Sales tax by state · District of Columbia
District of Columbia Sales Tax Rate
The statewide sales tax in District of Columbia is 6%, the 8th-highest statewide rate (tied with 10 other states). Here’s how that compares nationally and what you pay in the state’s major cities.
- District of Columbia state rate 6% statewide base rate
- National rank 8th of 51, highest first
- Washington combined 6% state + local, ZIP 20001
- Tax on $100 $6.00 in Washington
Sales tax in District of Columbia
District of Columbia charges a statewide sales tax of 6%, 0.98 percentage points above the 5.02% average across all states. In the cities sampled for this study, no local tax is added, so the state rate is what shoppers pay.
Combined rates in District of Columbia’s major cities
The combined rate for one downtown ZIP code in each city, broken down by who charges it:
| City | State | County | City | Special | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington 20001 | 6% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 6% |
What sales tax adds in Washington
At the 6% combined rate in Washington, sales tax adds:
For any other address in District of Columbia, enter its ZIP code in the sales tax calculator to get the exact combined rate.
How District of Columbia compares
Among all 51 states and DC, District of Columbia’s 6% is the 8th-highest statewide rate (tied with 10 other states). The average statewide rate is 5.02%, and the highest is California’s 7.25%. See every state ranked on sales tax by state.
District of Columbia sales tax — FAQ
What is the sales tax rate in District of Columbia?
The statewide sales tax rate in District of Columbia is 6%. That is the 8th-highest statewide rate (tied with 10 other states) and 0.98 percentage points above the 5.02% average across all states. Local taxes can add more depending on where you shop.
What is the sales tax in Washington, District of Columbia?
The combined sales tax rate in downtown Washington (ZIP 20001) is 6%: 6% state. Rates in other parts of the city can differ.
How do I calculate sales tax in District of Columbia?
Multiply the price by the combined rate where you buy. In Washington, a $100 purchase carries $6.00 in tax (6%), for $106.00 total. For any other location, enter the ZIP code in the sales tax calculator.
Is District of Columbia's sales tax high compared with other states?
Among all 51 states and DC, District of Columbia’s 6% is the 8th-highest statewide rate (tied with 10 other states), 0.98 percentage points above the 5.02% average across all states. The highest is California’s 7.25%.
Rates as of September 2026. City rates are for one downtown ZIP code and can differ elsewhere in the city.
Data: State departments of revenue, via APIVerve. Our tables, charts and text are licensed CC BY 4.0: reuse them freely, including commercially, as long as you credit us. Cite as: Digest Your Finances, “Sales Tax by State”, https://digestyourfinances.com/studies/sales-tax-by-state/district-of-columbia/ — based on State departments of revenue. CC BY 4.0.
