When you buy something in Pittsburgh, the price at the register includes a 7% combined sales tax — higher than the 6% you’d pay in most of Pennsylvania. That extra penny on the dollar is Allegheny County’s local levy. This calculator applies the right rate and respects Pennsylvania’s exemptions for everyday essentials.
How it works
Pittsburgh’s sales tax has two stacked components on taxable goods:
- Pennsylvania state sales tax: 6%
- Allegheny County local sales tax: 1%
That gives a combined 7% rate. Pennsylvania exempts broad categories — most groceries and most clothing — so those are taxed at 0%. The formula for taxable items is:
tax = amount * 0.07
total = amount + taxFor exempt items the tax is 0 and the total equals the price. The tool lets you pick the item type so you don’t overestimate on essentials.
Example
A $200 taxable purchase in Pittsburgh:
- Tax: 200 × 0.07 =
$14.00 - Total:
$214.00
The same $200 spent on exempt groceries: tax $0.00, total $200.00.
Notes
Pennsylvania’s exemption rules have edge cases — prepared food is taxable, certain clothing accessories are taxable, and a handful of items have their own treatment. For routine retail goods, restaurant meals, and grocery runs, this tool reflects the common rates accurately.