diff --git a/src/fmg-components/cart/cart.vue b/src/fmg-components/cart/cart.vue
index dcf1375b7..52d33c575 100644
--- a/src/fmg-components/cart/cart.vue
+++ b/src/fmg-components/cart/cart.vue
@@ -930,7 +930,10 @@ export default {
             if (!this.showAsPaid) {
                 return 0;
             }
-            return this.subTotal + this.salesTax;
+
+            // unary plus operator to convert string amount to numeric so we can add them together
+            var amtPaid = +this.subTotal + +this.salesTax;
+            return amtPaid;
         },
     },
     components: {