Is Shipping Taxable?

Look up whether a US state generally taxes delivery charges, so you know whether to charge sales tax on the shipping line at checkout.

Your numbers

State

Is the item you're shipping subject to sales tax?

If the product itself is exempt (like groceries in many states), its shipping charge is usually exempt too, whatever the state's general rule.

Your result · updates as you type

Shipping tax in California

Generally not taxable

Not taxable if separately stated and no higher than your actual delivery cost. Bundle it with a handling fee and the whole charge usually becomes taxable.

State rules on taxing shipping have many exceptions (how the charge is described, who delivers it, whether it's bundled with handling) and change often. Confirm the current rule with your state's department of revenue, your tax software, or a tax professional before you rely on it for a specific order. Check the exact combined rate with the sales tax calculator.

Breakdown

California: Generally not taxable
Rule: Not taxable if separately stated and no higher than your actual delivery cost. Bundle it with a handling fee and the whole charge usually becomes taxable.

The four categories

Category	What it generally means
Generally taxable	Delivery charges are taxed whenever the item being shipped is taxable
Generally not taxable	Delivery charges are exempt, usually only if separately stated on the invoice
Depends on how you deliver it	Exempt if you use a common carrier or offer pickup, taxable if you deliver it yourself
No state sales tax	Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon have no statewide sales tax

Almost everywhere, the underlying rule is the same: if the item itself is exempt from sales tax (like groceries in many states), its shipping charge is generally exempt too, whatever the state's general rule on shipping says.

Why this is a starting point, not a final answer

Lots of exceptions. How the charge is worded ("shipping" vs. "shipping and handling"), who delivers it, and whether it's bundled with other fees can all change the answer.
Rules change. States update sales tax guidance regularly; this reflects a review of multi-state summaries current as of 30 Sep 2026, not a line-by-line review of all 50 states' statutes.
Confirm before you rely on it. Check your state's department of revenue, your tax automation (Shopify Tax or WooCommerce automated tax usually gets this right automatically), or a tax professional for anything specific.

Questions people ask

Is shipping taxable if I charge a flat rate?

A flat shipping fee is usually treated the same as an itemized delivery charge for tax purposes: the state's general rule still applies to whether it's taxable.

Does bundling shipping with handling change the answer?

Often yes. A state that exempts a separately stated delivery charge can still tax the whole amount if it's combined with a handling fee.

Do marketplaces like Etsy or Amazon handle this for me?

On orders where the marketplace collects tax as a facilitator, yes, they generally calculate shipping tax automatically. This tool is mainly useful for your own Shopify or WooCommerce store.

What if my item isn't taxable at all?

If the underlying item is exempt from sales tax, its shipping charge is generally exempt too, regardless of the state's rule for taxable items. Toggle that off in the tool to see this.

Last reviewed 30 September 2026.

Sources: Tax Foundation: State and Local Sales Tax Rates, Midyear 2026 · TaxJar: Is shipping taxable? · Zamp: Is shipping taxable? A state-by-state guide