New Hampshire Sales Tax
Figure basis: Official New Hampshire Department of Revenue AdministrationNew Hampshire does not impose a state sales tax. Residents and visitors pay no sales tax on retail purchases at the state level, making New Hampshire one of a small number of states with no statewide sales tax. Some localities within New Hampshire may still charge local sales or use taxes, so this page links to local rate information where applicable. Even without a sales tax, New Hampshire may generate revenue through other means such as property taxes, excise taxes, or income taxes. Use the tools below to explore the full tax picture for New Hampshire and compare your overall burden against states that do levy a sales tax. All information is sourced from New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration and reflects current New Hampshire tax law.
New Hampshire has no statewide or local general sales tax. The marked price is the price you pay on general retail purchases. New Hampshire has no general sales tax; it charges only a separate 8.5% Meals and Rooms (Rentals) tax on prepared meals, lodging and motor vehicle rentals.
New Hampshire has no sales tax
New Hampshire has no general sales tax; it charges only a separate 8.5% Meals and Rooms (Rentals) tax on prepared meals, lodging and motor vehicle rentals. For shoppers, the price on the shelf is the price at the register. For businesses, there is no general sales tax to collect or remit on ordinary retail sales in New Hampshire.
No sales tax, but watch the Meals and Rooms tax
New Hampshire is famous for having no general sales tax, and the reputation is earned: there is no statewide rate and no local sales tax, so ordinary retail purchases cost exactly the marked price. The absence draws cross-border shoppers from Massachusetts and Maine, especially for higher-ticket items like electronics and appliances, where a neighboring state's 5.5% to 6.25% would add up.
The catch that surprises visitors is the Meals and Rooms (Rentals) tax. New Hampshire charges a separate 8.5% levy on prepared restaurant meals, hotel and short-term room rentals, and motor vehicle rentals. So while a television bought in Nashua carries no tax, a restaurant dinner, a hotel night or a rental car in the same town does. It is easy to assume a no-sales-tax state means no tax at all on a trip, and that assumption can quietly inflate a travel budget.
It is also worth remembering how the state funds itself without a sales or broad income tax: New Hampshire leans heavily on property taxes, which rank among the highest in the nation, plus business taxes and the Meals and Rooms tax. For a shopper, though, the takeaway is simple. On goods you carry out of a store, there is nothing to add. On meals, lodging and vehicle rentals, budget for the 8.5% that the state does collect.
New Hampshire sales tax: frequently asked questions
Does New Hampshire have a sales tax?
No. New Hampshire has no general sales tax and no local sales taxes; the only broad consumer levy is the statewide 8.5% Meals and Rooms (Rentals) tax on restaurant meals, lodging and vehicle rentals.
How much sales tax will I pay in New Hampshire?
None on general retail purchases. New Hampshire has no statewide or local general sales tax, so the marked price is the price you pay.
Does New Hampshire have a sales tax?
No. The New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration confirms there is no general sales tax on goods purchased in New Hampshire. The state does charge an 8.5% Meals and Rooms (Rentals) tax on prepared meals, hotel rooms and motor vehicle rentals.
What is the New Hampshire Meals and Rooms tax rate?
The Meals and Rooms (Rentals) tax is 8.5%, and it applies to restaurant meals, room rentals and motor vehicle rentals rather than to general retail goods.
Official sources
- State base rate (0%): New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration, as at Jun 11, 2026.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 11 June 2026. See our methodology. General information, not financial or tax advice.