How to Figure Sales Tax With Total

A calculator can help you calculate sales taxes faster.

Figuring out the sales tax of a purchase can be done with a simple calculation. The sales tax is a percentage charged to the cost of taxable goods or services that you buy. The sales tax is collected by the state revenue agency, and in some counties it includes a county tax, to help pay for public services.

Instructions

1. Find out the sales tax percentage in your local area. You can use online resources to find out the sales tax. Enter your zip code and click "Get Rate."

2. Multiply the sales total by one plus the sales tax, (Sales Total X (1+ Sales Tax) = Total with Sales Tax). Remember a percentage is a fraction of 100. So if your sales tax is 7 percent, when you add one it will be 1.07. The answer is your total with sales tax included.

3. Use a sales tax calculator application on your phone to get your total with taxes. If you prefer to use an application, most Android and iPhone users can download sales tax calculators on their phones. Search for "Sales Tax" on the Application store for various applications that can add the sales tax to the total.

References

• Basic-Mathematics: How To Calculate Sales Tax
• Eugene School District: Testing Glossary
• AndroLib: Sales Tax

Resources

• Zip2Tax: State, County, and Local Sales Tax Rates