District of Columbia sales tax rate in 2026
| State rate | 6% |
|---|
- The general rate is 6%. A planned rise to 7% has been postponed, and the DC Office of Tax and Revenue says 6% applies through 30 September 2027.
- Higher rates apply to restaurant meals, hotel stays, alcohol and parking.
How to calculate District of Columbia sales tax
To add tax, multiply the price before tax by 6% and add it on. To find the price before tax inside a total, divide the total by 1.06. Taking 6% off the total gives the wrong answer, because the tax was charged on the smaller pre-tax price.
Tax = Price × 6 ÷ 100 Price before tax = Total ÷ 1.06
| Price before tax | $250.00 |
|---|---|
| Sales tax at 6% | $15.00 |
| Total | $265.00 |
| A total of $530.00 includes tax of | $30.00 |
| …so the price before tax was | $500.00 |
District of Columbia sales tax on common amounts
At 6%, this is the tax and the total on everyday prices.
| Price before tax | Tax | Total |
|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | $0.60 | $10.60 |
| $20.00 | $1.20 | $21.20 |
| $50.00 | $3.00 | $53.00 |
| $100.00 | $6.00 | $106.00 |
| $250.00 | $15.00 | $265.00 |
| $500.00 | $30.00 | $530.00 |
| $1,000.00 | $60.00 | $1,060.00 |
| $5,000.00 | $300.00 | $5,300.00 |
One rate across District of Columbia
District of Columbia does not allow local sales taxes, so the same 6% applies to taxable sales anywhere in the state. Some items, such as groceries or prescription medicine, may be exempt or taxed differently.
Selling to District of Columbia from another state
Since the 2018 South Dakota v. Wayfair decision, states can require out-of-state sellers to collect sales tax once their sales into the state pass an economic nexus threshold, even without a physical presence. Marketplaces such as Amazon and Etsy usually collect and pay the tax for sales made through them. Check the District of Columbia revenue department for the current threshold and registration steps.