Does New Hampshire have a sales tax?

No. New Hampshire is one of five states with no general sales tax, so retail goods, clothing, electronics, and most purchases are sold at the listed price with no tax added. This is a major draw for cross-border shoppers.

What is the Meals and Rentals tax?

New Hampshire levies an 8.5% Meals and Rentals tax on prepared food, restaurant meals, hotel and short-term lodging, and motor vehicle rentals. It is the main consumption tax in a state that otherwise has no sales tax.

Are groceries taxed in New Hampshire?

Unprepared groceries you buy at a store are not taxed at all. However, prepared or restaurant food is subject to the 8.5% Meals and Rentals tax, so a deli sandwich made to order is taxed while raw ingredients are not.

Is car buying tax-free in New Hampshire?

There is no sales tax on a vehicle purchase in New Hampshire, but you still pay registration and title fees and a municipal motor vehicle permit fee. Short-term car rentals do fall under the 8.5% Meals and Rentals tax.

Why do nearby states' shoppers come to New Hampshire?

Because Massachusetts, Maine, and Vermont all charge sales tax, residents often cross into New Hampshire for larger purchases like electronics, appliances, and liquor to avoid paying tax on the goods.

New Hampshire Sales Tax Calculator

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New Hampshire is famous for having no general sales tax, so a sticker price is the price you pay on ordinary goods. The one common exception is the Meals and Rentals tax of 8.5 percent on prepared food and lodging. This calculator confirms the zero rate on goods and applies the meals tax where it belongs.

How it works

The rate depends entirely on the item type:

General retail goods   →  0% tax    →  total = price
Prepared meals / food  →  8.5% tax  →  total = price × 1.085
Hotel / lodging        →  8.5% tax  →  total = price × 1.085
Vehicle rentals        →  8.5% tax  →  total = price × 1.085

There is no county or city sales surcharge in New Hampshire — the rate is the same everywhere in the state. The 8.5 percent Meals and Rentals tax is the only broad consumption tax, and it applies narrowly to restaurant food, lodging, and short-term vehicle rentals.

Example

A $1,200 laptop bought in New Hampshire costs exactly $1,200 — no tax. A $60 restaurant dinner, however, is subject to the 8.5 percent Meals and Rentals tax, adding $5.10 for a total of $65.10.

Notes

Unprepared groceries, clothing, and most retail goods carry no tax of any kind. The Meals and Rentals tax applies only to prepared food, hotel/short-term lodging, and rental vehicles. New Hampshire has no local sales taxes, so the rate never varies by town. Verify current rates with the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration.