Pennsylvania (PA) Sales Tax 2025 Guide + Calculator
“Selling across multiple states or countries?
Use the full Sales Tax, VAT & Duty Finder to compare cross-border orders in seconds.”
If you live in Pennsylvania or sell to customers in the state, sales tax can feel confusing. You see a state-wide 6% rate mentioned everywhere, but then you hear that Philadelphia and Allegheny County charge more, and some things like groceries or clothing are exempt. This guide breaks everything down in plain English and gives you a built-in Pennsylvania sales tax calculator so you can run your own numbers on MoneyToolsHQ. pa.gov
Whether you are a shopper, freelancer, or small business owner, understanding how PA sales tax works will help you avoid surprises at checkout and charge the right amount on invoices.
Quick facts: Pennsylvania sales tax at a glance
- State-wide sales tax rate: 6% on most taxable goods and some services.
- Local add-ons:
- Allegheny County (e.g., Pittsburgh): extra 1% (7% total).
- Philadelphia: extra 2% (8% total).
- Average combined rate: about 6.34% across the state.
- Common exemptions: groceries, most everyday clothing, prescription medicines, and some medical devices.
- Digital products: generally taxable in PA.
- Vehicles: usually taxed at 6% state-wide, 7% in Allegheny County, and 8% in Philadelphia, based on where the vehicle is registered.
Sales tax rules can change and sometimes differ by ZIP code or product category. Always treat any calculator as an estimate and confirm current rules with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue or a tax professional.
How sales tax works in Pennsylvania
State vs local rates
Pennsylvania’s sales tax system starts with a 6% state rate on taxable sales of tangible personal property and certain services. On top of that:
- Allegheny County adds a 1% local tax, giving a 7% combined rate.
- Philadelphia adds a 2% local tax, giving an 8% combined rate.
All other counties simply use the state’s 6% rate, so you do not see dozens of different local rates as you do in many other states.
Origin-based rules (for in-state sellers)
Pennsylvania is an origin-based state for in-state sales. That means, for most brick-and-mortar or in-state online sellers, the rate you charge is based on where your business is located, not where the customer lives in Pennsylvania.
For example:
- If your shop is in a county that uses the basic 6% rate, you generally charge 6% to all PA customers.
- If your store is in Philadelphia, you charge 8% (6% state + 2% local) to PA customers, even if the customer lives in a 6% county.
Remote sellers from outside Pennsylvania usually follow destination-type rules when they have nexus in the state, but the core idea for an in-state business is that your business location controls the rate.
Use tax on out-of-state purchases
If you buy something from a seller who does not charge Pennsylvania sales tax, you may still owe use tax at the same rate, based on where the item is used in PA. This is common with online orders from smaller retailers or purchases made while traveling out of state.
For example, if you live near Harrisburg and buy a taxable item online from a seller who does not collect PA tax, you are supposed to report and pay the 6% use tax on your Pennsylvania return.
Items that are exempt or treated differently
Some categories are treated more favorably:
- Groceries and unprepared food: generally exempt.
- Most everyday clothing and footwear: exempt, but formal wear, sporting gear, and high-end furs can be taxable.
- Prescription medicines and many medical devices: generally exempt.
- Digital products: such as downloaded music, eBooks, and streaming services, are often taxable.
- Motor vehicles and certain large assets: taxable at the combined state and local rate; you pay this during registration.
Because taxability can be very specific, your safest approach is to treat online calculators as a starting point, not a final answer.
Pennsylvania sales tax calculator (for shoppers and small businesses)
On this page, you can embed the MoneyToolsHQ Pennsylvania Sales Tax / VAT & Duty Finder, pre-filtered to PA.
Here is how the tool on this page is designed to work:
- State dropdown pre-selected to Pennsylvania (PA) so users do not need to choose a state.
- Location selector highlights the three most relevant choices:
- Rest of Pennsylvania – 6%
- Allegheny County – 7%
- Philadelphia – 8%
- Category selector reflects PA taxability logic:
- General merchandise
- Groceries / unprepared food
- Everyday clothing / footwear
- Digital products / subscriptions
- Motor vehicle purchase
The calculator then:
- Takes your purchase price.
- Applies the selected combined rate if the item is taxable.
- Returns the estimated sales tax and total price after tax.
- Shows a short note explaining how that category is usually taxed in PA.
You can place the HTML + JavaScript block from earlier directly under this section so users can scroll from the explanation straight into hands-on calculations.
Real-world Pennsylvania examples
Example 1: Buying electronics in Philadelphia
Imagine you are buying a laptop in a Philadelphia electronics store for $1,200.
- Location: Philadelphia
- Combined rate: 8% (6% state + 2% local)
- Category: General merchandise
You would calculate:
- Sales tax = $1,200 × 8% = $96
- Total after tax = $1,200 + $96 = $1,296
When you plug these numbers into the MoneyToolsHQ Pennsylvania calculator and choose Philadelphia (8%) and General merchandise, your result should be very close to this estimate (rounding differences may cause a cent or two difference).
Example 2: Online order shipped to a Pennsylvania ZIP
Now suppose you order a taxable home office chair online for $300, and the seller charges Pennsylvania tax at the 6% rate because the order is shipped to a standard PA county (not Philadelphia or Allegheny).
- Ship-to ZIP: typical 6% county
- Combined rate: 6%
- Category: General merchandise
Estimated result:
- Sales tax = $300 × 6% = $18
- Total after tax = $300 + $18 = $318
If the seller is based in Philadelphia and uses origin-based rules for in-state sales, they might charge 8% instead, regardless of your ZIP. That is why the calculator on MoneyToolsHQ focuses on the location of the seller or point of sale, which is how Pennsylvania applies its origin-based system for in-state businesses.
Example 3: Small business invoice in Pennsylvania
Assume you run a small electronics shop in Allegheny County and you invoice a local customer for $100 of fully taxable merchandise.
Because your store is in Allegheny County:
- State rate: 6%
- Local add-on: 1%
- Combined rate: 7%
On a $100 taxable sale:
- Sales tax to collect = $100 × 7% = $7.00
- Total invoice = $100 + $7 = $107
In the MoneyToolsHQ tool, you would:
- Enter $100 as the purchase amount.
- Select Allegheny County – 7% total.
- Choose General merchandise.
The calculator will show a taxable amount of $100, estimated tax of about $7, and a total of about $107, with a reminder to confirm the latest rules before you file returns.
FAQs:
Does Pennsylvania tax groceries?
In general, unprepared groceries and basic food items are exempt from Pennsylvania sales tax. Items such as fresh fruits and vegetables, raw meat, bread, and milk are usually not taxed.
However, prepared foods, restaurant meals, candy, and soft drinks are often taxable. That is why the MoneyToolsHQ calculator treats “Groceries / unprepared food” as non-taxable by default and adds a note reminding you to check the exact product type.
Is there sales tax on clothing in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania is relatively generous with clothing. Most everyday clothing and footwear is exempt from sales tax.
But there are important exceptions, including:
Formal wear and special occasion outfits.
Sporting apparel and gear normally used only when playing sports.
Furs and some luxury items.
Because the details matter, the MoneyToolsHQ calculator shows clothing as “usually exempt” and warns that special-case items can be taxable. For borderline products, checking the latest PA Retailer’s Information Guide (REV-717) or talking to your accountant is a good idea.
Are digital products taxable in Pennsylvania?
Yes, many digital products are taxable in Pennsylvania. This includes things like:
Downloaded music, movies, and eBooks.
Streaming services and certain digital subscriptions.
Some downloaded software.
In the calculator, when you choose Digital product or subscription, it assumes the entire purchase price is taxable at the selected Pennsylvania rate. The result gives you a clear idea of how much tax a customer is likely to see on their bill.
Do I pay sales tax when buying a car in Pennsylvania?
Most vehicle purchases are subject to Pennsylvania sales and use tax at the combined rate for the place where the vehicle is titled and registered:
6% in most of the state.
7% in Allegheny County.
8% in Philadelphia.
The MoneyToolsHQ calculator does not include title, registration, or document fees, but it can give you a quick view of the sales tax portion on the vehicle price itself when you select the “Motor vehicle purchase” category.
How often do Pennsylvania sales tax rates change?
The state rate of 6% has been stable for many years, and the local add-ons in Philadelphia and Allegheny County have also been in place for a long time.
However, tax rules can still change over time:
The list of exempt items (especially around clothing, digital products, and services) may be updated.
New guidance can clarify how tax applies to mixed-use items, bundles, or subscriptions.
Federal and state court decisions can affect how certain services are sourced and taxed.
For that reason, MoneyToolsHQ explains that all calculator outputs are estimates only and encourages users to confirm exact rules with official PA guidance.
