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Reverse Sales Tax Calculator

Already have the total? Stop multiplying and start dividing. Work backward to the pre-tax price and the exact sales tax hidden inside it.

WORKFLOW

How it works

Follow the exact steps to get your result instantly and privately.

Purchase Details

AMOUNT
Subtotal (Pre-tax)
$1,250|

Just the sticker price. No commas needed.

STEP 1

1. Enter the total you paid

Type the final, tax-included amount from your receipt—the number you actually handed over at checkout.

How to Back Out Sales Tax

Sales tax is added on top of a price, so the total is the price multiplied by one-plus-the-rate. To reverse it, you divide the total by that exact same figure to recover the original price, then subtract to find the tax. This is the ONLY correct way. Multiplying the total by the rate overstates the tax, because you end up taxing the tax.
Pre-Tax Price = Total ÷ (1 + Combined Rate)
Sales Tax = Total − Pre-Tax Price

Example: Let's look at the numbers. A $108.00 total in a county with an 8.00% combined rate breaks down to $108 ÷ 1.08 = $100.00 before tax, leaving exactly $8.00 in sales tax.

Worked Examples

$108.00 total at 8.00% (Franklin)$108 ÷ 1.08$100.00 pre-tax → $8.00 tax
$53.25 total at 6.50% (Butler)$53.25 ÷ 1.065$50.00 pre-tax → $3.25 tax
$214.00 total at 7.00% (Medina)$214 ÷ 1.07$200.00 pre-tax → $14.00 tax
$1,080.00 total at 8.00% (Cuyahoga)$1,080 ÷ 1.08$1,000.00 pre-tax → $80.00 tax

What a $100.00 tax-included total breaks down to at common Ohio combined rates.

Combined RatePre-Tax PriceSales Tax in the Total
6.50%$93.90$6.10
6.75%$93.68$6.32
7.00%$93.46$6.54
7.25%$93.24$6.76
7.50%$93.02$6.98
7.75%$92.81$7.19
8.00%$92.59$7.41

What a $100.00 tax-included total breaks down to at common Ohio combined rates.

Quick facts

  • Backing out tax uses division, not multiplication. Multiplying the total by the rate mathematically overstates the tax.
  • The pre-tax price is always smaller than the total divided by the rate alone.
  • Reverse calculations are incredibly common at tax time, for expense reports, and for reconciling shady receipts.
  • Ohio's combined rates run from 6.50% to 8.00%, so the same total hides a different tax amount in each county.
  • Groceries and prescriptions are legally exempt, so a receipt for those has $0 tax to back out.

Ohio CPA & Small Business Advisor

Sales & Use Tax Specialist

  • CPA
  • Small Business Advisor
  • ODT audit survivor

Written by a seasoned Ohio CPA and small-business advisor who has survived more than a few Ohio Department of Taxation audits. These tools and guides distill that hands-on experience so shoppers, sellers, and businesses stay out of trouble and keep more of their own money.

Reviewed by Ohio CPA & Small Business Advisor · Last reviewed June 8, 2026

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Frequently asked questions

Divide the total by one plus the tax rate to get the pre-tax price, then subtract that from the total. For an 8% rate: $108 ÷ 1.08 = $100, so the tax is exactly $8.

Because the total already includes the tax. Multiplying the total by the rate taxes the tax and gives a number that is way too high. You must divide to remove the tax first.

Use the combined state-plus-county rate for the exact county where the sale took place. It ranges from 6.50% to 8.00% across Ohio's 88 counties.

Yes. Ohio is heavily destination-based, so the rate is the one for your delivery address. Select the county the order shipped to and enter the total you paid.

It is the price the tax was calculated on. If a discount was applied before tax, the pre-tax price reflects the discounted amount, not the original sticker price.

Reverse Sales Tax Calculator by County

Select your county to pre-load the calculator with local rates.