax was added, use our specialized tool.

Reverse Calculator →

📍 ZIP Codes Commonly Associated With Houston, TX

The following ZIP codes are commonly associated with Houston, Texas. Sales tax can depend on the exact address, especially near city or county boundaries, so businesses should verify address-level rates before filing.

77001

77002

77003

77004

77005

77006

77007

77008

77009

77010

77019

77024

77027

77030

77056

77057

77098

Houston Economic & Tax Profile

Houston's 8.25% combined rate is standard for Texas's largest city. No state income tax and exempt groceries make it affordable despite the rate. The energy capital's massive corporate sector creates unique B2B tax considerations.

Houston is the 4th-largest city in the US and the undisputed energy capital of the world. The Texas Medical Center is the largest medical complex globally with 100,000+ workers. The Port of Houston is the 2nd busiest in the US by tonnage. No state income tax and exempt groceries make Houston a low-tax city despite the 8.25% sales tax on general merchandise.

Key Industries

Energy/Oil & Gas, Healthcare, Aerospace, Port/Logistics, Manufacturing, Technology

Known For

Space Center Houston (NASA Johnson Space Center), diverse food scene, Texas Medical Center (world's largest medical complex), Theater District, Museum District, Buffalo Bayou, oil and gas capital of the world

Local Tax Authority

Harris County / City of Houston

Tourism & Visitor Economy

Space Center Houston (NASA), Museum District (19 museums), Theater District (performing arts), Houston Zoo, Minute Maid Park (Astros), NRG Stadium (Texans), Galleria Mall, Buffalo Bayou trails

Special Tax Rules for Houston

TX state rate 6.25% + local add-ons (Harris County + Houston) up to 2% cap = 8.25% combined. Groceries are EXEMPT from Texas sales tax. TX has no state income tax. Back-to-school sales tax holiday in August on clothing/supplies under $100.

How Houston Compares to Texas

Houston's 8.25% rate matches the TX standard for large cities. Its economy is far more energy-dependent than Austin (tech) or Dallas (diversified corporate). The Port of Houston creates unique international trade tax considerations.

Industry-Specific Tax Guidance

Energy (dozens of Fortune 500 HQs), healthcare (world's largest medical complex), and aerospace (NASA) create massive B2B and international transaction tax considerations.

County-Level Tax Details

Harris County's local add-on combines with the City of Houston's rate to reach the 2% local cap, resulting in the standard 8.25%.

Houston Sales Tax Rate — Economic Context & Calculation

Economic Context. Houston is the 4th-largest city in the US and the undisputed energy capital of the world.

The combined sales tax rate in Houston is 8.250%, composed of the Texas state rate of 6.250% plus a local portion of 2.000%.

Key industries driving Houston's economy include Energy/Oil & Gas, Healthcare, Aerospace, Port/Logistics — each may have distinct sales tax treatment under Texas law.

The formula to calculate sales tax for any purchase:

Formula Sales Tax Amount = Taxable Price \times Combined Tax Rate

For a $150.00 purchase in Houston: tax is $12.38 ($150.00 × 0.08250), total is $162.38.

Local Tax Authority & Special Rules in Houston

Sales tax in Houston is administered locally by Harris County / City of Houston. Houston's 8.25% rate matches the TX standard for large cities.

Special tax rules specific to Houston:

TX state rate 6.25% + local add-ons (Harris County + Houston) up to 2% cap = 8.25% combined. Groceries are EXEMPT from Texas sales tax. TX has no state income tax. Back-to-school sales tax holiday in August on clothing/supplies under $100.

Houston-specific: Energy (dozens of Fortune 500 HQs), healthcare (world's largest medical complex), and aerospace (NASA) create massive B2B and international transaction tax considerations.

Taxing Authority	Harris County / City of Houston
State Sourcing Model	Origin Sourcing. In-state sales are taxed based on the seller's location, while remote sellers charge destination rates.
Economic Nexus Threshold	$500,000 in gross sales, revenue-only with no transaction test, measured over the preceding 12 months.
Filing Frequency	Monthly, Quarterly, or Annually
Standard Due Date	Typically on or before the 20th of the month following the filing period

Harris County's local add-on combines with the City of Houston's rate to reach the 2% local cap, resulting in the standard 8.25%.

Sales Tax vs. Use Tax for Houston Businesses & Consumers

While sales tax is collected by registered vendors at the point of sale, use tax is a self-assessed tax that applies when taxable goods are purchased from a vendor who did not collect sales tax. The rates for both are identical: 8.250%.

If you purchase equipment, software, or supplies from out-of-state merchants and no tax was charged, you are legally obligated to report and pay use tax to Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Use tax audits are common — failure to accrue on untaxed invoices is a frequent audit finding.

Sales Tax Registration & Permits for Houston Businesses

Businesses with physical presence or economic nexus in Texas must register with Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts before collecting tax.

For full registration, filing, exemption certificate, and audit guidance, see the Texas sales tax guide.

Resale Certificates & Tax Record-Keeping in Houston

Businesses in Houston must maintain resale certificates and transaction records to comply with Texas tax audits. If you sell wholesale, obtain a valid resale certificate from the buyer.

For detailed guidance, see the Texas sales tax page.

Other Cities in Texas

Need to calculate sales tax for another location in Texas? Choose a city below to view the exact rate breakdown.

Quick Lookup:Dallas sales tax calculator (or view Dallas sales tax rate)Austin sales tax calculator (or view Austin sales tax rate)San Antonio sales tax calculator (or view San Antonio sales tax rate)

City	County	Combined Rate	Action
Dallas	Dallas County	8.250%	Use Calculator →
Austin	Travis County	8.250%	Use Calculator →
San Antonio	Bexar County	8.250%	Use Calculator →
Fort Worth	Tarrant County	8.250%	Use Calculator →
El Paso	El Paso County	8.250%	Use Calculator →
Arlington	Tarrant County	8.250%	Use Calculator →
Corpus Christi	Nueces County	8.250%	Use Calculator →
Plano	Collin County	8.250%	Use Calculator →
Lubbock	Lubbock County	8.250%	Use Calculator →
Laredo	Webb County	8.250%	Use Calculator →
Garland	Dallas County	8.250%	Use Calculator →
Irving	Dallas County	8.250%	Use Calculator →
Amarillo	Potter County	8.250%	Use Calculator →
Grand Prairie	Dallas County	8.250%	Use Calculator →
McKinney	Collin County	8.250%	Use Calculator →

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.

Last updated: September 11, 2026 · Rate source metadata is tracked in the TaxesLedger tax data registry.

Data methodology reviewed by M. Imtinan Farooq — Data Engineer who builds and maintains TaxesLedger.

Imtinan Farooq is a data engineer who builds and maintains TaxesLedger's calculators and rate database. He is not a CPA, tax attorney, or enrolled agent, so the site doesn't rely on his opinion. Every rate is linked to an official source, such as a state department of revenue, the Canada Revenue Agency, or a national VAT authority. Each record stores that source and its verification status, so the rate can be checked against it. If you spot an error, contact us and we'll correct it. This is an educational calculator, not tax, accounting, or legal advice. LinkedIn

Data Sources: State DORs · Canada Revenue Agency · EU VAT authorities · Tax Foundation references

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to the most common questions users ask.

What is the sales tax rate in Houston, Texas?

Houston's combined sales tax rate is 8.25% for 2026, consisting of Texas's 6.25% state rate and 2% in local taxes (Harris County + City of Houston).

How much sales tax is charged on a $100 purchase in Houston?

On a $100.00 purchase in Houston, the sales tax is $8.25 ($8.25 = $100.00 × 0.08250), bringing the total to $108.25.

Are groceries taxed in Houston?

No. Groceries are completely exempt from Texas sales tax — a major differentiator from most other states.

Does Texas have a state income tax?

No. Texas has no state income tax; sales tax and property tax carry more of the load instead, so the 8.25% rate is part of a different mix rather than an extra layer on top of an income tax.

What is the TX back-to-school sales tax holiday?

Texas holds a sales tax holiday in August each year where clothing, footwear, and school supplies under $100 are exempt from state and local sales tax, including in Houston.

What county is Houston located in?

Houston is located in Harris County, which may levy a local tax portion included in the combined rate of 8.250%.

Which ZIP codes are commonly associated with Houston?

ZIP codes commonly associated with Houston include: 77001, 77002, 77003, 77004, 77005, 77006, 77007, 77008, 77009, 77010, 77019, 77024, 77027, 77030, 77056, 77057, 77098. ZIP code boundaries can cross municipal lines, so verify the sales tax rate for the exact street address when filing.

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