Sales tax by state · Wisconsin
Wisconsin Sales Tax Rate
The statewide sales tax in Wisconsin is 5%, the 12th-highest statewide rate (tied with 2 other states). With local taxes added, shoppers in Milwaukee pay 7.9%. Here’s how that compares nationally and what you pay in the state’s major cities.
- Wisconsin state rate 5% statewide base rate
- National rank 12th of 51, highest first
- Milwaukee combined 7.9% state + local, ZIP 53202
- Tax on $100 $7.90 in Milwaukee
Sales tax in Wisconsin
Wisconsin charges a statewide sales tax of 5%, 0.02 percentage points below the 5.02% average across all states. Counties, cities and special districts can add their own taxes on top, so the total at the register is usually higher than the state rate.
Combined rates in Wisconsin’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee 53202 | 5% | 0.9% | 2% | 0% | 7.9% |
| Madison 53703 | 5% | 0.5% | 0% | 0% | 5.5% |
What sales tax adds in Milwaukee
At the 7.9% combined rate in Milwaukee, sales tax adds:
For any other address in Wisconsin, enter its ZIP code in the sales tax calculator to get the exact combined rate.
How Wisconsin compares
Among all 51 states and DC, Wisconsin’s 5% is the 12th-highest statewide rate (tied with 2 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.
Wisconsin sales tax — FAQ
What is the sales tax rate in Wisconsin?
The statewide sales tax rate in Wisconsin is 5%. That is the 12th-highest statewide rate (tied with 2 other states) and 0.02 percentage points below the 5.02% average across all states. Local taxes can add more depending on where you shop.
What is the sales tax in Milwaukee, Wisconsin?
The combined sales tax rate in downtown Milwaukee (ZIP 53202) is 7.9%: 5% state, 0.9% county, 2% city. Rates in other parts of the city can differ.
How do I calculate sales tax in Wisconsin?
Multiply the price by the combined rate where you buy. In Milwaukee, a $100 purchase carries $7.90 in tax (7.9%), for $107.90 total. For any other location, enter the ZIP code in the sales tax calculator.
Is Wisconsin's sales tax high compared with other states?
Among all 51 states and DC, Wisconsin’s 5% is the 12th-highest statewide rate (tied with 2 other states), 0.02 percentage points below 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/wisconsin/ — based on State departments of revenue. CC BY 4.0.
