Idaho Sales Tax Rate
Idaho charges one state sales tax rate and applies it to groceries, then returns part of the tax on food through a credit on the income tax return. A group of resort cities adds its own voter-approved local tax, and short-term lodging carries extra taxes of its own.
State rate
6%
Local add-on
Some resort cities
Combined, outside those cities
6%
Some resort cities add a voter-approved local sales tax, and each city decides what it covers: some tax everything subject to the state sales tax, others only lodging, alcohol by the drink and restaurant food. The Tax Commission lists these cities and sends questions about their taxes to each city: Bellevue, Bonners Ferry, Cascade, Crouch, Donnelly, Driggs, Hailey, Harrison, Irwin, Kellogg, Ketchum, Lava Hot Springs, Mackay, McCall, Ponderay, Riggins, Salmon, Sandpoint, Stanley, Sun Valley, Swan Valley, Tetonia, Victor.
Work out the tax on a purchase
The calculator applies the state rate only. In a resort city with its own local sales tax, ask the city for its rate and what it covers, then add that rate where it applies.
Total Cost
$106.00
| Detail | Amount |
|---|---|
| Purchase Price | $100.00 |
| State Tax Rate | 6.000% |
| Sales Tax | $6.00 |
| Total | $106.00 |
Sales tax
Tax rate
Total cost
State-level base rates only. Many states allow cities and counties to add local sales taxes which are not included here. Check your local rate for exact calculations.
Edit inputs ↑What Idaho taxes, and what it doesn't
Groceries and the food tax credit
Retail sales of food and drink are taxed at the state rate, except purchases made with food stamps, EBT cards or WIC checks. The food tax credit offsets that tax: for most Idaho residents it is $155 per person, or up to $250 per person with receipts for the sales tax paid on food. Residents who are not required to file an income tax return can still claim it as a refund.
Cars, trucks and other vehicles
Sales or use tax applies each time a vehicle is transferred, or on its first use in Idaho, unless an exemption applies. The Idaho Transportation Department cannot issue a title or registration until the tax is paid. A vehicle that qualifies as a gift can be exempt using Form ST-133.
Hotels and short-term rentals
Lodging of 30 days or less is a taxable sale. It also carries a 2% travel and convention tax, and auditorium districts can charge a further local tax on short-term lodging inside their boundaries. The Tax Commission administers that tax for the Greater Boise, Idaho Falls, Mountain Community Center, Nampa and Pocatello-Chubbuck districts.
Use tax on out-of-state and online purchases
Use tax applies to goods used or stored in Idaho when the seller did not charge Idaho sales tax, including online orders, at the same rate as the sales tax. You owe nothing if you correctly paid another U.S. state’s sales tax at an equal or higher rate. If that rate was lower, you owe the difference.
Check a resort city
The Tax Commission lists the cities with a local sales tax and a phone number for each one. It does not publish their rates, so the city is the place to ask.
Compare with other states
Frequently asked questions
Does Idaho tax groceries?
Yes. Retail food sales are taxed at the state rate unless bought with food stamps, EBT or WIC. Most residents get back $155 per person through the food tax credit, or up to $250 per person by submitting receipts for the sales tax paid on food.
Can I get the Idaho food tax credit without filing a tax return?
Yes. An Idaho resident who is not required to file an income tax return can still claim a food tax credit refund, using Form 24, Form 40 or Form 43.
Do I pay sales tax when I buy a used car in Idaho?
Generally yes. Sales or use tax applies each time a vehicle is transferred or first used in Idaho unless an exemption applies, and the title or registration is held until the tax is paid.
Do Idaho cities charge their own sales tax?
Some resort cities do, after a vote in the community. What the tax covers is up to each city, and the Tax Commission does not administer it, so ask the city directly about its rate.
Sources
- Idaho State Tax Commission — Sales and Use Taxes: Basics Guide
- Idaho State Tax Commission — Use Tax Basics Guide
- Idaho State Tax Commission — Getting Use Tax Credit for Another State’s Sales Tax
- Idaho State Tax Commission — Sales: Grocers
- Idaho State Tax Commission — Idaho Food Tax Credit
- Idaho Code § 63-3024A — Food tax credits and refunds
- Idaho State Tax Commission — City Sales Taxes
- Idaho State Tax Commission — Auditorium District Taxes
- Idaho State Tax Commission — Travel and Convention Tax
- Idaho Transportation Department — Title and Registration FAQs
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