Reverse Sales Tax Calculator (2026)
A reverse sales tax calculator starts from a price that already includes tax and works backward to the pre-tax amount. The formula is simple: pre-tax price = total ÷ (1 + combined rate). Pick your state below and switch to reverse mode to split any receipt into its base price and tax.
What is a reverse sales tax calculator?
It works backward from a tax-included total to find the original pre-tax price and the tax amount.
How does the math work?
Divide the total by 1 plus the combined tax rate. The result is the pre-tax price; the rest is tax.
Why would you reverse sales tax?
For expense reports, bookkeeping, VAT-style accounting, or to check a receipt's rate against your state.
Does it work for every state?
Yes. Pick your state and the calculator uses its 2026 combined state-plus-local rate.
What is a reverse sales tax calculation?
A normal calculation adds tax to a price. A reverse calculation does the opposite. It takes a total that already includes sales tax and recovers the original pre-tax price. This is also called backing out sales tax.
It matters for accounting. If a receipt only shows the grand total, you often need the pre-tax amount for expense claims, tax returns, or bookkeeping. The calculator above does it instantly for any US state.
How do you reverse-calculate sales tax by hand?
- Find the combined sales tax rate for your state and city.
- Convert it to a decimal and add 1 (for example 8% becomes 1.08).
- Divide the tax-included total by that number.
- The answer is the pre-tax price; subtract it from the total to get the tax.
What does reverse sales tax look like by state?
| State | Combined rate | $108 total → pre-tax | Tax in it |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 8.99% | $99.09 | $8.91 |
| Texas | 8.2% | $99.82 | $8.18 |
| New York | 8.54% | $99.50 | $8.50 |
When is reverse sales tax most useful?
Freelancers and small businesses use it to separate tax from gross receipts. Travelers use it to itemize expenses. Shoppers use it to confirm a store charged the correct rate. The calculator handles all of these in one step.