We sell products to about 20 states. I need to compute the sales tax for each
sale based on the state in which it is sold. I propose to set up a table --
Col A is 2-letter abreviation for state (eg, "MN") & col 2 is Tax Rate
(eg,".065"). I then want the user to enter the state abreviation in, for
example, D4, and have the correct rate appear in E4. How can I do this?
(I'm a git of a beginner -- try to dumb down your answer for me, if you can.)

Thanks!!

Craig

Checkout the VLOOKUP() function: exactly what you need.

Use the VLOOKUP function. For example,

=VLOOKUP(state_name,$A$1:$B$21,2,FALSE)

where state_name is the state to lookup (either literal text in
quotes or a cell reference, and A1:B21 is your list of states and
respective tax rates.

--
Cordially,
Chip Pearson
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Pearson Software Consulting, LLC
www.cpearson.com



"CraigR53" wrote in message
...
We sell products to about 20 states. I need to compute the
sales tax for each
sale based on the state in which it is sold. I propose to set
up a table --
Col A is 2-letter abreviation for state (eg, "MN") & col 2 is
Tax Rate
(eg,".065"). I then want the user to enter the state
abreviation in, for
example, D4, and have the correct rate appear in E4. How can I
do this?
(I'm a git of a beginner -- try to dumb down your answer for
me, if you can.)

Thanks!!

Craig

Perfect, Chip! Thanks muchly!!!

Craig

"Chip Pearson" wrote:

Use the VLOOKUP function. For example,

=VLOOKUP(state_name,$A$1:$B$21,2,FALSE)

where state_name is the state to lookup (either literal text in
quotes or a cell reference, and A1:B21 is your list of states and
respective tax rates.

--
Cordially,
Chip Pearson
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Pearson Software Consulting, LLC
www.cpearson.com



"CraigR53" wrote in message
...
We sell products to about 20 states. I need to compute the
sales tax for each
sale based on the state in which it is sold. I propose to set
up a table --
Col A is 2-letter abreviation for state (eg, "MN") & col 2 is
Tax Rate
(eg,".065"). I then want the user to enter the state
abreviation in, for
example, D4, and have the correct rate appear in E4. How can I
do this?
(I'm a git of a beginner -- try to dumb down your answer for
me, if you can.)

Thanks!!

Craig