Washington D.C. Reverse Sales Tax Calculator
Washington D.C. applies a 6% general sales tax on most retail purchases. But D.C. uses tiered rates for different transaction types: restaurant meals are taxed at 10%, hotel stays at 14.95%, and parking at 18%. For general shopping — electronics, clothing, goods — the rate is 6%.
The calculator defaults to 6% for general retail. Switch to 10% if you're reverse-calculating a restaurant receipt, or 10.25% for alcohol purchases. D.C.'s rate structure can be complex when mixing different types of purchases on a single trip.
Current Washington D.C. Sales Tax Rates
| Component | Rate |
|---|---|
| State rate | 6.00% |
| Local rate | None |
| Combined rate | 6.00% |
What's Taxable in Washington D.C.
Washington D.C. exempts most groceries from sales tax. Prepared food and restaurant meals are taxed at 10% — significantly higher than the standard 6% retail rate. Prescription drugs are exempt. Alcohol sold for off-premises consumption is taxed at 10.25%.
Worked Example
Any purchase in Washington D.C. totaling $134.50 at the flat 6.00% rate.
$134.50 ÷ 1.0600 = $126.89 (pre-tax price)
$134.50 − $126.89 = $7.61 (tax amount)
That's $7.61 in sales tax on a $126.89 purchase. Because Washington D.C. uses a flat rate, this calculation is the same regardless of city or county.
Frequently Asked Questions
Washington D.C.'s general sales tax rate is 6% for most retail purchases. However, D.C. applies different rates to different categories: 10% on restaurant meals, 14.95% on hotel stays, 10.25% on alcohol sold in liquor stores, and 18% on parking. The 6% rate applies to most general retail shopping.
Restaurant meals in Washington D.C. are taxed at 10% — not the standard 6% retail rate. This is one of the higher restaurant tax rates among major US cities. If you're reverse-calculating a D.C. restaurant receipt, use 10% rather than 6% to get the correct pre-tax amount.
Divide the total amount paid by (1 + the tax rate as a decimal). For Washington D.C.'s 6.00% rate: divide by 1.0600. The result is the pre-tax price. Subtract that from the total to get the tax amount. The calculator on this page does this automatically.
Washington D.C. does not have a sales tax holiday.