Florida imposes a state sales tax on most retail sales of tangible personal property and services.
In addition to the state sales tax, many counties in Florida levy a local option sales tax,
which is added to the state rate, creating a combined rate that varies by location.
This calculator helps you determine the total sales tax you would pay on a purchase in Florida,
taking into account both the state and local rates.
How Florida Sales Tax Works:
State Sales Tax: The base state sales tax rate in Florida is 6%. This applies to most taxable goods and services.
Local Option Sales Tax: Many Florida counties have an additional discretionary sales surtax (local option tax) that ranges from 0.5% to 1.5%. This is added to the state rate, making the combined rate higher in those areas. The calculator includes a field for this local tax rate.
Exemptions: Certain items and services are exempt from sales tax in Florida. Common exemptions include most food for home consumption, prescription medicines, and residential rent. For specific details on taxable and exempt items, it's always best to consult the Florida Department of Revenue.
Use Tax: If you purchase taxable goods or services outside of Florida for use within the state and do not pay Florida sales tax, you may be liable for Florida use tax. The rate for use tax is the same as the sales tax rate in the location where the item is first used.
Calculation Formula:
The total sales tax is calculated by summing the state and local option rates and then applying this combined rate to the purchase amount.
1. Calculate the combined tax rate: Combined Rate (%) = State Sales Tax Rate (%) + Local Option Sales Tax Rate (%)
2. Convert the combined rate to a decimal: Combined Rate (Decimal) = Combined Rate (%) / 100
3. Calculate the total sales tax amount: Sales Tax Amount ($) = Purchase Amount ($) × Combined Rate (Decimal)
Example:
Let's say you are making a purchase of $250.00 in Miami-Dade County, Florida.
The state sales tax rate is 6.0%, and Miami-Dade County has a local option sales tax of 1.0%.
Purchase Amount: $250.00
State Tax Rate: 6.0%
Local Option Tax Rate: 1.0%
Combined Tax Rate: 6.0% + 1.0% = 7.0%
Combined Rate (Decimal): 7.0 / 100 = 0.07
Sales Tax Amount: $250.00 × 0.07 = $17.50
In this scenario, the total sales tax on your $250.00 purchase would be $17.50.
function calculateFloridaSalesTax() {
var purchaseAmountInput = document.getElementById("purchaseAmount");
var stateTaxRateInput = document.getElementById("stateTaxRate");
var localTaxRateInput = document.getElementById("localTaxRate");
var resultValueDiv = document.getElementById("result-value");
var purchaseAmount = parseFloat(purchaseAmountInput.value);
var stateTaxRate = parseFloat(stateTaxRateInput.value);
var localTaxRate = parseFloat(localTaxRateInput.value);
if (isNaN(purchaseAmount) || purchaseAmount < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid purchase amount.");
resultValueDiv.textContent = "$0.00";
return;
}
if (isNaN(stateTaxRate) || stateTaxRate < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid state tax rate.");
resultValueDiv.textContent = "$0.00";
return;
}
if (isNaN(localTaxRate) || localTaxRate < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid local option tax rate.");
resultValueDiv.textContent = "$0.00";
return;
}
var combinedTaxRateDecimal = (stateTaxRate + localTaxRate) / 100;
var salesTaxAmount = purchaseAmount * combinedTaxRateDecimal;
resultValueDiv.textContent = "$" + salesTaxAmount.toFixed(2);
}