Georgia Sales Tax Calculator 2026: 4% + Local Rates

Georgia Sales Tax Calculator 2026

Georgia's state sales tax is 4%, one of the lowest state rates, but counties stack local taxes in 1% layers for schools, roads, property tax relief and general operations. Local rates reach 5% and average 3.56%, so the average combined rate is 7.56% and most of the state pays 7% to 9%. Groceries skip the state 4% but still pay most local taxes. Enter your county's local rate below, or start from the average, and add or remove the tax.

By AwaisLast reviewed October 28, 2026

Georgia sales tax at a glance

Georgia sales tax rules
Type of tax	Sales and use tax
State rate	4%
Local rates	Average 3.56%, highest 5.00%
Average combined rate	7.56%
Groceries	No state tax; local tax appliesFood for off-premises consumption is exempt from the 4% state tax but remains subject to local sales taxes (except a SPLOST where a homestead tax replaces it).
Prescription drugs	ExemptPrescription drugs, insulin and prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses are exempt. Over-the-counter drugs are taxable.
Clothing	Taxed (no holiday)Clothing is taxed at the full combined rate. Georgia did not hold a sales tax holiday in 2026.

Local averages are population-weighted figures from the Tax Foundation: State and Local Sales Tax Rates, Midyear 2026 (rates as of 1 July 2026). They are a guide, not the rate at any one address. For the exact rate where you buy, use the Georgia Department of Revenue sales tax rate charts.

Worked examples

A $400 phone at the average combined rate (7.56%)

A $400 phone at the average combined rate (7.56%)
Rate	4% state + 3.56% local = 7.56%
Price before tax	$400.00
Sales tax	$30.24
Total	$430.24

Working: $400.00 × 7.56% = $30.24. Phones are taxed at the full state and local rate. In a county with four 1% local taxes, use 4 as the local rate for an 8% total.

Working back from a $108.00 total in an 8% county

Working back from a $108.00 total in an 8% county
Rate	4% state + 4% local = 8%
Price before tax	$100.00
Sales tax	$8.00
Total	$108.00

Working back: $108.00 ÷ 1.08 = $100.00, so the tax was $8.00. With 4% state and 4% local, divide by 1.08 to get the price before tax. Check the county chart, because many counties changed rates in 2026.

How Georgia local taxes stack

Georgia counties build their local rate from separate 1% taxes, each approved for a purpose: a LOST for general operations, a SPLOST for capital projects, an ESPLOST for schools, transportation taxes and, increasingly, a FLOST that funds property tax relief. In 2026 many counties added or raised a FLOST, pushing local rates up. A county with four of these taxes charges 8% in total, and the highest local rate is 5%. The Department of Revenue publishes the rate for every county in quarterly charts.

Groceries and medicine

Food bought for home use is exempt from the 4% state sales tax, but it is still subject to local sales taxes, apart from a SPLOST in counties that levy a homestead option tax in its place. In practice, a grocery bill in Georgia is usually taxed at 2% to 4%. Prescription drugs, insulin and prescription glasses and contacts are exempt from all sales tax. Over-the-counter medicines are taxed at the full combined rate.

Georgia vs. neighboring states

Georgia sales tax compared with neighboring states
State	State rate	Avg. combined	Groceries
Georgia	4%	7.56%	No state tax; local tax applies
Florida	6%	6.98%	Exempt
Alabama	4%	9.46%	2% state + local
Tennessee	7%	9.61%	4% state + local
North Carolina	4.75%	7.10%	2% local food rate
South Carolina	6%	7.49%	No state tax; some local tax

Average combined rates are from the Tax Foundation, midyear 2026 report. See sales tax rates for every state for the full table.

Frequently asked questions

Are groceries taxed in Georgia?

Groceries are exempt from the 4% state sales tax, but most local sales taxes still apply. A typical grocery rate is the county local rate, often 3% to 4%.

What is a FLOST in Georgia?

A Floating Local Option Sales Tax of up to 1% that counties can adopt to fund property tax relief. Many counties added one in 2026, raising their combined rate.

Does Georgia have a sales tax holiday?

Not currently. Georgia held back-to-school and energy holidays in the past, but they have lapsed, and there was no sales tax holiday in 2026.

Where can I find the sales tax rate for my Georgia county?

The Georgia Department of Revenue publishes quarterly sales tax rate charts that list the combined rate for every county and the special city rates.

What is the sales tax rate in Georgia in 2026?

The statewide rate is 4%. Local taxes add 3.56% on average and up to 5.00%, so the average combined rate is 7.56% (Tax Foundation, rates as of 1 July 2026).

How do I calculate Georgia sales tax on a purchase?

Add the state and local rates, then multiply the price by that rate as a decimal. At 7.56% (the state rate plus the average local rate), tax on $100 is 100 × 0.0756 = $7.56, for a total of $107.56. To go back from a receipt total, divide it by 1 plus the rate.