Minnesota levies a statewide sales tax of 6.875% on most retail sales of tangible personal property and some services. On top of that base, counties, cities, and regional transit authorities can add their own local rates — so the combined rate you pay at checkout depends on exactly where the sale happens. This calculator handles both directions: add sales tax to a pre-tax price to get the final amount, or reverse the tax to find the pre-tax price buried inside a total you have already paid.
How it works
Add-tax mode (pre-tax price to total)
Enter the item price before tax. The calculator splits the combined rate into its state and local components, then computes each tax piece and the grand total:
Tax = Pre-tax amount x Combined rate
Total = Pre-tax amount + Tax
For a $250 purchase in St. Paul (combined 8.375%):
- State tax (6.875%): $250 x 0.06875 = $17.19
- Local add-on (1.50%): $250 x 0.015 = $3.75
- Total sales tax: $20.94
- Total: $250 + $20.94 = $270.94
Remove-tax mode (total to pre-tax)
Enter the final amount you paid. The calculator reverses the formula to extract the embedded pre-tax price and the tax amount:
Pre-tax = Total paid / (1 + Combined rate)
Tax = Total paid - Pre-tax
For the same example: $270.94 / 1.08375 = $250.00 pre-tax, $20.94 tax.
The Minnesota state base rate: 6.875%
Minnesota’s 6.875% statewide rate is a single uniform rate applied across all 87 counties. It covers most tangible goods and some services sold at retail. Unlike some states with layered state components, Minnesota’s base is a single line-item on receipts. The rate has been stable since 2009.
Local rates across Minnesota
Minnesota permits local governments to add a sales tax for specific purposes — typically transit, stadiums, or general city/county operating budgets. The add-on must be approved by the state legislature or a local referendum. As of 2025:
| Area | Local add-on | Combined rate |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis (Hennepin County) | 1.150% | 8.025% |
| St. Paul (Ramsey County) | 1.500% | 8.375% |
| Duluth (St. Louis County) | 2.000% | 8.875% |
| Rochester (Olmsted County) | 1.000% | 7.875% |
| Bloomington (Hennepin County) | 1.000% | 7.875% |
| St. Cloud (Stearns County) | 1.000% | 7.875% |
| Mankato (Blue Earth County) | 1.000% | 7.875% |
| Anoka County | 0.500% | 7.375% |
| Dakota County | 0.500% | 7.375% |
| Washington County | 0.000% | 6.875% |
Some cities within a county levy an additional city-level tax on top of the county rate, so the exact combined rate at a specific address may differ from the county headline. Always confirm your precise rate using the Minnesota Department of Revenue rate lookup tool at revenue.state.mn.us.
Worked example
A Minneapolis retailer sells a laptop for $899 (pre-tax) in Minneapolis (combined rate 8.025%):
- State tax (6.875%): $899 x 0.06875 = $61.81
- Local add-on (1.15%): $899 x 0.0115 = $10.34
- Total sales tax: $72.15
- Total paid: $899 + $72.15 = $971.15
If you received a receipt showing $971.15 and want to verify the tax: $971.15 / 1.08025 = $899.00 pre-tax, and $971.15 - $899.00 = $72.15 tax.
Notable Minnesota sales-tax exemptions
Minnesota’s exemption list is broader than many states:
- Clothing — most clothing is exempt, a significant benefit in a state with cold winters
- Groceries — unprepared food (items you cook at home) is generally exempt
- Prescription drugs — exempt statewide
- Prepared food — restaurant meals, hot take-out, and catered food are taxable
- Alcohol and candy — taxable even where groceries are not
These exemptions mean your effective tax rate on a full grocery run can be far lower than 6.875%, while a restaurant meal in Duluth will carry the full 8.875%.
Every calculation on this page runs entirely in your browser — no figures are sent to any server.