# Missouri Sales Tax Calculator

Calculate Missouri sales tax with the 4.225% state rate plus local city and county taxes. See total tax and final price for any purchase in Missouri.

## What this calculates

Calculate Missouri sales tax on any purchase. Missouri charges a 4.225% state sales tax rate, and cities and counties add their own local rates on top. Enter your purchase price and local rate to see the total tax and final price.

## Inputs

- **Purchase Price** ($) — min 0 — The pre-tax price of your purchase.
- **Local Tax Rate** (%) — min 0, max 8 — Combined city + county rate. Average is about 4.01%.

## Outputs

- **Missouri State Tax (4.225%)** — formatted as currency — State portion of the sales tax.
- **Local Tax** — formatted as currency — City and county portion of the sales tax.
- **Total Sales Tax** — formatted as currency — Combined state and local tax on the purchase.
- **Combined Tax Rate** — formatted as percentage — Total state + local sales tax rate.
- **Total Price** — formatted as currency — Final price including all sales tax.

## Details

Missouri has a state sales tax rate of 4.225%, which is the base rate applied to most tangible goods. On top of that, cities and counties can levy additional taxes, bringing the combined rate anywhere from 4.225% to over 11% in some areas.

The average combined rate across Missouri is about 8.2%. Kansas City has a combined rate around 9.1%, St. Louis city is about 9.68%, and Springfield sits near 8.1%. Rural areas tend to have lower combined rates, often in the 5-7% range.

Missouri exempts certain items from sales tax or taxes them at reduced rates. Groceries (food purchased for home consumption) are taxed at a reduced state rate of 1.225% instead of the full 4.225%. Prescription drugs are fully exempt from state sales tax. Over-the-counter medications are taxable at the full rate.

Missouri also holds a back-to-school sales tax holiday in early August, when clothing, school supplies, computers, and other qualifying items can be purchased tax-free (up to certain dollar limits). Check the Missouri Department of Revenue website for exact dates and qualifying items each year.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: What is the Missouri sales tax rate?**

A: The Missouri state sales tax rate is 4.225%. However, cities and counties add local taxes that typically bring the combined rate to 7-10%. The exact rate depends on your specific location. You can look up the combined rate for any Missouri address on the Missouri Department of Revenue website.

**Q: Is food taxed in Missouri?**

A: Groceries (food for home consumption) are taxed at a reduced state rate of 1.225% in Missouri, not the full 4.225%. Local taxes still apply to groceries. Prepared food, restaurant meals, and vending machine items are taxed at the full rate. This reduced grocery rate saves Missouri families roughly $100-200 per year compared to the full rate.

**Q: What items are exempt from Missouri sales tax?**

A: Missouri exempts prescription drugs, certain medical devices, and some agricultural supplies from state sales tax. Groceries are taxed at a reduced rate (1.225% state). During the annual back-to-school sales tax holiday in August, qualifying clothing (up to $100), school supplies (up to $50), computers (up to $1,500), and graphing calculators (up to $150) are exempt.

**Q: How do I find the sales tax rate for my Missouri city?**

A: The Missouri Department of Revenue maintains a tax rate lookup tool at their website where you can search by address. You can also check a recent receipt from a local purchase. The rate includes state (4.225%), county, city, and any special district taxes. Rates change periodically as localities pass new taxes or let existing ones expire.

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Source: https://vastcalc.com/calculators/finance/missouri-sales-tax
Category: Finance
Last updated: 2026-04-08