Reverse tax calculator (sales tax)
This reverse tax calculator works backwards from a total including sales tax to the price before tax. Bookkeepers, resellers and anyone reconciling receipts need the net price hiding inside a tax-inclusive total at the point of sale. Enter the total and the combined state and local rate.
Quick answer
Divide the total by one plus the rate: at 8.25%, $108.25 ÷ 1.0825 = $100.00 pre-tax and $8.25 tax. Subtracting 8.25% from the total instead gives the wrong answer because the tax was charged on the smaller pre-tax figure. The tax formula is simple: convert the tax rate as a decimal, add 1, then divide the total price by it to calculate the original net price and the amount of sales tax. Local sales tax rates vary by city and district, so use the combined rate for the store's address for instant calculations on pre-tax amounts.
Reverse out sales tax
Type a 5-digit ZIP and the combined rate below fills in automatically.
Questions people ask
Common reconciliation questions.
How do you calculate sales tax backwards from a total?
Divide the tax-inclusive total by one plus the rate expressed as a decimal. At 8.25%, $108.25 ÷ 1.0825 = $100.00 pre-tax, leaving $8.25 of tax.
Why can't I just subtract 8.25% from the total?
Because the tax was charged on the smaller pre-tax figure, not on the total. Subtracting 8.25% of $108.25 removes $8.93 and understates the item price by 68 cents.
Do I need the exact local rate?
Yes — the combined rate includes county, city and special-district increments, so two stores 10 minutes apart can charge different rates. Look up the exact combined rate for the store's location first.
Look up the exact combined rate for a city
Sources & transparency
- No external data used — results are computed in your browser from the numbers you enter
Last reviewed August 2026. Figures are published for reference and can change; verify with the source agency before filing or contracting. How we build and check this data.