Convention Sales Tax Calculator for Artist Alley Sellers

After a show, work out how much of what you took in is sales tax, what you actually earned before tax, and what you keep after card fees. Free, no sign-up.

Your show

How were your prices set?







Result

Price that includes tax

Using the rate and card fee above.


Selling at more than one show or state?

My Sales Tax by Show Tracker ($5 spreadsheet, Excel or Google Sheets) logs every show with its state, the combined rate you looked up, permit status and return due date. After each show you enter what you took in: it backs the tax out of tax-included prices (or uses what your card reader reported), tracks what you paid, and flags GET PERMIT, DUE SOON and OVERDUE. A States tab totals tax due, paid and balance by state. Comes with a SAMPLE copy (made-up example data) and a BLANK copy.

Get the Sales Tax Tracker on Etsy or get it on Payhip.

Also from my shop: the Artist Alley Income & Expense Ledger on Etsy, the Artist Alley Spreadsheet Bundle on Etsy, or browse the whole LB3Trackers Etsy shop. Not sure which one? See which artist alley tracker you need.

How to use it

  1. Pick whether your prices were tax-included or tax-added.
  2. Enter your gross sales for the show: the total you took in for tax-included prices, or your sales before tax for tax-added prices.
  3. Enter the combined state + local rate you looked up for that location. If some items were non-taxable, enter that amount.
  4. Enter roughly what share was paid by card and your card fee %, if you want to see what you keep after fees.
  5. Use the sticker price helper to see how much of a tax-included price is yours, or what to charge to keep a set amount.

FAQ

Do I have to collect sales tax at an artist alley?

Often yes, but it depends on the state, the city and the event. Some states need a temporary or event seller's permit, and some events collect and pay tax for all vendors. Check your state tax agency's site and ask the organizer before the show.

What rate should I enter?

Enter the combined state plus local rate for the event's location, which you look up yourself on your state or city tax agency's site. This page has no rate tables and doesn't guess a rate for you.

What is the difference between tax-included and tax-added prices?

Tax-included means your $10 sign is the total the buyer pays, so part of that $10 is tax you owe. Tax-added means you charge $10 plus tax at checkout. Pick the one that matches how you priced, and the calculator works out the tax either way.

Are card fees charged on the tax too?

Usually the card processor charges its fee on the full amount the buyer paid, tax included, so this calculator applies your fee % to card sales including tax. Check your own processor's current rate and terms.

Does this save or send my numbers?

Your inputs are saved only in your own browser (localStorage) so they are there next time. Nothing is sent to a server and there is no sign-up.

Free help for the rest of the show

LB3Trackers on Etsy | free downloads | all links | @TheLeonBrownIII on X

Referral codes: see my referral codes page. Referral links may earn me a reward. No income promises.

Made with AI help. Estimates only, not tax or legal advice. Check your state's rules and any temporary event permit.