How to Calculate Tax for Your Meal

Calculate the tax on your meal using percentages.

The amount of tax you pay for your meal will vary, depending on the state and municipality in which you enjoy the meal. The tax is most frequently levied as a regular sales tax. To calculate the tax correctly, you need to know the tax rate of the locale. Once you have the rate, you can calculate the tax using a calculator on your cell phone or smart phone.

Things You'll Need

• Calculator

Instructions

1. Add up the total amount of the bill, both food and beverages.

2. Multiply the total amount by the tax rate of your locale to get the meal tax. For instance, if your food and beverages came to $80, and the tax rate is 8 percent, multiply $80 by 0.08 to get $6.40.

3. Figure your tip as well if you wish. Tipping styles vary, but according to CNN Money, a tip of 15 percent to 20 percent of the pre-tax total is an appropriate range. In this case, multiply the pre-tax food and beverage total from Step 1 by 18 percent (0.18) for good service, which brings the tip to $14.40.

4. Add the food and beverage, tax and tip totals together for a total price on the meal. Here, it comes to $100.80.

References

• Syracuse University: Review of Percents
• State of Massachusetts: Tax on Meals
• CNN Money: How Much to Tip