Chart of the Day: How High Sales Tax by State?

Today’s Chart of the Day from the Tax Foundation’s "2026 Sales Tax Rates | Sales Taxes by State" highlights combined state and local sales tax rates across the country, illustrating how much consumers pay in taxes on everyday purchases depending on where they live.

Louisiana tops the list with the highest combined sales tax rate at 10.11%, followed by Tennessee and Washington. At the other end of the spectrum, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon remain the only states with no statewide sales tax.

While sales tax is only one component of a state's overall tax burden, it can have a meaningful impact on household spending over time. Understanding the tax environment where you live (or where you plan to retire) can help inform budgeting, relocation decisions, and long-term financial planning.