West Virginia Reverse Sales Tax Calculator
West Virginia has a 6% state sales tax that's relatively uniform across the state — Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown all sit at 6% with minimal local additions. The statewide average is 6.44%. West Virginia recently reduced its grocery tax rate to 3% (down from 6%), so grocery receipts will show a lower effective rate.
The calculator defaults to West Virginia's 6.44% average. For most purchases throughout the state, 6% is the right number. For grocery receipts, use 3% instead, reflecting the 2024 grocery tax reduction.
Current West Virginia Sales Tax Rates
| Component | Rate |
|---|---|
| State rate | 6.00% |
| Average local rate | 0.44% |
| Average combined rate | 6.44% |
| Location | Combined Rate |
|---|---|
| Charleston | 6.00% |
| Huntington | 6.00% |
| Morgantown | 6.00% |
| Parkersburg | 6.00% |
What's Taxable in West Virginia
West Virginia reduced its sales tax on groceries to 3% in 2024 and plans to phase it down further. Previously, groceries were taxed at the full 6% rate. Prescription drugs are exempt.
Worked Example
Purchase in Charleston totaling $63.60 at 6.00%.
$63.60 ÷ 1.0600 = $60.00 (pre-tax price)
$63.60 − $60.00 = $3.60 (tax amount)
That's $3.60 in sales tax on a $60.00 purchase before tax. The main calculator handles this automatically — enter the total and rate and the breakdown appears instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's sales tax rate is 6% — West Virginia's flat state rate. Most West Virginia cities have no local sales tax addition. The rate is effectively uniform at 6% across most of the state.
West Virginia reduced its grocery tax rate to 3% in 2024 (down from 6%). The state plans to continue phasing the grocery tax down further in subsequent years. Prescription drugs are exempt. If you're reverse-calculating a grocery receipt, use 3% rather than 6% for the state portion.
Divide the total amount paid by (1 + the tax rate as a decimal). For West Virginia's 6.44% rate: divide by 1.0644. 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.
West Virginia holds an annual sales tax holiday for back-to-school purchases (clothing and school supplies), typically in early August. Check the West Virginia State Tax Department for 2025 dates.