Step 1 :First, we need to calculate the discounted price of the laptop. This can be done by subtracting the discount from the original price. So, the discounted price is \(540 - 54 = 486\) dollars.
Step 2 :Then, we need to calculate the sales tax on the discounted price. This can be done by multiplying the discounted price by the sales tax rate. So, the sales tax is \(486 * 0.08 = 38.88\) dollars.
Step 3 :Final Answer: The sales tax Kyle will need to pay is \(\boxed{38.88}\) dollars.