Thread: syntax error in my if statement

Code:

if (tax == 1) {
            price += shippingcost;   
            total = price - (price * TAX_RATE);
            return total;
       }

I dont know why but its giving me the message "syntax error before '=' token
for the line total = price - (price * TAX_RATE);. I cant figure it out why am I getting this error? (it is an 80 lined program and commenting this one line out allows it to compile).Thanks