CT Sales Tax Calculator
Connecticut has one of the simplest sales tax structures in the United States. The standard rate is 6.35% and it applies statewide with no city or county additions. Whether you are shopping in Hartford, New Haven, Stamford, or anywhere else in Connecticut, you pay the same base rate.
Use this CT sales tax calculator to find the original price before tax on any Connecticut receipt. Enter the total you paid, confirm the rate, and get your pre-tax amount in seconds.
Standard statewide rate: 6.35%
Connecticut Sales Tax Rate in 2026
The standard Connecticut sales tax rate is 6.35%.
Connecticut does not allow cities, counties, or local jurisdictions to add their own sales taxes on top of the state rate. This means the rate you pay is always 6.35% for standard purchases, no matter where in Connecticut the purchase is made.
Source: Connecticut Department of Revenue Services, last updated July 6, 2026. portal.ct.gov/drs/sales-tax/tax-information
For a full comparison, see our sales tax rates by state reference page.
How to Use This CT Sales Tax Calculator
This tool works backwards from what you paid to find what you should have paid before tax.
Enter the total amount on your Connecticut receipt including tax.
The rate field shows 6.35% by default. This is the correct standard Connecticut rate. Change it only if your purchase falls under a special rate category such as meals (7.35%) or vehicle rental (9.35%).
Your pre-tax price and the exact tax amount appear instantly.
For the reverse calculation formula and step-by-step math, see our reverse sales tax calculator on the main page.
Connecticut Special Tax Rates
Most purchases in Connecticut use the 6.35% standard rate. But certain categories have different rates. Here is what to know before using the calculator.
Meals and beverages (7.35%)
Restaurant meals, food sold at a heated temperature, and certain beverages are taxed at 7.35%, not 6.35%. If you are calculating the pre-tax price of a restaurant bill, change the rate to 7.35%.
Luxury goods (7.75%)
Clothing, footwear, handbags, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, and watches above the statutory price threshold are taxed at 7.75%. Clothing, footwear, handbags, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, and watches priced more than $1,000 per item are taxed at 7.75%. Most motor vehicles priced more than $50,000 are also taxed at 7.75%.
Vehicle rentals (9.35%)
Short-term passenger vehicle rentals of 30 days or less are taxed at 9.35%.
Computer services (1%)
Certain computer and data-processing services and qualifying electronically accessed business software are taxed at 1%.
When using this calculator for these categories, manually enter the correct rate instead of the default 6.35%.
If you make purchases across state lines, our NY sales tax calculator covers New York's 8.875% NYC rate and all upstate county variations.
What Is Exempt from Sales Tax in CT?
Connecticut exempts several categories of purchases from the standard 6.35% sales tax.
- Groceries: Most unprepared food items sold for home consumption are exempt. Prepared foods, meals, and heated items are taxable at 7.35%.
- Prescription medications: Prescription drugs and insulin are fully exempt from Connecticut sales tax.
- Clothing and footwear: Most clothing and footwear are taxable at the standard 6.35% rate. A former exemption for items under $50 was repealed in July 2011 and has not been restored. Items priced more than $1,000 per piece are taxed at the higher 7.75% luxury rate instead.
- Certain medical equipment: Qualifying medical equipment, prosthetics, oxygen, and mobility aids are exempt from Connecticut sales tax.
- Residential utilities: Qualifying residential electricity, natural gas, and heating fuels are exempt.
If your purchase falls into an exempt category, a reverse sales tax calculation should not be needed since no tax was applied. If tax was charged on an item you believe is exempt, contact the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services at portal.ct.gov/drs.
How to Calculate CT Sales Tax Backwards
The reverse sales tax formula for Connecticut is straightforward because there is only one standard rate.
Example 1 (Standard Purchase)
You paid $89.50 at a Connecticut retailer.
$89.50 / 1.0635 = $84.15 pre-tax price
Tax paid: $5.35
Example 2 (Restaurant Meal at 7.35%)
You paid $54.40 at a Connecticut restaurant.
$54.40 / 1.0735 = $50.67 pre-tax price
Tax paid: $3.73
Example 3 (Vehicle Rental at 9.35%)
You paid $218.70 for a two-day car rental.
$218.70 / 1.0935 = $200.00 pre-tax price
Tax paid: $18.70
Use the calculator above to skip the manual math. Enter your total and select the correct rate for your purchase type.
Connecticut Sales Tax for Small Businesses
Small business owners and freelancers in Connecticut use this calculator for several practical tasks:
- Separating tax from daily sales totals: If you run a retail business in Connecticut and your point of sale system reports gross totals including tax, divide your daily total by 1.0635 to find your net sales revenue. The difference is the tax you collected and owe to the Connecticut DRS.
- Expense report reconciliation: When recording business purchases, the pre-tax amount is what belongs in your expense report. Enter your receipt total into the CT sales tax calculator to find the deductible pre-tax figure instantly.
- Verifying customer receipts: If a customer disputes a tax charge, enter their total into the calculator to confirm the correct tax amount was applied at 6.35%.
- Meals and entertainment expenses: For business meals taxed at 7.35%, change the rate in the calculator to get the correct pre-tax breakdown.
Connecticut businesses that collect sales tax must file returns with the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services. Visit portal.ct.gov/drs for filing schedules and requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is sales tax in Connecticut?+
Connecticut's general sales tax rate is 6.35%. The state does not allow local jurisdictions to add sales taxes on top of this, so 6.35% applies statewide for most purchases.
How do you calculate CT sales tax?+
To calculate how much tax was included in a price, divide the total by 1.0635 to find the pre-tax amount, then subtract to find the tax. Example: $106.35 / 1.0635 = $100.00 pre-tax. Tax paid: $6.35.
What is CT's sales tax rate?+
The standard Connecticut sales tax rate is 6.35%. Special rates apply to specific categories: 7.35% for meals, 7.75% for certain luxury goods, and 9.35% for short-term vehicle rentals.
What items are exempt from sales tax in CT?+
Common exemptions include unprepared groceries, prescription medications, and certain medical equipment. Clothing and footwear are generally taxable at 6.35%. Items priced more than $1,000 per piece are taxed at the higher 7.75% luxury rate. Prepared foods and restaurant meals are not exempt.
Who is exempt from paying sales tax in Connecticut?+
Qualifying organizations such as 501(c)(3) nonprofits, state and federal government entities, and qualifying medical or educational organizations holding a valid DRS exemption permit may purchase goods tax-free. Individual consumers are generally not exempt except through product-category exemptions.
What is 7.75% sales tax in CT?+
Connecticut's 7.75% rate applies to clothing, footwear, handbags, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, and watches priced more than $1,000 per item, and to most motor vehicles priced more than $50,000. This rate does not apply to standard retail purchases.
How to use a CT sales tax calculator for small business?+
Enter your gross sales total including tax into the calculator and divide by 1.0635. The result is your net pre-tax revenue. The difference is the tax collected. This works for daily sales reconciliation, expense separation, and receipt verification.
CT sales tax calculator for retail purchases?+
For standard retail purchases in Connecticut, enter the total paid and leave the rate at 6.35%. The calculator gives you the pre-tax price and tax amount instantly.
Did CT raise sales tax?+
The standard Connecticut sales tax rate has been 6.35% since July 1, 2011 and has not changed since. The luxury rate for high-value items increased from 7% to 7.75% on July 1, 2015, but the general rate remains 6.35%.
Disclaimer & Transparency
This calculator and the information on this page are provided for general informational purposes only. Tax rates and exemption rules can change. Always verify current rates and rules with the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services at portal.ct.gov/drs before making financial or business decisions based on this content.
Methodology Note: This calculator uses the standard inverse tax formula Pre-Tax Price = Total / (1 + Rate), with rates and special schedules sourced directly from the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS).
Correction Mechanism: Notice a regulatory or rate update? Please contact our team at contact@salestaxreversecalculator.com for prompt verification and review.