Sales taxes are fees imposed by governments on the sale of goods and services. When a consumer purchases an item, a percentage of the sale price is added as tax, which is collected by the retailer and later sent to the government. The rate of sales tax can vary by state or locality, and some items may be exempt from this tax. These taxes are used to fund public services such as education, transportation, and infrastructure. Different regions may have different rules regarding what is taxable, and some states, like California or Texas, have higher sales tax rates than others.