The 2012-2013 Arizona State Sales Tax
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What is the 2013 Arizona Sales Tax Rate?
6.60%
The Arizona sales tax rate is 6.6%, and the maximum AZ sales tax after local surtaxes is 10.6%.
- Groceries and prescription drugs are exempt from the Arizona sales tax
- Counties and cities can charge an additional local sales tax of up to 4%
- Arizona has 511 special sales tax jurisdictions with local sales taxes in addition to the state sales tax
- Arizona has a higher state sales tax than 84.6% of states
Arizona has a transaction privilege tax (TPT) that serves as an alternative to a sales tax. This tax applies to vendor's purchases rather then consumer purchases, but vendors are allowed to pass the tax (or part of it) on to their consumers. As of July 2011, consumers are also expected to declare and pay use tax on any items bought online or through mail order. This is similar to use tax requirements in other states with a traditional sales tax model.
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Arizona Sales Tax Exemptions
Arizona doesn't collect sales tax on purchases of most prescription drugs and groceries. In most states, necessities such as groceries, clothes, and drugs are exempted from the sales tax or charged at a lower sales tax rate.
Some items may not be eligible for these reduced sales tax rates, such as expensive clothing, unhealthy food or drinks like soda, and certain non-essential pharmaceuticals. Other items including gasoline, alcohol, and cigarettes are subject to various Arizona excise taxes in addition to the sales tax.
In some states, items like alcohol and prepared food (including restaurant meals and some premade supermarket items) are charged at a higher sales tax rate. The AZ sales tax applicable to the sale of cars, boats, and real estate sales may also vary by jurisdiction. Arizona's sales tax rates for commonly exempted items are as follows:
| Groceries: EXEMPT | Clothing: 6.6% | Prepared Food: 6.6% | Prescription Drugs: EXEMPT | Non-Prescription Drugs: 6.6% |
$100 Restaurant Dinner
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$100 of groceries
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$100 in clothes
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$100 of consumer products
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$6.60 sales tax $106.60 total |
$0.00 sales tax $100.00 total |
$6.60 sales tax $106.60 total |
$6.60 sales tax $106.60 total |
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Arizona Sales Tax Exemption Certificate
Unlike a Value Added Tax (VAT), the Arizona sales tax only applies to end consumers of the product. Individuals and companies who are purchasing goods for resale, improvement, or as raw materials can use a Arizona Sales Tax Exemption Form to buy these goods tax-free.
Companies or individuals who wish to make a qualifying purchase tax-free must have a Arizona state sales tax exemption certificate, which can be obtained from the Arizona Department of Revenue Website . On making an exempt purchase, Exemption Certificate holders may submit a completed Arizona Sales Tax Exemption Form to the vendor instead of paying sales tax.
Sales tax exemption forms (as well as business sales tax id applications, sales tax returns, and the full Arizona sales tax code) can be downloaded from the Arizona Department of Revenue Website 's website.
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Arizona Sales Tax Calculator
Whenever you make a purchase at a licensed Arizona retailer, your sales tax will be automatically calculated and added to your bill. To lookup the sales tax due on any purchase, use our Arizona sales tax calculator.
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Arizona Use Tax
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If you buy goods and are not charged the Arizona Sales Tax by the retailer, such as with online and out-of-state purchases, you are supposed to pay the 6.6% sales tax (less any foreign sales tax paid) for these items yourself as the Arizona Use Tax.
Your are expected to voluntarily list your liable purchases on a Arizona Use Tax Return, which should be attached with payment to your Arizona Income Tax Return. Historically, compliance rates with with the Arizona Use Tax have been low.
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Arizona Local Sales Tax
Arizona allows counties and cities to collect a maximum local sales tax of 4.00% on all non-exempt purchases within their jurisdiction. The local sales tax is collected in addition to the Arizona sales tax of 6.6%, so the actual sales tax you pay on purchases in Arizona may vary between 6.6% and 10.6% depending on which county or city the sale is made in.
You can find local sales tax rates on our list of Arizona local sales taxes by county, city, and zip code, or you can lookup your local sales tax rates with our free Arizona sales tax lookup tool. If you need to download Arizona local sales tax rates, visit the Arizona sales tax database download page.
| Apache County 7.10% |
Apache Junction 9.90% |
Avondale 9.80% |
Benson 9.60% |
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| Bisbee 9.60% |
Buckeye 10.30% |
Bullhead 8.85% |
Camp Verde 10.35% |
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| Carefree 10.30% |
Casa Grande 9.50% |
Cave Creek 10.30% |
Chandler 8.80% |
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| Chino Valley 10.35% |
Clarkdale 10.35% |
Clifton 10.10% |
Cochise County 7.10% |
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| Coconino County 7.73% |
Colorado 8.85% |
Coolidge 10.70% |
Cottonwood 10.35% |
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View all local Arizona sales taxes
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