Vermont Sales Tax Calculator (2026) — Add or Reverse Tax
Vermont's combined sales tax rate is 6.39% (6.00% state + 0.39% average local). Use the calculator below to add Vermont sales tax to a price, or reverse a tax-included total to find the pre-tax price and exact tax amount.
How to use this calculator:
- Adding tax — enter a pre-tax price, pick "Add tax to price," and the calculator applies the Vermont rate to show the tax amount and final total.
- Reversing (extracting) tax — enter a total that already includes tax, pick "Extract tax from total," and the calculator divides by 1 + the rate to isolate the pre-tax price and the exact tax paid.
- Pick the rate that matches your situation: the average combined rate is a good statewide estimate, but the state-only or maximum-local rate is more precise if you know the exact city or county.
Understanding Vermont Sales Tax
Vermont's state sales tax rate is 6.00%, and local jurisdictions add an average of 0.39% on top, bringing the typical combined rate to 6.39%. Rates vary by city and county — the highest combined rate in Vermont can reach 7.00%.
Vermont also levies a state income tax, which shapes how much the state relies on sales tax revenue relative to other funding sources.
Groceries
Exempt from Vermont state sales tax.
Largest city
Burlington
State income tax
Yes
Why Reverse Sales Tax Calculation Matters
Receipts and marketplace payouts usually show only the tax-included total, so separating revenue from tax collected — for bookkeeping, expense reports, or checking what an item costs before Vermont's tax is applied — means working backward from that total. Dividing by (1 + rate) isn't the same as subtracting the rate, which is why the calculator above handles it exactly.
Vermont Taxability at a Glance
🛒 Groceries
Exempt
👕 Clothing
Exempt
💊 Prescription drugs
Exempt
How Vermont Fits Into the US Sales Tax System
The United States has no federal sales tax — unlike VAT/GST countries where a national rate applies everywhere, US sales tax is set entirely at the state level, and each of the 50 states (plus DC) independently decides whether to levy one, what the rate is, and what's exempt. Vermont is one of the 45 states (plus DC) that levies a general sales tax. States can also authorize cities, counties, and special districts to add their own local rate on top of the state rate — which is why the "combined rate" shown on this page is a blend, not a single fixed number, and why it can differ from the state rate alone by several percentage points depending on the exact delivery address.
History & Rate Breakdown
Vermont first imposed its sales and use tax in 1969 at 3%. The rate has been adjusted repeatedly since — up to 4% in 1982, temporarily to 5% in 1991, back down and up again through the 1990s, and finally to today's 6% in 2006. Clothing became exempt in 1999, with footwear following in 2001, and a 1% local option tax was authorized in 1997.
Vermont's 6.39% average combined rate is mostly the 6% state rate, with a thin local option layer (averaging 0.39%) that some municipalities have adopted, applying only to items that are already taxable at the state level.
Where the Money Goes
Vermont's clothing and footwear exemptions were phased in gradually at the turn of the century specifically to reduce the sales tax burden on everyday necessities, mirroring the policy reasoning behind similar exemptions in neighboring Massachusetts and New York.
Business Use Case: Registering & Collecting Vermont Sales Tax
A retailer in a Vermont town that has adopted the 1% local option tax charges 7% total on taxable goods, while an identical retailer in a town that hasn't adopted it charges just the 6% state rate — and neither charges any tax at all on most clothing and footwear thanks to the state exemption.
Key terms: combined rate — state rate plus applicable local add-ons; reverse sales tax — working backward from a tax-included total via total ÷ (1 + rate); economic nexus — a sales threshold that obligates an out-of-state seller to collect tax without a physical presence; marketplace facilitator — a platform that remits tax on behalf of third-party sellers.
Real-World Example: Adding Tax to a Price
A $500.00 purchase in Vermont at the average combined rate of 6.39%:
- Tax amount: $500.00 × 6.39% = $31.95
- Total price: $500.00 + $31.95 = $531.95
Real-World Example: Extracting Tax From a Receipt Total
A receipt shows a $749.99 tax-included total in Vermont at the average combined rate of 6.39%:
- Pre-tax price: $749.99 ÷ (1 + 6.39%) = $704.94
- Tax amount: $749.99 − $704.94 = $45.05
Vermont Sales Tax Compliance for Sellers
Remote and online sellers establish economic nexus in Vermont once they exceed $100,000.00 in annual sales or 200+ separate transactions. Once nexus is established, a seller must register with the state, collect Vermont sales tax at checkout, and file returns on the state's required schedule. Marketplace facilitators (Amazon, Etsy, eBay, Walmart) generally collect and remit on behalf of third-party sellers automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions — Vermont Sales Tax
What is the sales tax rate in Vermont?▾
Does Vermont tax groceries?▾
Does Vermont have a state income tax?▾
When do online sellers need to collect Vermont sales tax?▾
How do I calculate Vermont sales tax on a purchase?▾
How do I reverse Vermont sales tax to find the price before tax?▾
What is the formula to back out sales tax from a receipt in Vermont?▾
References & Sources
Methodology: the combined rate shown is the state rate plus the population-weighted average of local (city/county/district) rates reported by the Tax Foundation for 2026; it is an average, not the exact rate for any single address — use the county table above where available, or confirm the exact local add-on with the Vermont Department of Revenue, for a specific delivery address. Economic nexus thresholds are sourced from the Sales Tax Institute's Economic Nexus State Guide.
Rates last verified January 2026. Vermont sales tax rates and thresholds change over time — always confirm current figures with the Vermont Department of Revenue before filing or invoicing. This tool is for estimation and educational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or accounting advice.
Jordan Hayes
Verified AuthorPersonal Finance Content Strategist
Jordan is a personal finance content strategist with 9+ years writing about mortgages, retirement, tax strategy, and budgeting. Every guide is cross-referenced with IRS publications, Federal Reserve data, and CFPB guidance to make complex calculations accessible. Editor at CalculatorApp.me.
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Tax-rate data, review & limitations
Jurisdiction: Vermont, United States. Effective date: January 1, 2026. Reviewed by CalculatorApp.me editorial staff on July 26, 2026; next scheduled review: October 26, 2026.
Rates are reference estimates, not tax advice. Local rules, exemptions, filing status, and effective dates can change the amount due.
Primary sources
- Tax Foundation, 2026 State and Local Sales Tax Rates
- Relevant state department of revenue guidance