Additional resources
Sales tax calculator and tax rate lookup tool
Look up the current rate for a specific address using the same geolocation technology that powers the Avalara AvaTax rate calculation engine.
Tax rates can vary within a county, a city, or even a ZIP code. Using a street address helps to ensure more accurate rates and calculations when compared to relying on broader geographic indicators.
*Rates are rounded to the nearest hundredth.
Automate your calculations
Automate your sales tax calculations and compliance with Avalara AvaTax. AvaTax offers street-level precision at the point of sale, eliminating the need to look up rates or maintain a database. Rate updates are pushed to your system automatically, based on the latest jurisdiction rules and regulations.
Sales tax rate tables
Need tax rates for your business? Download a free sales tax rates table by ZIP code for any US state.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my business is required to collect sales tax?
There are many ways to establish sales tax nexus — the connection between a business and a state that creates a sales tax collection requirement — and no two state sales tax laws are exactly alike.
Determining which laws apply to your business is hard, but it’s a crucial step toward compliance. For more information, please refer to our guide to nexus laws and sales tax collection requirements.
How does this sales tax calculator work?
When you enter a street address, the calculator’s rate lookup tool uses geolocation to pinpoint the exact tax jurisdiction. Then it determines the corresponding current sales tax rate by accessing AvaTax, our innovative, cloud-based sales tax calculation software.
This level of accuracy is important when determining sales tax rates. In some locations, rates for two adjacent addresses can be different. Relying on a city or ZIP code is not the most reliable way to calculate sales tax rates.
How is sales tax calculated?
At a glance, calculating sales tax seems simple: Take the price of a taxable product or service and multiply it by the sales tax rate. With sales tax, though, it’s almost never that easy. The real trick is figuring out what needs to be taxed then calculating the correct tax rate — which, depending on how your business operates, could mean learning the rules in any number of the more than 13,000 sales and use tax jurisdictions across the United States.
Want to learn more? Check out this on-demand webinar on how to calculate the right sales tax rate.
What is my sales tax rate?
Though sales tax rates are typically set at the state level, some states authorize county, city, or local taxing districts to set their own rates and rules. With so many jurisdictions generating rates, rules, and boundaries, figuring out your sales tax rate is best accomplished with a street address rather than a city name, a street name, or a ZIP code.
Use our calculator above to get a sales tax rate specific to any U.S. street address. Avalara maintains updated state and local sales tax rates across the United States.
I usually use ZIP codes to determine sales tax rates. Why doesn’t this tool use them too?
ZIP codes were created to help the U.S. Postal Service with the delivery of mail and are independent of any state revenue systems. The boundaries can change and often don’t line up with tax rate jurisdictions. This makes them the wrong tool to use for determining sales tax rates in the United States.
By basing sales tax on ZIP codes, you risk applying the wrong rates and remitting tax to the incorrect jurisdiction. Both of these errors increase your company’s risk of audit penalties, fines, and fees.
I don’t have time to look up the tax rate for every sale. Is there a faster way?
Avalara AvaTax is an automated sales tax solution that works with your ecommerce, POS, or ERP system to calculate rates in real time. Businesses of all sizes can use AvaTax to calculate the correct amount of sales tax you need to pay or if you have any sales tax exemptions. If you’re working with a developer, they can take advantage of the AvaTax API to build sales tax rate determination into your application.
Other sales tax resources
5 steps to managing sales tax
Learn how to best manage sales tax compliance in five detailed steps.
Free Sales Tax Risk Assessment
Registered in all the right states? Take our free assessment to find out.
Sales tax nexus laws by state
Avoid sales tax surprises. Know where and why you may owe sales tax.
