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Home›US›TX Sales Tax Calculator

Texas Sales Tax Calculator

Calculate your total price with Texas sales tax, compare rates across major cities, and check which items qualify for tax-free weekends. Texas has no income tax but charges up to 8.25% sales tax.

Calculate your total price with Texas sales tax
Texas has no income tax but charges up to 8.25% sales tax. Most major cities hit the cap.
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Pre-tax price of the item or total purchase
Tax rate varies by city — most major cities are 8.25%
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How to Use This Calculator

Calculate Total tab

Enter your purchase amount (pre-tax price) and select your city or area. The calculator shows the tax amount, total price, and a full rate breakdown (state 6.25% + local portion). It also flags key exemptions — groceries and prescription drugs are always tax-free in Texas.

Rates by City tab

View all 8 major Texas cities and areas ranked by combined sales tax rate. Most major cities — Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, and El Paso — hit the 8.25% cap. Rural and unincorporated areas may pay as low as 6.25%. The tab also shows the state/local split for each location.

Tax-Free Periods tab

Check the interactive qualifying items list to estimate your savings during Texas tax-free weekends. The Back-to-School weekend (August) covers clothing, shoes, school supplies, and backpacks under $100 each. The Emergency Preparation weekend (April) covers generators, batteries, flashlights, and safety equipment.

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The Formula

Texas sales tax is applied to the pre-tax purchase price:

Sales Tax = Purchase Price × Combined Tax Rate

Total Price = Purchase Price + Sales Tax

Where:
  Combined Tax Rate = State Rate (6.25%) + Local Rate (0% to 2.00%)
  Maximum combined rate = 8.25% (capped by Texas law)

Example: $500 electronics in Houston (8.25%)
  $500 × 0.0825 = $41.25 sales tax
  $500 + $41.25 = $541.25 total price

The state rate of 6.25% applies everywhere in Texas. Local jurisdictions — cities, counties, transit authorities, and special purpose districts — can add up to 2.00% on top. Texas law caps the combined rate at 8.25%, so you will never pay more than that regardless of overlapping local taxing authorities.

Example

James — Shopping for Electronics in Houston, TX

James is buying a $500 laptop in Houston, Texas. He wants to know the total cost with sales tax and whether he should wait for the tax-free weekend.

Regular purchase

Purchase price$500.00
CityHouston
Combined tax rate8.25%
State tax (6.25%)$31.25
Local tax (2.00%)$10.00
Total sales tax$41.25
Total price$541.25

Tax-free weekend savings

ElectronicsNot eligible (over $100 limit)
$80 backpackTax-free — saves $6.60
$45 school suppliesTax-free — saves $3.71
$90 shoesTax-free — saves $7.43

James’s laptop exceeds the $100 per-item limit for the tax-free weekend, so he pays $41.25 in sales tax. However, if he buys school supplies for his kids during the Back-to-School weekend in August, each qualifying item under $100 is completely tax-free. Texas’s lack of income tax partially offsets the sales tax burden — but property taxes are also high.

FAQ

Texas has a 6.25% state sales tax rate. Local jurisdictions (cities, counties, transit authorities, and special purpose districts) can add up to 2.00% more, for a maximum combined rate of 8.25%. Most major cities — Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, and El Paso — charge the maximum 8.25%. Only rural or unincorporated areas typically have lower combined rates.
No. Unprepared food (groceries for home consumption) is exempt from Texas sales tax. This includes items like bread, milk, eggs, meat, produce, and canned goods. However, prepared foods (restaurant meals, deli items, heated foods) are taxed at the full rate. Candy, soft drinks, and snack foods are also taxable. Prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications are similarly exempt.
Texas has two annual tax-free shopping periods. The Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday typically falls on the second weekend of August (Friday through Sunday) and covers clothing, footwear, school supplies, and backpacks priced under $100 per item. The Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday is usually the last weekend of April, covering generators under $3,000, plus batteries, flashlights, first aid kits, and smoke detectors under $75 each. Both online and in-store purchases qualify. Check the Texas Comptroller website for exact dates each year.
No. Texas has no state income tax, and the Texas Constitution prohibits one unless approved by voters. This makes Texas attractive for high earners and businesses. However, the state compensates with relatively high sales tax (up to 8.25%) and some of the highest property taxes in the nation (effective rates averaging 1.60%–1.80%). The overall tax burden depends on your spending and homeownership status — renters and those with modest homes may pay less total tax in Texas than in income-tax states.
Texas’s maximum combined rate of 8.25% is above the national average of about 7.12%, placing it around 14th highest among US states. States with higher combined rates include Louisiana (up to 11.45%), Tennessee (up to 9.75%), and Arkansas (up to 11.625%). Five states have no sales tax: Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, Delaware, and Alaska (though Alaska allows local sales taxes). Neighboring states vary: New Mexico charges up to 9.0%, Oklahoma up to 11.0%, and Louisiana up to 11.45%.

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