Wisconsin sales tax calculator
Uses the Wisconsin rate of 5%. Replace it with the combined rate on your receipt for an exact check.
State base rates verified September 2026. This is a general estimate, not tax advice. Need more options? Open the full reverse sales tax calculator.
Use the Wisconsin sales tax calculator at the top of this page to work out the tax on any price. Type in a price, and the calculator adds the 5% Wisconsin state rate, then shows the tax separately with the total. Counties and the City of Milwaukee add tax on top of the state rate, so the combined rate depends on the address. Milwaukee is 7.9% and Madison is 5.5%.
Wisconsin Sales Tax Rate at a Glance
Wisconsin charges a 5% state sales and use tax. Most counties add a 0.5% county tax, which brings the combined rate to 5.5% in much of the state. Milwaukee is higher: the City of Milwaukee adds a 2% tax and Milwaukee County adds 0.9%, for a combined rate of 7.9%.
How to Calculate Wisconsin Sales Tax
Use these steps for any price in Wisconsin:
- Take the price before tax.
- Multiply the price by the rate as a decimal. For the 5% state rate, multiply by 0.05.
- Add the tax to the price to get the total.
To work out the price before tax from a total, divide the total by 1 plus the rate as a decimal. At the 5% state rate, divide by 1.05.
Check Your Wisconsin Sales Tax Rate by Address
Use the Wisconsin Department of Revenue State and Local Tax Rate Look-up to check the rate for a street address or 9-digit ZIP code. Enter the address, and the tool returns the state, county and city tax that applies there.
Wisconsin Sales Tax Rates by City
The table lists the combined state and local rate for five Wisconsin cities. Rates are as of Nov 7, 2026.
| City | Combined Sales Tax Rate | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | 7.9% | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Madison | 5.5% | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Green Bay | 5.5% | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Kenosha | 5.5% | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Racine | 5.5% | Nov 7, 2026 |
Wisconsin Sales Tax Examples
Each example shows the math step by step.
$100 at the 5% state rate.
$100 x 0.05 = $5.00 tax. $100 + $5.00 = $105.00 total.
$200 in Milwaukee at 7.9%.
$200 x 0.079 = $15.80 tax. $200 + $15.80 = $215.80 total.
$150 in Madison at 5.5%.
$150 x 0.055 = $8.25 tax. $150 + $8.25 = $158.25 total.
$105.00 total at the 5% state rate.
$105.00 / 1.05 = $100.00 price before tax. $105.00 – $100.00 = $5.00 tax.
Wisconsin Sales Tax FAQs
What is the Wisconsin sales tax rate?
Wisconsin charges a 5% state sales and use tax. Most counties add a 0.5% county tax, so the combined rate is 5.5% in much of the state. Milwaukee is 7.9%.
Why is the Milwaukee rate 7.9%?
The Milwaukee rate is 5% state tax plus 0.9% Milwaukee County tax plus 2% City of Milwaukee tax, for a combined rate of 7.9%.
Why is the rate 5.5% in Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha and Racine?
In each of these cities, the 5% state rate is joined by a 0.5% county tax, for a combined rate of 5.5%.
Where do I check the rate for an address?
Use the Wisconsin Department of Revenue State and Local Tax Rate Look-up. Enter a street address or 9-digit ZIP code, and the tool returns the state, county and city tax that applies there.
Does the calculator on this page use the local rate?
No. The calculator starts with the 5% Wisconsin state rate. You can change the rate in the calculator to the combined rate for your address, such as 7.9% for Milwaukee.
Sources
- Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Wisconsin State and Local Sales Tax Rate Lookup
- Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Sales and Use Tax
This page gives general information only, not tax advice. Rates can change, so check the official source before you rely on a rate.
