what states have the highest sales tax 
louisiana has the highest sales tax with a statewide average tax of 9 55 according to the aarp this includes both state and average local taxes tennessee arkansas and washington also have high average sales taxes of above 9 the bottom linea sales tax is a percentage based tax on finished products at the point of sale sales taxes are common in the united states where each level of government may charge an additional percentage of gross sales they are less common outside the u s where many countries use a value added tax instead 