Tennessee Sales Tax Calculator 2026 — 7% Rate
Calculate Tennessee sales tax on any purchase instantly. The state sales tax rate is 7%, and the statewide average combined rate (state + local) is 9.61% (Tax Foundation, rates as of July 1, 2026). Enter your purchase amount to see state tax, local tax, and the total amount due — all calculated privately in your browser.
Tennessee Sales Tax Rate: State vs Combined
The Tennessee state sales tax rate is 7%. However, most shoppers pay more than the state rate because counties and cities add their own local taxes on top. The statewide average combined rate is 9.61%, according to Tax Foundation, State and Local Sales Tax Rates, Midyear 2026 (rates as of July 1, 2026). Every Tennessee city and county has a local rate, currently between 2% and 2.75%, so a $100 purchase costs between $109.00 and $109.75.
What Is and Isn't Taxed in Tennessee
Tennessee taxes groceries at a reduced state rate of 4% plus local tax. Clothing is taxed at the standard 7% state rate plus any applicable local rate. Prescription drugs are exempt from sales tax in Tennessee. Prepared food, candy, dietary supplements and alcohol fall outside the 4% food rate and are taxed at the full general rate.
Tennessee Sales Tax Holidays
Tennessee’s traditional sales tax holiday covers clothing, school supplies and computers. In 2026 it ran from 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 31 through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 2; the 2027 holiday is scheduled for July 30 through August 1. Tax-free items are general apparel priced at $100 or less per item, school and art supplies priced at $100 or less per item, and computers (including laptops and tablets) for personal use priced at $1,500 or less. Jewelry, handbags and sports equipment do not qualify, and items normally sold together cannot be split to get under the limit. Source: Tennessee Department of Revenue, Sales Tax Holiday.
How to Calculate Tennessee Sales Tax
To calculate Tennessee sales tax: multiply the purchase price by the applicable rate. For the state rate only: price × 7% = tax. For the combined rate: use 9.61% for a statewide-average estimate, or enter the exact combined rate from your receipt or the Tennessee Department of Revenue rate lookup. Example: a $200 purchase at the 9.61% average combined rate = $19.22 in tax = $219.22 total.
Tips for Accurate Sales Tax Calculations
Always confirm the exact local rate for your specific city or county — the combined average (9.61%, Tax Foundation, rates as of July 1, 2026) is a statewide mean and may differ from your actual checkout rate. On a single item priced above $1,600 the local tax is capped, so use the single-article method described below rather than a flat rate. Keep receipts that show the tax rate used; this helps verify correct tax was charged and supports any refund claims for exempt purchases. If you are making a business purchase, check whether your state offers a sales tax exemption certificate to avoid paying tax on resale items.
Sales Tax Calculator Tennessee — How This Tool Works (2026)
This sales tax calculator Tennessee tool applies the 7% general state rate under Tenn. Code Ann. § 67-6-202 plus your choice of local rate: the 9.61% statewide combined average (Tax Foundation, rates as of July 1, 2026), the 9.25% and 9.75% rates charged in the largest cities, a state-only figure, or your own exact rate. For a $200 taxable purchase, expect $14.00 state tax alone or $19.22 tax at the statewide average (total $219.22). Groceries are taxed at a reduced 4% state rate rather than 7%, and prescription drugs are exempt — pick the grocery option for food; the calculator does not adjust for exempt items, so verify at checkout. Per the Tennessee Department of Revenue due dates and tax rates page, every local jurisdiction has a local sales tax rate and it may not be higher than 2.75%; current local rates run from 2% to 2.75%, so combined general rates run from 9% to 9.75%. Updated 2026-10-07.
Sales Tax Calculator Tennessee — Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville Local Rates 2026
Local county and city taxes stack on top of the 7% state rate, so the tax at checkout in Tennessee’s biggest cities varies. In Davidson County (Nashville) the local option rate is 2.25% and a 0.5% transit surcharge has applied since February 1, 2025, giving an effective local rate of 2.75% and a combined 9.75% at the register. The City of Memphis levies 2.75% for the same 9.75% combined, while unincorporated Shelby County is at 2.25% (9.25%). Knox County (Knoxville) and Hamilton County (Chattanooga) sit at 2.25% local = 9.25% combined. Counties such as Rutherford, Sevier and Williamson are at the 2.75% maximum (9.75%), while Loudon County is at 2% (9%). Local tax applies only to the first $1,600 of the price of a single article; a separate 2.75% state single-article tax applies to the part of the price from $1,600.01 to $3,200, and only the 7% state rate applies above $3,200.
This sales tax calculator Tennessee tool uses the Tax Foundation statewide average of 9.61% (rates as of July 1, 2026) for the "combined" option, which sits between 9.25% and 9.75%. For a receipt-exact match, look up your address with the lookup linked from the Tennessee Department of Revenue local sales tax page, then enter that combined rate in the exact-rate field of the calculator. The Department publishes the rate for every jurisdiction in its local sales tax rate map and in downloadable rate tables.
Updated 2026-10-07. Source: Tennessee Department of Revenue — Local Sales Tax; Sales and Use Tax Notice 24-11 (Davidson County).
Tennessee Sales Tax on Cars, Boats, and RVs (Vehicle Rules 2026)
Vehicles carry different math than everyday retail on this sales tax calculator Tennessee page — the state 7% still applies to the full price, but local tax applies only to the first $1,600 of a single article (Tenn. Code Ann. § 67-6-702) and an additional state single-article tax of 2.75% applies to the part of the price from $1,600.01 up to $3,200. Example on a $30,000 car in Nashville (Davidson County, 2.75% effective local rate): $30,000 × 7% state = $2,100.00, plus $1,600 × 2.75% local = $44.00, plus ($3,200 − $1,600) × 2.75% state single-article = $44.00 — total $2,188.00 tax, not the $2,925.00 you would get by multiplying $30,000 × 9.75%. In a 2.25% county such as Knox the local part is $36.00 and the total $2,180.00. Boats and RVs follow the same three-band structure. Title and registration fees are separate. Per the Tennessee Department of Revenue single article and special tax rates page, always compute vehicle sales tax with the three-band method — not a flat combined rate. Updated 2026-10-07.
Tennessee Grocery Tax: The 4% Food Rate vs the 7% General Rate
Tennessee taxes food and food ingredients at a reduced state rate of 4%, not the general 7% rate, and the Department of Revenue confirms local jurisdictions add their own rate on top — capped at 2.75%. That puts a grocery basket in Nashville or Memphis at 6.75% (4% state + 2.75% local) rather than the 9.75% combined rate that applies to general merchandise there, so a $200 grocery run costs $13.50 in tax instead of $19.50. From November 1, 2026 Davidson County’s own local rate on food and food ingredients drops from 2.25% to 1.75% (Department of Revenue Notice 26-19); the 0.5% transit surcharge is unchanged, so groceries in Nashville will be taxed at 6.25% from that date. The catch is what counts as “food.” Unprepared items you take home — bread, milk, raw meat, produce, tinned goods — get the 4% rate. Prepared food, candy, dietary supplements and alcoholic beverages are excluded and go back to the full 7% state rate plus local, which is why a rotisserie chicken from the hot counter is taxed higher than the raw chicken two aisles over. Restaurant meals are always at the general rate. If you are checking a grocery receipt with this calculator, use 4% plus your county’s local rate for the food lines and the full combined rate for everything else. Rates confirmed against the Tennessee Department of Revenue due dates and tax rates page. Updated 2026-10-07.
Which Tennessee Rate Should You Pick in the Calculator?
Pick the rate that matches your receipt, not the statewide average. Choose 9.75% if you shopped in Nashville (Davidson County, 2.25% local option tax plus the 0.5% transit surcharge), in the City of Memphis, or in a county at the 2.75% maximum such as Rutherford, Sevier and Williamson. Choose 9.25% in Knox (Knoxville) or Hamilton (Chattanooga) County, where the local option tax is 2.25%. Choose 6.75% groceries for unprepared food where the local rate is 2.75%; food uses a 4% state rate. Only fall back to the 9.61% average when you do not know the county, or type your exact combined rate into the exact-rate field. Local rates for every jurisdiction are published by the Tennessee Department of Revenue. Updated 2026-10-07.
Tennessee Sales Tax on Common Purchase Amounts
If you only want a quick sanity check on a receipt, the table below pre-computes the tax at three common Tennessee rates: 7% state alone, 9.25% (Knox and Hamilton counties), and 9.75% (Nashville, Memphis, and counties at the 2.75% local maximum such as Rutherford, Williamson and Sevier). These are general-merchandise figures — groceries use the 4% food rate instead, and single items above $1,600 use the three-band single-article method described above. Local rates are published for every jurisdiction by the Tennessee Department of Revenue.
| Purchase | Tax @ 7% | Tax @ 9.25% | Tax @ 9.75% |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10 | $0.70 | $0.93 | $0.98 |
| $25 | $1.75 | $2.31 | $2.44 |
| $50 | $3.50 | $4.63 | $4.88 |
| $100 | $7.00 | $9.25 | $9.75 |
| $500 | $35.00 | $46.25 | $48.75 |
| $1,000 | $70.00 | $92.50 | $97.50 |
Updated 2026-10-07.
Last updated: October 2026. Sources: Tennessee Department of Revenue, Due Dates and Tax Rates; Tennessee Department of Revenue, Local Sales Tax; Tennessee Department of Revenue rate table for the fourth quarter of 2026; Tennessee Department of Revenue, Single Article and Special Tax Rates; Sales and Use Tax Notice 24-11 (Davidson County surcharge); Notice 26-19 (Davidson County food rate); Tennessee Department of Revenue, Sales Tax Holiday; Tennessee Department of Revenue, Marketplace Facilitators and Out-of-State Dealers; Tax Foundation, State and Local Sales Tax Rates, Midyear 2026 (rates as of July 1, 2026).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the sales tax rate in Tennessee?
The Tennessee state sales tax rate is 7% (4% on food and food ingredients). When combined with local county and city taxes, the statewide average rate is 9.61% (Tax Foundation, rates as of July 1, 2026). Local rates run from 2% to 2.75%, so combined general rates run from 9% to 9.75%.
Does Tennessee tax groceries?
Yes, but at a reduced state rate. Food and food ingredients are taxed at 4% state instead of the general 7%, plus your local rate (which cannot exceed 2.75%), so groceries are taxed at 6% to 6.75% depending on where you shop, rather than the 9% to 9.75% applied to general merchandise. Prepared food, candy, dietary supplements and alcohol are excluded and taxed at the full general rate.
Is clothing taxed in Tennessee?
Yes. Tennessee taxes clothing purchases at the standard 7% state rate, plus the local rate. The exception is the annual sales tax holiday, when apparel priced at $100 or less per item is tax-free.
What is the combined sales tax rate in Tennessee?
The statewide average combined (state + local) sales tax rate in Tennessee is 9.61% (Tax Foundation, rates as of July 1, 2026). The state portion is 7%; the remainder comes from county and municipal taxes that vary by location.
How do I calculate sales tax in Tennessee?
Multiply the purchase price by the rate. For state tax only: price × 0.07. For the statewide average combined rate: price × 0.0961. Example: $50 × 0.0961 = $4.81 tax, total $54.81. At the 9.75% register rate in Nashville or Memphis the same $50 purchase carries $4.88 tax for a $54.88 total; at 9.25% in Knoxville or Chattanooga it carries $4.63 for a $54.63 total.
What is the sales tax rate for Nashville and Memphis?
Both are 9.75% on general merchandise. In Davidson County (Nashville) the 7% state rate is joined by a 2.25% local option tax and a 0.5% transit surcharge that took effect on February 1, 2025. The City of Memphis levies a 2.75% local rate; unincorporated Shelby County is at 2.25%, for 9.25% combined. Knoxville (Knox County) and Chattanooga (Hamilton County) are at 9.25% combined. Always verify your address with the Tennessee Department of Revenue rate lookup before a large purchase.
Does the Tennessee sales tax calculator include the $1,600 single-article cap?
No. This sales tax calculator Tennessee tool applies a flat combined rate. In real life, local tax under Tenn. Code Ann. § 67-6-702 applies only to the first $1,600 of the price of a single article, and a separate 2.75% state single-article tax applies to the part of the price from $1,600.01 to $3,200. A $3,000 refrigerator in a 2.75% area therefore owes $210.00 state tax (7%), $44.00 local tax (2.75% of $1,600) and $38.50 state single-article tax (2.75% of $1,400), $292.50 in total, not the $292.50 a flat 9.75% gives.
Sales tax calculator Tennessee — how do I use this tool for online purchases?
For online orders shipped to a Tennessee address, use this sales tax calculator Tennessee with the combined 9.61% average when you do not know the destination's exact rate. When you do know it (Nashville and Memphis 9.75%; Knoxville and Chattanooga 9.25%), pick that option or type the rate into the exact-rate field. Out-of-state dealers with $100,000 or more in sales to Tennessee customers, and marketplace facilitators above the same threshold, must collect Tennessee sales tax — check that the tax shown on your order matches your local combined rate.
When did Tennessee last update its sales tax rate, and is 7% likely to change in 2026?
The general state rate is 7% under Tenn. Code Ann. § 67-6-202, and the Department of Revenue lists no change to it for 2026; the 4% state rate on food has applied since July 1, 2017. Local rates do change: Davidson County added a 0.5% transit surcharge on February 1, 2025, and its local rate on food and food ingredients drops from 2.25% to 1.75% on November 1, 2026. The statewide average combined rate is 9.61% (Tax Foundation, rates as of July 1, 2026). Always verify your address with the Tennessee Department of Revenue rate lookup before a large purchase.
How much sales tax do I pay on a car in Tennessee?
Tennessee uses a three-band structure for vehicles, not a flat combined rate: state 7% on the full price, plus local tax on the first $1,600 only (2.75% in Nashville and Memphis, 2.25% in Knoxville and Chattanooga), plus a state single-article tax of 2.75% on the part of the price from $1,600.01 to $3,200. On a $30,000 car in Davidson County you pay $2,188.00 total sales tax ($2,100.00 + $44.00 + $44.00), not $2,925.00. Title and registration fees are separate. Verify on the Tennessee Department of Revenue single article and special tax rates page before you register the vehicle.
Are RVs and boats taxed the same as cars in Tennessee?
Yes. The single-article rules apply to any single article of tangible personal property, so boats and recreational vehicles use the same three-band method: state 7% on the full price, local tax on the first $1,600 only, and the 2.75% state single-article tax on the part of the price from $1,600.01 to $3,200. This is why calculators showing a flat combined rate over-estimate tax on any single item above $1,600.
What is the Tennessee grocery sales tax rate in 2026?
Food and food ingredients are taxed at a reduced state rate of 4 percent instead of the general 7 percent, plus your local rate, which cannot exceed 2.75 percent. Groceries are therefore taxed at 6 to 6.75 percent depending on the local rate, and at 6.75 percent in Nashville and Memphis. From November 1, 2026 Davidson County's local rate on food drops to 1.75 percent, which with the 0.5 percent transit surcharge makes groceries in Nashville 6.25 percent. Prepared food, candy, dietary supplements and alcohol are excluded and taxed at the full general rate.
Why is my rotisserie chicken taxed higher than raw chicken in Tennessee?
Because it is prepared food. Tennessee limits the reduced 4 percent food rate to unprepared food and food ingredients you take home. Anything heated, sold with utensils, or combined by the seller into a ready-to-eat item falls outside that definition and is taxed at the general 7 percent state rate plus local tax. The same rule sends candy and dietary supplements to the general rate.
How much is sales tax on $100 in Tennessee?
$7.00 at the 7% state rate alone, $9.25 at the 9.25% combined rate charged in Knoxville and Chattanooga, and $9.75 at the 9.75% rate charged in Nashville, Memphis and counties at the 2.75% local maximum. On $1,000 the same three rates give $70.00, $92.50 and $97.50. Groceries are cheaper because food uses a 4% state rate rather than 7%.
Why does my Tennessee receipt show a different rate than this calculator?
The calculator's default option uses the 9.61% statewide average (Tax Foundation, rates as of July 1, 2026), which sits between the 9.25% charged in Knoxville and Chattanooga and the 9.75% charged in Nashville, Memphis and most counties — so it will rarely match a receipt to the cent. For an exact match, pick the 9.25% or 9.75% option, or type your combined rate from the Tennessee Department of Revenue rate lookup into the exact-rate field. Groceries (4% state) and single items over $1,600 also follow separate rules the flat rate does not model.
Can this calculator match my exact Nashville or Memphis receipt?
Yes. Pick the 9.75% option in the Rate to Use dropdown — that is the register rate on general merchandise in Nashville (2.25% local option tax plus the 0.5% transit surcharge) and in the City of Memphis (2.75% local). Knox (Knoxville) and Hamilton (Chattanooga) counties use the 9.25% option. The 9.61% choice is only a statewide average and will rarely match a receipt to the cent.
How do I calculate Tennessee grocery tax in this calculator?
Choose the grocery option (6.75%), which is the 4% state food rate plus a 2.75% local rate, as charged in Nashville and Memphis. A $200 grocery run therefore costs $13.50 in tax rather than $19.50 at the general merchandise rate. Where the local rate is lower, add 4% to your local rate instead. Prepared food, candy, dietary supplements and alcohol are excluded and go back to the general rate.