Washington DC Sales Tax Rate
Washington, DC has one sales tax rate for the whole District and no local add-on. The Office of Tax and Revenue has postponed the scheduled increase in the general rate, which stays as it is through September 30, 2027. Groceries are exempt, but restaurant food is taxed at 10%, and cars pay a separate excise tax at the DMV that depends on the vehicle's weight and fuel economy.
State rate
6%
Local add-on
None
Combined
6%
The District is a single taxing jurisdiction, and the Office of Tax and Revenue publishes one rate schedule for it, so the general rate is the same on every block. What changes the rate is the item: restaurant food is taxed at 10%, soft drinks at 8%, and vehicle rentals at 10.25%.
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
$106.00
| Detail | Amount |
|---|---|
| Purchase Price | $100.00 |
| State Tax Rate | 6.000% |
| Sales Tax | $6.00 |
| Total | $106.00 |
Groceries are exempt from sales tax in Washington DC.
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 Washington DC taxes, and what it doesn't
Groceries and restaurant food
Food and drink of the type covered by the federal food stamp definition are not taxed, with two exceptions: food and drink prepared for immediate consumption, and soft drinks. Restaurant meals, carry-out food and similar prepared food are taxed at 10%, and soft drinks at 8%. Prepared food includes food in a heated state, sandwiches suitable for immediate consumption, prepared salads, and all food or drink sold by restaurants, lunch counters, cafeterias, hotels, caterers, boarding houses and carryout shops.
Cars
The District charges an excise tax when a vehicle is titled, and the DMV calculates it automatically as the vehicle's fair market value times a percentage set by its unladen weight and its city miles per gallon, from 1.0% to 11.0%. Electric vehicles are no longer exempt and fall in their own column of the table at the low end of that range. Many vehicles are exempt from the excise tax, and the DMV publishes an exemption list.
Vehicle rentals
Rentals of motor vehicles are taxed at 10.25%, above the general rate.
Use tax on out-of-state purchases
The use tax is imposed at the same rate as the sales tax. It applies to taxable property bought or rented without paying sales tax to the District or any other jurisdiction and then used, stored or consumed in the District.
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.
Compare with other states
Frequently asked questions
Does DC tax groceries?
No, with exceptions. Food and drink of a type that qualifies as eligible food under the federal definition is not taxed, but food and drink prepared for immediate consumption and soft drinks are. Prepared food, including restaurant and carry-out meals, is taxed at 10%, and soft drinks at 8%.
How much is the tax on a car in Washington, DC?
DC DMV charges a vehicle excise tax when the car is titled. It is the fair market value, taken from the NADA Business Guide for the Eastern Region, multiplied by a percentage that depends on the car's unladen weight and its city miles per gallon, ranging from 1.0% to 11.0%. Electric vehicles are no longer exempt, and the DMV offers an online estimator and a list of exempt vehicles.
Is the DC sales tax going up?
The Office of Tax and Revenue has announced that the scheduled increase in the general sales tax rate is postponed and that the general rate stays where it is through September 30, 2027.
What is the sales tax on restaurant meals in DC?
Food and drink prepared for immediate consumption, including restaurant and carry-out food, is taxed at 10%, higher than the general rate on goods.
Sources
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