Add or remove VAT in one step
The VAT calculator adds VAT to a net price or takes it out of a VAT-inclusive price, at any rate. Pick a country preset — the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Singapore or South Africa — or type your own rate, and you get the net amount, the tax and the gross amount instantly.
It is built for freelancers writing invoices, small businesses pricing products, shoppers checking a receipt and anyone who needs a “reverse VAT” figure for an expense claim. The same maths works for GST and for US sales tax, and you can choose from over thirty currencies. Indian GST, with its CGST/SGST split, has its own GST calculator.
How to use the VAT Calculator
- Choose “Add VAT” if your amount excludes VAT, or “Remove VAT” if it already includes VAT.
- Type the amount.
- Pick a country preset; it fills in the standard rate and the currency. You can still change either.
- For another rate, type it in the rate box or choose “Custom rate”. For the US, enter your combined state and local sales tax rate.
- Read the net, VAT and gross figures, plus the multiplier and VAT fraction, and copy the breakdown if you need it.
VAT Calculator features
Add and reverse VAT
Works in both directions with the correct reverse formula, not the common “subtract 20%” mistake.
Fifteen country presets
Standard rates for the UK, major EU countries, the Gulf, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Singapore and South Africa, plus the UK 5% reduced rate.
Any custom rate
Use reduced rates, older rates or a local sales tax rate with up to three decimal places.
VAT fraction shown
See the share of a gross price that is tax — 1/6 at 20% — handy for bookkeeping and receipts.
Remembers your setup
Your last preset, rate and currency are kept on this device for next time.
VAT formulas and worked examples
Adding VAT: gross = net × (1 + rate ÷ 100) and VAT = net × rate ÷ 100. A £250 invoice plus 20% UK VAT is 250 × 1.20 = £300, of which £50 is VAT.
Removing VAT: net = gross ÷ (1 + rate ÷ 100) and VAT = gross − net. A €119 price in Germany at 19% has a net value of 119 ÷ 1.19 = €100 and €19 of VAT.
The common mistake: taking 20% off a VAT-inclusive price. On a £120 gross price that gives £96 — wrong — because the VAT was charged on the £100 net price, not on £120. The correct VAT share of a gross price is rate ÷ (100 + rate), which is 20/120 = 1/6 at 20% and 5/105 = 1/21 at 5%. This is often called the VAT fraction.
Businesses normally round VAT to the nearest whole cent or penny, either per line or on the invoice total, so totals across many lines can differ by a cent from a single calculation. Results here are estimates for checking and planning, not tax advice.
Standard VAT and GST rates in the presets
These are the standard rates used by the presets. Most countries also have reduced and zero rates for items such as food, books or children’s goods, so check the rate for your specific product with the local tax authority.
| Country | Tax | Standard rate |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | VAT | 20% (reduced 5%, zero 0%) |
| Ireland | VAT | 23% |
| Germany | VAT (MwSt) | 19% |
| France | VAT (TVA) | 20% |
| Italy | VAT (IVA) | 22% |
| Spain | VAT (IVA) | 21% |
| Netherlands | VAT (BTW) | 21% |
| United Arab Emirates | VAT | 5% |
| Saudi Arabia | VAT | 15% |
| Australia | GST | 10% |
| New Zealand | GST | 15% |
| Canada | GST (federal) | 5%; provinces add PST or use a combined HST |
| Singapore | GST | 9% |
| South Africa | VAT | 15% |
VAT, GST and US sales tax: what is the difference?
VAT and GST are the same idea under different names: a tax charged at every stage of the supply chain, where each registered business reclaims the tax it paid on its own purchases (input tax). Only the final consumer bears the full tax. Prices shown to consumers in the UK, the EU, Australia and most VAT countries already include it.
US sales tax is charged once, at the final retail sale, and is usually added at the till rather than included in the shelf price. Rates are set by states and local governments, so the same item can be taxed differently a few miles apart. Use the “United States – sales tax” preset and type your combined rate. To see what a discount does before tax, try the discount calculator.
VAT Calculator FAQ
How do I calculate VAT?
Multiply the net price by the VAT rate and divide by 100. For 20% VAT on £80: 80 × 20 ÷ 100 = £16 VAT, so the gross price is £96. The VAT calculator does this instantly in “Add VAT” mode.
How do I remove VAT from a price?
Divide the VAT-inclusive price by 1 plus the rate as a decimal. At 20%, divide by 1.2: £96 ÷ 1.2 = £80 net, and the VAT is £16. Do not simply subtract 20% of the gross price — that understates the net price.
What is the VAT fraction?
It is the share of a VAT-inclusive price that is tax: rate ÷ (100 + rate). At the UK standard rate it is 1/6, so £60 including VAT contains £10 of VAT. At 5% it is 1/21.
Can I use this as a sales tax calculator for the US?
Yes. Choose “United States – sales tax” and type your combined state, county and city rate. Use “Add VAT” to add tax to a pre-tax price, or “Remove VAT” to find the pre-tax price from a total that includes tax.
Does it work for Australian or New Zealand GST?
Yes. The Australia preset uses 10% GST and New Zealand uses 15%. In Australia, the GST in a GST-inclusive price is one-eleventh of the price.
Are the VAT rates up to date?
The presets use each country’s current standard rate at the time of writing. Rates do change, and reduced rates apply to many goods, so always confirm the rate for your product with the official tax authority. You can type any rate if yours differs.