Knoxville, TN vs Memphis, TN: sales tax compared
Quick answer
Memphis, TN is the higher-tax metro at 9.75%, versus 9.25% in Knoxville, TN. The 0.5% gap works out to $0.50 on a $100 purchase, $5.00 on $1,000 and $125.00 on a $25,000 purchase.
- Rate gap
- 0.5%Percentage points, combined rate
- Extra tax on $1,000
- $5.00Paid in Memphis
- Extra tax on $25,000
- $125.00Vehicle-sized purchase
Knoxville, TN
Knox County
9.25%
Combined rate · ranked #13 of 94 covered metros
| Level | Jurisdiction | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| state | Tennessee state | 7% |
| county | Knox County | 2.25% |
- Population
- 192,648
- Median household income
- $57,254
Knox County's local option rate matches Davidson's, so Knoxville and Nashville charge the same total despite very different budgets.
Memphis, TN
Shelby County
9.75%
Combined rate · ranked #8 of 94 covered metros
| Level | Jurisdiction | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| state | Tennessee state | 7% |
| county | Shelby County | 2.25% |
| city | City of Memphis | 0.5% |
- Population
- 618,639
- Median household income
- $47,948
Memphis added a half-cent city increment in 2023 for public safety pay, taking it to Tennessee's statutory maximum.
How the difference is calculated
Same arithmetic the calculator on every page runs.
Each combined rate is the sum of its listed state, county, city and special-district components — no rounding is applied before the total. The dollar gap is the rate difference (0.5%) applied to the pre-tax amount: 0.5% of $1,000 is $5.00. Neither figure includes product-specific exemptions; groceries, clothing and digital goods can be taxed at a different rate or not at all, which is covered on each state's rules page.
Questions people ask
Direct answers to the questions this comparison raises.
Which has a higher sales tax rate, Knoxville or Memphis?
Memphis, TN at 9.75%, versus 9.25% in Knoxville, TN.
How much more sales tax would I pay in Memphis on a $1,000 purchase?
About $5.00 more, and roughly $125.00 more on a $25,000 vehicle-sized purchase.
Why do Knoxville and Memphis have different rates?
The state share is 7% in TN and 7% in TN. The rest comes from county, city and special-district increments stacked on top, which are set locally and listed in full on this page.
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