Texas Sales Tax Rate 2026
Texas pairs no state income tax with a sales tax that has a firm upper bound: however many local jurisdictions overlap at an address, the local component cannot exceed two percent in total. That cap makes the worst-case Texas rate predictable in a way that stacked-district states are not.
State rate
6.25%
Local add-on
0%–2%
Combined (capped)
6.25%–8.25%
Cities, counties, transit authorities, and special purpose districts can each impose local sales and use tax, but the Comptroller caps the total local component at 2 percent — so unlike California, Texas has a hard ceiling on the combined rate.
Work out the tax on a purchase
The calculator applies the state rate. Where local tax applies, add your local rate to get the figure that will appear on the receipt — the official lookup below gives the exact rate for an address.
Total Cost
$106.25
| Detail | Amount |
|---|---|
| Purchase Price | $100.00 |
| State Tax Rate | 6.250% |
| Sales Tax | $6.25 |
| Total | $106.25 |
Groceries are exempt from sales tax in Texas.
Sales Tax
$6.25Tax Rate
6.250%Total Cost
$106.25State-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 Texas taxes, and what it doesn't
Groceries
Food products are not taxable — flour, sugar, bread, milk, eggs, fruit, and vegetables all come off untaxed. The dividing line is preparation: hot or heated food, anything sold with eating utensils, individual-sized snack portions, candy, gum, and sweetened drinks are taxable even when bought at a grocery store.
The two percent cap
Because several local taxing units can overlap the same address, some jurisdictions cannot levy their full authorised rate — the cap binds first. The practical effect is that the highest combined rate anywhere in Texas is the state rate plus two points.
Back-to-school sales tax holiday
Texas holds an annual holiday over a Friday-to-Sunday weekend in August — 7-9 August in 2026. Qualifying clothing, footwear, school supplies, and backpacks priced under $100 per item are exempt, with no limit on how many qualifying items you buy. Delivery and handling charges count toward the $100 test, which can push an otherwise-qualifying item over the line. Jewellery, handbags, luggage, computers, textbooks, and specially designed athletic footwear do not qualify.
Get the exact rate for an address
A statewide figure is a starting point, not a receipt. For the rate that actually applies to a specific address, use the state's own lookup — third-party rate tables disagree with each other and go stale between rate changes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest sales tax rate in Texas?
The state rate plus the two percent local cap. The Comptroller states that local jurisdictions can impose up to 2 percent for a maximum combined rate — so no Texas address charges more than that, regardless of how many city, county, transit, and special district taxes overlap there.
Is food taxed in Texas?
Basic groceries are not. The Comptroller treats flour, sugar, bread, milk, eggs, and fresh, canned, or frozen produce as non-taxable food products. What flips an item into taxable territory is readiness to eat: heated food, food sold with utensils, single-serving snacks, candy, gum, and sweetened beverages are taxed at the full combined rate.
When is the Texas tax-free weekend?
It runs 7-9 August in 2026. The exemption covers clothing, footwear, school supplies, and backpacks under $100 per item, and there is no cap on quantity. Watch the shipping charge — it is included in the price when testing the $100 threshold, so an item priced just under can fail the test once delivery is added.
Sources
Related Calculators
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