Calculating sales tax in New York City (NYC) is straightforward once you know the current rate. The sales tax is a percentage applied to the price of taxable goods and services.
As of the latest information, the combined state and local sales tax rate for New York City is 8.875%. This rate is composed of:
4.50% New York State sales tax
4.375% Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (MCTD) surcharge
This rate applies to most retail sales within the five boroughs of New York City.
How the Calculation Works:
The sales tax is calculated using a simple formula:
Sales Tax = Purchase Amount × Sales Tax Rate
The Sales Tax Rate for NYC is 8.875%, which is expressed as a decimal in calculations: 0.08875.
For example, if you purchase an item for $100.00:
Sales Tax = $100.00 × 0.08875 = $8.88 (rounded to the nearest cent)
The total amount you will pay is the original purchase amount plus the calculated sales tax:
Total Amount = Purchase Amount + Sales Tax
Using the same $100.00 example:
Total Amount = $100.00 + $8.88 = $108.88
When is Sales Tax Applied in NYC?
Sales tax in NYC generally applies to:
Tangible personal property (most retail goods)
Certain services, such as interior decorating services, repair services to tangible personal property, certain protective and detective services, and certain information services.
Some items and services are exempt from sales tax, such as most food products (intended for home consumption), prescription drugs, and services like education or healthcare. It's always wise to confirm the taxability of specific items or services if you are unsure.
This calculator is designed to quickly estimate the sales tax and total cost for your purchases in New York City.
var nycSalesTaxRate = 0.08875; // 8.875%
function calculateSalesTax() {
var purchaseAmountInput = document.getElementById("purchaseAmount");
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
var taxAmountDisplay = document.getElementById("taxAmountDisplay");
var totalAmountDisplay = document.getElementById("totalAmountDisplay");
var purchaseAmount = parseFloat(purchaseAmountInput.value);
if (isNaN(purchaseAmount) || purchaseAmount < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid positive number for the purchase amount.");
resultDiv.style.display = 'none';
return;
}
var salesTax = purchaseAmount * nycSalesTaxRate;
var totalAmount = purchaseAmount + salesTax;
// Format currency to two decimal places
var formattedSalesTax = "$" + salesTax.toFixed(2);
var formattedTotalAmount = "$" + totalAmount.toFixed(2);
taxAmountDisplay.textContent = formattedSalesTax;
totalAmountDisplay.textContent = formattedTotalAmount;
resultDiv.style.display = 'block';
}