VAT Calculator
Add or remove VAT from any price. Calculate VAT amount for different countries and rates.
About VAT Calculator
Add or remove VAT/GST from any price using preset rates for UK, EU, Australia, India and Canada, or enter a custom rate.
About this calculator
Value Added Tax, or VAT, is a consumption tax added at each stage of a product's supply chain and ultimately paid by the end consumer. This calculator adds VAT to a price or removes it from a VAT-inclusive price, using preset rates for the UK, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, the Nordic countries, Australia, India and Canada, or a custom rate.
It is built for the two jobs people actually have: working out the gross price from a net figure when you invoice a customer, and working out the net amount and the VAT inside a price that already includes tax when you reconcile a receipt.
How to use it
- Enter the Amount.
- Choose a VAT Rate preset or enter your own in the custom field.
- Choose Add VAT (price excludes VAT) or Remove VAT (price includes VAT).
- Read the net amount, the VAT and the gross amount.
Formulas
To add VAT: VAT = Net × Rate ÷ 100 and Gross = Net + VAT. To remove VAT: Net = Gross ÷ (1 + Rate ÷ 100) and VAT = Gross − Net. Never take the percentage off the gross figure, because it is a percentage of the net amount.
Worked example
A net price of 1,000 at the UK standard rate of 20%
| Net amount | 1,000.00 |
| VAT at 20% | 200.00 |
| Gross amount | 1,200.00 |
Going back, a gross price of 1,200 contains 1,000 net and 200 VAT. Taking 20% off 1,200 gives 240, which is wrong.
Tips and common mistakes
- The standard UK rate is 20%. Germany is 19%, Ireland 23%, the Netherlands 21% and Sweden 25%.
- Many countries have reduced rates for food, books or energy. Use the custom field for those.
- VAT-registered businesses reclaim VAT paid on purchases. Keep valid invoices.
- Cross-border B2B services are often reverse-charged, so the rate on the invoice may be zero.
- The currency symbol shown is only a display. The maths works for any currency.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate VAT?
Multiply the net price by the VAT rate and add it. For 20%, net × 1.20 gives the gross.
How do I remove VAT from a price?
Divide the gross price by 1 plus the rate. At 20%, divide by 1.2.
What is the VAT rate in the UK?
The standard rate is 20%, with reduced rates of 5% and 0% on specified goods and services.
Is VAT the same as GST?
They work the same way. India, Australia, Canada and New Zealand call it GST.
Can I use a custom rate?
Yes. Select Custom and enter any percentage.
Does this calculator file VAT returns?
No. It is for quick calculations and invoice checks.