VAT Calculator
Add VAT to a net price or remove it from a gross price at any rate, with common standard rates such as 20%, 19%, 21% and 5% as presets.
Tool guide
What this tool does
The VAT Calculator converts between net and gross amounts for value added tax. Choose a preset standard or reduced rate or enter any rate, and it shows the VAT amount, the VAT fraction of the gross price and the same amount at other common rates.
Value added tax is a consumption tax used in the UK, the European Union, the Gulf states, South Africa and many other countries. Businesses add it to their prices and pass it to the tax authority, and shoppers usually see prices with VAT included. Standard rates differ by country: 20% in the UK and France, 19% in Germany, 21% in Spain and the Netherlands, 5% in the UAE and 15% in Saudi Arabia and South Africa, with reduced or zero rates for some goods.
To add VAT the calculator uses gross = net × (1 + rate/100). To remove it, the correct method is net = gross ÷ (1 + rate/100), not subtracting the rate from the gross price. At 20%, the VAT inside a gross price is one sixth (16.67%) of it, known as the VAT fraction. Rates in the preset list reflect standard rates at the time of writing; confirm the current rate for your country and product.
How to use VAT Calculator
- Choose Add VAT for a net amount or Remove VAT for a price that already includes it.
- Choose the currency and enter the amount.
- Pick a VAT rate from the presets or choose Custom rate.
- Read the gross or net amount, the VAT and the VAT fraction.
- Check the table to compare the same amount at other common rates.
Tips for better results
- For UK prices at 20%, divide a VAT-inclusive price by 6 to find the VAT quickly.
- B2B invoices in the EU and UK must show the net amount, the VAT rate and the VAT separately.
- Exports and some cross-border B2B services are often zero-rated or reverse-charged; check the local rules.
Common use cases
- Preparing an invoice that shows VAT separately.
- Finding the net cost of a purchase to claim input VAT.
- Comparing prices between countries with different VAT rates.
- Checking that a receipt applied the right rate.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Removing VAT by multiplying by (1 − rate), which takes off too much.
- Using the standard rate for food, books or energy that may be reduced or zero-rated.
- Confusing VAT with US sales tax, which is added at the till and varies by state and city.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove 20% VAT from a price?
Divide the price by 1.2. For 120, the net amount is 100 and the VAT is 20. Equivalently, the VAT is one sixth of the gross price.
How do I add VAT?
Multiply the net amount by 1 + rate/100. Adding 19% to 100 gives 119.
What is the VAT fraction?
It is the share of a VAT-inclusive price that is VAT: rate ÷ (100 + rate). At 20% that is 1/6, at 5% it is 1/21.
Is GST the same as VAT?
They work in the same way, as multi-stage taxes with credit for tax paid on inputs. India, Australia and others call it GST; use the GST calculator for the Indian CGST and SGST split.
Feedback & suggestions
Help us improve VAT Calculator. We read every message.