What is the sales tax rate in Philadelphia?

Philadelphia charges a combined 8% sales tax: 6% Pennsylvania state tax plus a 2% local Philadelphia rate. Philadelphia and Allegheny County are the only PA jurisdictions that add a local rate on top of the state's base 6%.

Is clothing taxed in Philadelphia?

Most everyday clothing is exempt from Pennsylvania sales tax, so it is also exempt from Philadelphia's local portion. Choose the clothing item type to apply the 0% rate. Formal wear, fur, and accessories can be taxable exceptions.

Are groceries taxable?

Unprepared groceries such as raw food and staples are exempt in Pennsylvania. Prepared food, candy, and soft drinks are taxable at the full 8%. Pick the right item type so the calculator applies the correct rate.

How do I find the tax inside a total?

Switch to extract mode and enter the tax-inclusive total. The tool divides by 1.08 to recover the pre-tax price, then reports the tax that was embedded, which is useful for reconciling receipts or expense reports.

Does this cover the Philadelphia wage or use tax?

No. This calculator only handles sales and use tax on goods and prepared food. Philadelphia's separate wage tax on earnings and business taxes are different systems and are not part of this tool.

Philadelphia Combined Sales Tax Calculator

Philadelphia adds a 2% local sales tax on top of Pennsylvania’s 6% base, for a combined 8% on most purchases. This calculator applies that exact rate, splits the tax into its state and city portions, and respects Pennsylvania’s exemptions so the figure is correct for what you are actually buying.

How it works

The combined rate is the sum of the two components, applied only to taxable items:

combined rate = 6% PA state + 2% Philadelphia = 8%
tax           = taxable amount × rate
total         = amount + tax

In extract mode the tool reverses this, dividing a tax-inclusive total by 1.08 to recover the pre-tax price and the embedded tax. Exempt categories — clothing, unprepared groceries, and prescriptions — are charged at 0%.

Example and tips

A $100 general purchase carries $8.00 of tax ($6.00 state plus $2.00 city) for a $108.00 total. The same $100 spent on clothing or raw groceries is tax-free in Pennsylvania, so pick the right item type to avoid overstating the tax. When reconciling a receipt, use extract mode: a $108 total resolves back to a $100 pre-tax price and $8 of tax. Remember that prepared restaurant food is fully taxable even though grocery staples are not.