Pennsylvania Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate Pennsylvania sales tax with the current 6% state rate and average local rate — add tax to a price or remove it from a total.
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How to use this calculator
- 1
Enter the amount.
- 2
Use the state average local rate, no local tax, or enter your own city or county rate.
- 3
Choose whether to add tax to a price or remove it from a total.
- 4
Read the Pennsylvania sales tax, pre-tax price and total.
Frequently asked questions
What is the sales tax rate in Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania state rate is 6%. With the average local rate of 0.34%, the average combined rate is 6.34%. Your exact rate depends on your city and county.
Where does Pennsylvania rank for sales tax?
Pennsylvania ranks number 34 of 51 (50 states and DC) for average combined sales tax, from highest to lowest. The median is 7%, so Pennsylvania is 0.66 percentage points below it.
Which states have a combined rate close to Pennsylvania's?
By the table's average combined rates, the nearest are Connecticut at 6.35% and Massachusetts at 6.25%, compared with 6.34% for Pennsylvania.
How much does the local rate change the tax in Pennsylvania?
On $1,000, no local tax gives $60.00 and the 0.34% average local rate gives $63.40. A local rate 1% above the average would give $73.40.
How do I remove sales tax from a Pennsylvania receipt?
Divide the total by 1.06340, which is 1 plus the 6.34% combined rate. A $250.00 total becomes $235.09 before tax, with $14.91 of tax included. The "Remove tax from a total" option does it for you.
How is the tax rounded?
At 6.34%, $19.99 carries $1.27 of tax, which shows as $21.26 in total once rounded to the cent. A Pennsylvania register may round per line item or per receipt, so a store total can differ by a cent or two.
How do I find the exact local rate?
Check the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue rate lookup for your address, then enter it using the "Enter my own local rate" option.
Is food or clothing taxed in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a 6% state rate. Philadelphia adds 2% and Allegheny County adds 1%, so Philadelphia's combined rate is 8%. Most groceries, most clothing and prescription drugs are exempt.
Pennsylvania sales tax — 6% state rate
Pennsylvania sales tax rate stack
Most of the Pennsylvania rate is the state's own: 6% of the 6.34% average combined rate, with local governments averaging only 0.34% (about 5% of the total). On the average combined rate Pennsylvania ranks number 34 of 51 (50 states and DC). That is 0.66 percentage points below the median combined rate of 7% (Indiana). The two states closest to it by combined rate are Connecticut (6.35%) and Massachusetts (6.25%). Rates as of July 1, 2026 (local averages as of January 1, 2026), from the Tax Foundation. Local rates vary by city and county, so the average is an estimate — use the custom option for your exact local rate. The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue governs what applies to a specific sale.
| State | State rate | Average local | Combined | Rank of 51 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 6.35% | 0% | 6.35% | 33 |
| Pennsylvania | 6% | 0.34% | 6.34% | 34 |
| Massachusetts | 6.25% | 0% | 6.25% | 35 |
Worked Pennsylvania sales tax examples
At 6.34%, a $100 purchase in Pennsylvania carries $6.34 of tax for a $106.34 total, so each $1,000 adds about $63.40. The table below adds tax to Pennsylvania pre-tax prices. The second works backwards: a $500.00 receipt includes $29.81 of tax on a $470.19 price, found by dividing by 1.06340.
| Purchase | State tax only | Tax at combined rate | Total at combined rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20 | $1.20 | $1.27 | $21.27 |
| $100 | $6.00 | $6.34 | $106.34 |
| $500 | $30.00 | $31.70 | $531.70 |
| $2,500 | $150.00 | $158.50 | $2,658.50 |
Removing tax from Pennsylvania receipts
Receipt totals that include tax convert back to the pre-tax price at the same 6.34% combined rate.
| Receipt total | Price before tax | Tax included |
|---|---|---|
| $108.25 | $101.80 | $6.45 |
| $500.00 | $470.19 | $29.81 |
| $1,250.00 | $1,175.47 | $74.53 |
Local rates and the $2,500 purchase in Pennsylvania
Choosing no local tax puts the tax on $1,000 at $60.00. The state average adds $3.40 for $63.40, and a custom local rate 1% above the average adds another $10.00. Each extra percentage point of local rate is worth $10.00 per $1,000 in Pennsylvania. Taking a $2,500 purchase, the 6% state rate yields $150.00 and the average combined rate yields $158.50, a local share of $8.50. The nearest peers on combined rate would charge Connecticut $158.75 and Massachusetts $156.25 on the same amount.
| Local option | Combined rate | Sales tax | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| No local tax | 6% | $60.00 | $1,060.00 |
| State average local (0.34%) | 6.34% | $63.40 | $1,063.40 |
| Average plus 1% (1.34% local) | 7.34% | $73.40 | $1,073.40 |
What this Pennsylvania calculator does and does not do
This calculator uses the 0.34% average local rate for Pennsylvania unless you choose no local tax or type your own, so treat results as estimates for an unknown address. Every Pennsylvania amount is rounded to the cent and one 6.34% rate covers the whole amount, so a basket mixing taxable and exempt items has to be split by hand. The tool does not apply item exemptions. About what is taxed: Pennsylvania has a 6% state rate. Philadelphia adds 2% and Allegheny County adds 1%, so Philadelphia's combined rate is 8%. Most groceries, most clothing and prescription drugs are exempt.
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Results are estimates for informational purposes only and do not constitute professional financial, medical, legal, or technical advice. Read full disclaimer →