West Virginia Sales Tax Calculator
West Virginia sales tax applies to most retail sales of tangible goods and some services. This calculator shows the combined state and local sales tax rate for any location in West Virginia and lets you work out the tax on a given purchase price or reverse-calculate the pre-tax amount from a total. Select your county or city to load the exact local rate on top of the West Virginia statewide base rate, then enter any purchase amount to see the tax and total immediately. Rates and jurisdictions are sourced from West Virginia Tax Division and reflect current West Virginia law. Sales tax in West Virginia applies at the point of sale for most tangible personal property; groceries, prescription drugs, and other categories may be exempt or taxed at a reduced rate depending on state law. Use the calculator to compare totals across different jurisdictions, or to verify a receipt. The combined rate shown is the rate applicable at a specific location and accounts for any special district taxes layered on top of the county or municipal rate.
West Virginia's state sales tax base rate is 6%. In Charleston the combined rate is 7%, so $100 of goods has $7.00 in sales tax, for a total of $107.00. Pick your city below for the exact combined rate.
How sales tax works in West Virginia
West Virginia charges a statewide base sales tax of 6%. West Virginia levies a 6% state sales and use tax, plus a 1% municipal sales and use tax in each municipality on the official list, for a combined rate of 7% in those municipalities. Choose your city above to load its sourced combined rate, or switch to Remove tax to work back from a tax-inclusive total. Your result updates the page link, so you can copy a permalink to any calculation.
sales tax = pre-tax price x (state rate + local rate) / 100
total = pre-tax price + sales tax
Worked example
A $250.00 purchase in Charleston, at the 7% combined rate (6% state + 1% local):
- Combined rate = 6% + 1% = 7%.
- Sales tax = 250 x 0.0700 = $17.50.
- Total = 250 + 17.50 = $267.50.
What is taxed in West Virginia
| Groceries | Exempt |
|---|---|
| Prescription drugs | Exempt |
| Clothing | Taxable |
Sales of food and food ingredients intended for human consumption (unprepared groceries) are exempt from the 6% state sales tax; prepared food, soft drinks, alcohol and tobacco remain taxable, and the 1% municipal sales tax still applies to taxable items in municipalities that impose it.
Source: West Virginia Tax Division.
West Virginia sales tax holidays
- West Virginia State Sales Tax Holiday (July 31 to August 3, 2026): Qualifying clothing $125 or less, school supplies $50 or less, school instructional material $20 or less, laptop and tablet computers $500 or less, and sports equipment $150 or less. (source)
West Virginia sales tax rates by city
Combined rates (6% state plus local), sourced from the West Virginia Tax Division and verified Jun 11, 2026. For an exact rate by address use the official West Virginia Tax Division rate lookup; local rates can vary within a city and change over time.
Full official dataset: West Virginia Tax Division rate file.
West Virginia sales tax: frequently asked questions
What is the sales tax rate in West Virginia?
West Virginia's statewide base rate is 6%. Each listed municipality adds a 1% municipal sales and use tax on top of the 6% state rate, for a 7% combined rate.
How much is sales tax on $100 in Charleston?
At Charleston's combined rate of 7%, sales tax on $100 is $7.00, for a total of $107.00. Enter your own amount above for an exact figure.
Are groceries taxed in West Virginia?
Sales of food and food ingredients intended for human consumption (unprepared groceries) are exempt from the 6% state sales tax; prepared food, soft drinks, alcohol and tobacco remain taxable, and the 1% municipal sales tax still applies to taxable items in municipalities that impose it.
Does West Virginia have a sales tax holiday?
Yes. West Virginia runs 1 sales tax holiday: West Virginia State Sales Tax Holiday (July 31 to August 3, 2026).
How do I remove sales tax from a total in West Virginia?
Switch the calculator to Remove tax and enter the tax-inclusive total. It divides by 1 plus the combined rate to find the pre-tax price, then shows the tax.
Which West Virginia cities have a municipal sales tax?
Around 100 West Virginia municipalities impose a 1% municipal sales and use tax on top of the 6% state rate, for a combined 7%. They include Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Parkersburg, Wheeling, Beckley, Clarksburg, Fairmont, Martinsburg, Weirton and many smaller towns. The West Virginia Tax Division publishes the full, current list and effective dates on its Municipal Sales and Use Tax page.
Are groceries taxed in West Virginia?
No. Sales of food and food ingredients intended for human consumption (unprepared groceries) are exempt from the 6% state sales tax. Prepared food, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages and tobacco remain taxable, and the 1% municipal sales tax still applies to taxable purchases in municipalities that impose it.
Official sources
- State base rate (6%): West Virginia Tax Division, as at Jun 11, 2026.
- Local combined rates: West Virginia Tax Division, as at Jun 11, 2026.
- Address-level lookup: West Virginia Tax Division rate lookup.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 11 June 2026. See our methodology. General information, not financial or tax advice.