US Sales Tax:
States that impose a sales tax have different rates, and even within states, local or city sales taxes can come into play. Unlike VAT (which is not imposed in the U.S.), sales tax is only enforced on retail purchases. The sales tax rate ranges from 0% to 16% depending on the state and the type of goods or service, and all states differ in their enforcement of sales tax. In Texas, prescription medicine and food seeds are exempt from taxation. Vermont has a 6% general sales tax, but an additional 10% tax is added to purchases of alcoholic drinks that are immediately consumed. These are only several examples of differences in taxation in different jurisdictions. Rules and regulations regarding sales tax vary widely from state to state.
| State | General State Sales Tax |
| Alabama | 4% |
| Alaska | 0% |
| Arizona | 5.60% |
| Arkansas | 6.50% |
| California | 7.25% |
| Colorado | 2.90% |
| Connecticut | 6.35% |
| Delaware | 0% |
| District of Columbia | 5.75% |
| Florida | 6% |
| Georgia | 4% |
| Guam | 4% |
| Hawaii | 4.17% |
| Idaho | 6% |
| Illinois | 6.25% |
| Indiana | 7% |
| Iowa | 6% |
| Kansas | 6.50% |
| Kentucky | 6% |
| Louisiana | 4.45% |
| Maine | 5.50% |
| Maryland | 6% |
| Massachusetts | 6.25% |
| Michigan | 6% |
| Minnesota | 6.88% |
| Mississippi | 7% |
| Missouri | 4.23% |
| Montana | 0% |
| Nebraska | 5.50% |
| Nevada | 6.85% |
| New Hampshire | 0% |
| New Jersey | 6.63% |
| New Mexico | 5.13% |
| New York | 4% |
| North Carolina | 4.75% |
| North Dakota | 5% |
| Ohio | 5.75% |
| Oklahoma | 4.50% |
| Oregon | 0% |
| Pennsylvania | 6% |
| Puerto Rico | 10.50% |
| Rhode Island | 7% |
| South Carolina | 6% |
| South Dakota | 4% |
| Tennessee | 7% |
| Texas | 6.25% |
| Utah | 5.95% |
| Vermont | 6% |
| Virginia | 5.30% |
| Washington | 6.50% |
| West Virginia | 6% |
| Wisconsin | 5% |
| Wyoming | 4% |