Missouri's Sales Tax Rate and What It Covers
Missouri's statewide sales tax rate is 4.225 percent. This is the baseline tax you pay on most purchases at checkout. However, your actual total sales tax is almost always higher because cities and counties in Missouri add their own local sales taxes on top of the state rate. The combined rate you see depends entirely on where you make the purchase.
Sales tax in Missouri applies to tangible goods — physical items you can touch and take home. This includes clothing, groceries, electronics, furniture, and vehicles. Services are generally not taxed in Missouri, so you do not pay sales tax on haircuts, car repairs, or plumbing work. The main exception is prepared food: a meal at a restaurant is taxed, but groceries you buy raw are not.
Some items are exempt from Missouri sales tax even though they are physical goods. Prescription medications, medical devices, and certain agricultural equipment do not carry sales tax. If you are unsure whether a specific item is taxed, ask the cashier or check the receipt — it will show the tax amount or "tax exempt" clearly.
Key Takeaways
- Missouri's state sales tax is 4.225 percent, but your total rate includes local taxes added by your city or county, which can range from roughly 5 percent to over 10 percent depending on location.
- Sales tax applies to physical goods like clothing and groceries but not to services like haircuts or car repairs, with prepared food taxed but raw groceries exempt.
- You can find your exact local sales tax rate by entering your address on the Missouri Department of Revenue website or asking a local business.
- Vehicles, groceries, and prescription medications have their own special tax rules that differ from standard sales tax.
How Local Sales Tax Adds to the State Rate
Every city and county in Missouri sets its own local sales tax on top of the 4.225 percent state rate. A city might add 1 percent, and the county might add another 0.5 percent, bringing your total to roughly 5.7 percent. Some areas have higher local rates — certain counties and cities combine for totals above 10 percent. The rate you pay depends on the exact address where you make the purchase, not where you live.
This means two stores selling the same item in different towns will charge different total sales tax. If you buy something in Kansas City, you pay Kansas City's combined rate. If you drive to a neighboring town, that town's rate applies instead. Online purchases are more complicated: you typically pay the sales tax rate of the address where the item is shipped, not where you live or where the seller is located.
To find your exact local sales tax rate, visit the Missouri Department of Revenue website and enter your address, or call your city or county assessor's office. The rate can change when local governments vote to raise or lower their portion, so it is worth checking if you have not looked in a few years.
Sales Tax on Vehicles and Special Items
Buying a car in Missouri involves sales tax, but the rules are different from regular purchases. You pay sales tax on the full purchase price of the vehicle, calculated at the rate where the sale takes place. If you trade in an old vehicle, Missouri allows you to subtract the trade-in value from the purchase price before calculating tax — this is called a trade-in credit. You do not get a credit if you sell the old car separately and use the money toward a new one; the trade-in credit only applies when the dealer takes the old vehicle as part of the deal.
Groceries are exempt from sales tax in Missouri, which means milk, bread, vegetables, and meat do not carry tax at the register. However, prepared foods — anything ready to eat, like deli chicken or bakery items — are taxed. The distinction can be fuzzy: a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store is taxed, but raw chicken is not. When in doubt, the cashier can tell you whether an item is taxed before you pay.
Prescription medications and certain medical devices are also exempt. Over-the-counter medications like pain relievers or cold medicine are taxed, but a prescription filled by a pharmacist is not. Durable medical equipment prescribed by a doctor — wheelchairs, oxygen equipment, diabetic supplies — may be exempt depending on the specific item.
Who Collects and Where the Money Goes
The business selling you the item collects the sales tax at the register and holds it temporarily. The seller then sends the tax revenue to the Missouri Department of Revenue and to the local city or county government. This happens monthly or quarterly depending on the business's size and the local rules. You do not send sales tax to the government yourself — the store handles it.
The state keeps its 4.225 percent portion and uses it for general state operations. The local portion goes to the city or county that collected it. Some local governments use sales tax revenue for schools, roads, or public safety. Others use it to fund specific projects or services. The breakdown varies by location, so if you want to know where your local sales tax goes, contact your city or county government office.
Sales Tax on Online and Out-of-State Purchases
When you order something online and have it shipped to a Missouri address, you pay Missouri sales tax — specifically, the rate for the address where it arrives. This applies whether you order from a Missouri company, an out-of-state company, or a large national retailer. The seller is responsible for collecting and sending the tax to Missouri.
Some smaller online sellers do not collect Missouri sales tax, especially if they are based outside the state and have no physical location in Missouri. If tax was not collected at checkout, you are technically supposed to report the purchase on your Missouri tax return and pay the tax yourself — this is called use tax. In practice, most individual shoppers do not do this, but the obligation exists. If you run a business and make regular out-of-state purchases, you should understand use tax rules.
If you buy something in another state and bring it home to Missouri, you do not owe additional Missouri sales tax. The tax you paid in that state is final. However, if you buy something tax-free in another state and bring it to Missouri to use or sell, Missouri may consider it subject to use tax — though this is rarely enforced for personal items.
Finding Your Exact Local Sales Tax Rate
The easiest way to find your exact sales tax rate is to visit the Missouri Department of Revenue website and use their sales tax rate lookup tool. Enter your street address, city, and zip code, and the tool will show you the combined state and local rate for that location. You can also call the Missouri Department of Revenue at 573-751-4541 during business hours, or contact your city or county assessor's office directly.
If you are shopping in a different city or county than where you live, ask the cashier what the local rate is, or check your receipt after purchase — it will show the tax rate applied. Keep in mind that rates can change, so a rate you learned months ago may no longer be accurate. If you are making a large purchase or planning a business transaction, it is worth confirming the current rate before you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I pay sales tax on groceries in Missouri?
Raw groceries like milk, bread, vegetables, and uncooked meat are not taxed. Prepared foods — rotisserie chicken, deli items, bakery goods, and restaurant meals — are taxed at your local sales tax rate. If you are unsure whether a specific item is considered prepared food, ask the cashier before checkout.
What is the difference between sales tax and use tax?
Sales tax is collected by the seller when you buy something. Use tax is a tax you owe on purchases where sales tax was not collected — usually out-of-state online purchases. You are supposed to report and pay use tax on your Missouri tax return, though it is rarely enforced for individual shoppers making occasional purchases.
Why is my sales tax different in different cities?
Missouri allows each city and county to set its own local sales tax rate on top of the 4.225 percent state rate. A city might add 1 percent while a neighboring county adds 0.75 percent, creating different totals. The rate you pay depends on the exact address where you make the purchase.
Do I get a sales tax refund if I return something?
Yes. When you return an item and receive a refund, the store refunds the sales tax you paid along with the purchase price. If you exchanged the item for something else, the store adjusts the tax based on the new purchase price. Keep your receipt to show proof of the original purchase and tax amount.
Is sales tax included in the price shown on the shelf?
No. The price on the shelf or tag is the pre-tax price. Sales tax is added at checkout. This is why your total bill is higher than the price you saw. The receipt will show the pre-tax subtotal, the tax amount, and the final total separately.