Alabama Sales Tax Calculator (2026)
Add Alabama sales tax to a price or extract it from a total: 4% state rate (2% food and vehicles, 1.5% machinery) plus your city and county rate.
Alabama sales tax has two layers: a state rate set by the Alabama Department of Revenue and city and county taxes set locally. The general state rate is 4%, with lower state rates for groceries, vehicles and some machinery. Enter the price, the type of purchase and your local rate to see the state tax, local tax and total — or work backwards from a receipt that already includes tax.
How to use this tool
- Enter the price, or the total if tax is already included.
- Pick the purchase type: general, food, vehicle, farm machinery or manufacturing machinery.
- Enter the combined city + county rate for that purchase type where the sale happens (without the state rate).
- Choose whether to add tax or find the tax inside a tax-included total.
Formula
Sales tax = price × (state rate + local rate) ÷ 100; price = total ÷ (1 + combined rate ÷ 100)
State rates for 2026: 4% general, 2% food/grocery, 2% automotive, 1.5% farm machinery and 1.5% manufacturing machinery. State and local tax are each rounded to the cent.
Example
A $100 purchase of general merchandise where the city and county together charge 5%: state tax is $4, local tax is $5, so the total is $109 at a 9% combined rate. For a $30,000 car in a place with a 1% local automotive rate, the 2% state tax is $600 and local tax $300, so the tax is $900.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find my local rate?
The Alabama Department of Revenue publishes city and county rates and a search by address. Add the city and county rates together. In a police jurisdiction just outside city limits, the city rate is typically half the regular rate.
Are groceries taxed in Alabama?
Yes, at a reduced 2% state rate since 1 September 2025 (Act 2025-305), plus any local food tax. The state portion was suspended only from 1 May to 30 June 2026; local food taxes still applied then.
Why does a car have a different rate?
Vehicles fall under the 2% state automotive rate, and cities and counties set their own automotive rates separately, so use the local automotive rate rather than the general one.
Does this include sales tax holidays?
No. During Alabama's sales tax holidays some items are exempt from the state tax, and only participating cities and counties drop their local tax.
Sources
This tool gives an estimate for general information only. It is not financial, tax, legal or medical advice — check with a qualified professional before you rely on the result.
Last updated: 2026