What is a reverse sales tax calculator?

A reverse sales tax calculator helps you find the original price of an item before tax was added. Instead of adding tax to a price, it removes the tax from a total amount to show you what the pre-tax price was. This is useful when you know the final price (including tax) and want to know how much the item cost before tax.

How do you calculate reverse sales tax?

To calculate reverse sales tax, divide the total amount (with tax) by (1 + tax rate). For example, if you paid $107.90 total with a 7.9% tax rate, divide $107.90 by 1.079 to get $100.00 as the original price. The tax amount is the difference: $107.90 - $100.00 = $7.90.

Why would I need to calculate reverse sales tax?

There are several reasons to calculate reverse sales tax: tracking business expenses (to know the deductible amount), comparing prices across states, budgeting (to know pre-tax costs), verifying receipts for accuracy, and accounting purposes when you need to separate tax from the purchase price.

Can I use this for any state?

Yes! This reverse sales tax calculator works for all 50 US states. Simply select your state from the dropdown, and the calculator will use the correct tax rates. For states with local taxes, you can also select your specific city to get the exact combined rate.

What's the difference between forward and reverse sales tax calculation?

Forward calculation (normal): You start with a pre-tax price and add sales tax to find the total. Reverse calculation: You start with the total (including tax) and remove the tax to find the original price. They're inverse operations of each other.

Is the reverse calculation accurate?

Yes, the reverse sales tax calculation is mathematically accurate. However, due to rounding, there may be tiny differences (usually a penny or less) from the original receipt, especially if the retailer rounds tax differently. Our calculator uses standard rounding to two decimal places.

Do I need to know my exact tax rate?

No! Our calculator automatically looks up the correct tax rate based on your state and city selection. We maintain an up-to-date database of state and local tax rates across all 50 states, so you don't need to research the rates yourself.

Can I use this for online purchases?

Yes, absolutely! This reverse calculator works for both in-store and online purchases. If you know which state the purchase was made in (or shipped to), select that state and the appropriate city to calculate the original price.

Reverse Calculator

Reverse Sales Tax
Calculator

Find the original price before tax. Enter your total amount (with tax included) to calculate the pre-tax price for any US state.

All 50 States

Supported

Calculation

Instant

Calculate Original Price

Enter the total amount with tax to find the pre-tax price

Select State

Select City

Total Amount (with tax)

Tax Rate Information

State: California

State rate: 7.250%

Combined rate: 7.250%

How it works

To find the original price, divide the total amount by (1 + tax rate). For example, if you paid $107.90 with a 7.250% tax rate, the original price is $107.90 ÷ 1.073 = $100.00.

How Reverse Sales Tax Calculation Works

Know your total amount (with tax)

This is the final amount you paid, including sales tax. For example: $107.90

Select your state and city

Choose where the purchase was made to get the correct tax rate. Example: Wisconsin, Milwaukee (7.9% rate)

Divide by (1 + tax rate)

$107.90 ÷ 1.079 = $100.00 (original price)

Calculate the tax amount

Subtract the original price from the total: $107.90 - $100.00 = $7.90 (tax)

The Formula

Original Price = Total Amount ÷ (1 + Tax Rate)

Example: If you paid $106.63 total with a 6.625% tax rate:
Original Price = $106.63 ÷ 1.06625 = $100.00

When to Use a Reverse Sales Tax Calculator

Business Expenses

Track deductible expenses by separating the pre-tax amount from sales tax on receipts for accurate bookkeeping and tax filing.

Price Comparison

Compare prices across different states by removing sales tax to see the actual product cost before tax differences.

Receipt Verification

Verify that you were charged the correct sales tax amount by calculating backwards from your receipt total.

Budgeting & Planning

Know the pre-tax cost of items for better budget planning, especially when comparing costs across states with different tax rates.

Real-World Examples

California

$107.25

Total paid

Tax rate: 7.25%

Original price: $100.00

Tax amount: $7.25

New York City

$108.88

Total paid

Tax rate: 8.875%

Original price: $100.00

Tax amount: $8.88

Texas

$106.25

Total paid

Tax rate: 6.25%

Original price: $100.00

Tax amount: $6.25

Got Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

State-Specific Calculators

State Calculator

California

Calculate CA sales tax

State Calculator

New York

Calculate NY sales tax

State Calculator

Texas

Calculate TX sales tax

All Calculators

View All State Calculators

Calculate sales tax for all 50 US states

Disclaimer: This reverse sales tax calculator provides estimates based on current state and local tax rates as of January 2025. Tax rates are subject to change. For official tax information, please consult your state's department of revenue or a qualified tax professional.

Not Legal or Tax Advice: The information provided on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal or tax advice. Always verify calculations and rates for important financial decisions.

Last updated: October 10, 2025