Is There Sales Tax in Every State?

The short answer to this question is: no, not every state in the US charges sales tax.

The state of Delaware, for example, not only pays no statewide sales tax, but its local cities and counties don’t charge sales tax as well. Talk about a win for local consumers!

Other states split the difference. Alaska doesn’t charge a statewide sales tax, but its local municipalities can - and do - charge local sales tax. Taken together, the local sales taxes average 1.76% in the state, despite having a 0% statewide sales tax.

For more specifics on the different states you might sell into as a US eCommerce seller, check out the state sales tax table below.

Statewide Sales Tax By State

As of 2019, states charge the following statewide sales taxes:

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As a note, the chart above includes mandatory statewide local sales taxes in the following states, according to the following percentages:

• California: 1%
• Utah: 1.25%
• Virginia: 1%

Another exception is Salem County, New Jersey, which isn’t required pay statewide sales taxes.

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It's a lot to keep track of, right? Try out our free sales tax calculator to find out the sales tax by ZIP code in every US state.

Average Local Sales Tax, By State

Beyond statewide sales taxes, cities, counties and other local areas can levy their own sales taxes. The average rate per state is shown below, courtesy of the Tax Foundation.

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(And yes, New Jersey’s number is negative, thanks to the single hold-out county mentioned above, which throws the Tax Foundation’s calculations out of whack.)

Confused yet? We don’t blame you. You’re a business owner - not an accountant or tax lawyer.

Fortunately, you don’t have to be a tax expert to run a successful eCommerce store. All you need is the right partner. Reach out today to see how the Quaderno sales tax automation software simplifies sales tax calculation and makes sure you pay the right amount, every time.