Tennessee Sales Tax Rates (2026)
Tennessee (Volunteer State) has a statewide sales tax of 7% and an average combined rate of 9.55% after local taxes. The table below shows every state-level tax that can appear on a Tennessee receipt.
| Tax | Rate |
|---|---|
| State sales tax | 7% |
| Average combined (state + local) | 9.55% |
| State Sales Tax | 8.89% |
| Local Hotel Occupancy Tax | 11.35% |
| Grocery food | Tennessee taxes groceries at a reduced rate below the 7% general state rate. |
What Must Appear on a Tennessee Receipt
Tennessee does not mandate a specific receipt format for most retail transactions, but receipts used for tax deductions, expense reports, or insurance claims should include:
- Vendor name and address (the Tennessee business location)
- Transaction date and time
- Itemized list of purchases with individual prices
- Subtotal, sales tax amount, and total
- Payment method (cash, card type, last 4 digits)
- For lodging: separate breakdown of room rate vs. each lodging tax
Sales Tax by Scenario in Tennessee
Grocery purchases
Tennessee taxes groceries at a reduced rate below the 7% general state rate.
Restaurant meals
Prepared food and restaurant meals in Tennessee are subject to the full 7% state sales tax plus any local meal tax. Tips are not taxable and should be added after the tax line.
Hotel and lodging
Hotel receipts in Tennessee typically show: room rate, state sales tax, and the lodging-specific taxes shown above. Total tax burden on a hotel night can reach approximately 27.24%.
Major Cities in Tennessee
Sales tax varies by city and county across Tennessee. The five largest metros where receipts are commonly issued:
Popular Receipt Templates for Tennessee
Generate a receipt that matches major retailers' formats with Tennessee sales tax pre-calculated:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the sales tax in Tennessee?
The statewide sales tax rate in Tennessee is 7%. After local sales taxes are added, the average combined rate is 9.55%. The exact rate on any specific purchase depends on the city and county where it was made.
How do I calculate Tennessee sales tax?
Multiply the purchase amount by the Tennessee sales tax rate. For a $100 purchase at the 7% state rate: tax = $7.00. Add any local sales tax for an accurate total. Use the calculator at the top of this page for an instant city-level breakdown.
Are groceries taxed in Tennessee?
Tennessee taxes groceries at a reduced rate below the 7% general state rate. Restaurant prepared food is always taxed at the full state rate regardless of grocery exemption status.
What is the hotel tax rate in Tennessee?
Hotel and lodging in Tennessee is subject to 7% state sales tax plus lodging-specific taxes: State Sales Tax (8.89%), Local Hotel Occupancy Tax (11.35%). Combined hotel tax burden reaches approximately 27.24%.
How do I create a Tennessee-compliant receipt?
Use the ReceiptEdit receipt maker. It supports Tennessee sales tax rates and itemized receipts that meet expense report, tax deduction, and insurance claim requirements. Pre-fill the calculator above to send the amount + tax directly into the receipt builder.
Are digital receipts legal in Tennessee?
Yes. Tennessee accepts digital receipts (PDF, email confirmations, app screenshots) for sales tax records, returns, and IRS deductions, as long as they clearly show vendor, date, items, tax breakdown, and total. The IRS treats digital and paper receipts as equally valid.
What if my Tennessee receipt is missing tax information?
Tennessee retailers must show sales tax separately on receipts above a basic minimum. If the tax line is missing, request a corrected receipt from the merchant. For expense reimbursement or audits, use the receipt maker on this page to generate a properly formatted replacement with the correct Tennessee tax breakdown.
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