Hey Delaware, We Don’t Mean You…

Or any other resident of a state with no sales tax.

But the rest of you? Listen up. You can deduct your local and state income tax or sales tax on your federal income tax return. Most folks automatically choose income tax because it’s easier to calculate. However, the IRS is now making the sales tax calculation a little easier, too.

On the one hand, you could save all of your receipts and add up the tax.  Don’t laugh, this makes a lot of sense if you’ve purchased several big-ticket items during the year. Consider whether you renovated your home with new appliances, furniture, etc., or whether you bought a new car.

But if you didn’t save those receipts, you’re not out of luck. You can use the IRS’ handy sales tax calculator. They don’t collect or save personal information, so give it a whirl. You might be surprised at the results.