VAT Calculator

Add or remove VAT to get the net price, the VAT amount, and the gross price.

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Please enter the amount and VAT rate, then click Calculate.

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Calculation Examples

Calculation Case Result
Remove 20% UK VAT from 500 gross Net: 416.67 / VAT: 83.33
Add 19% German VAT to 200 net Gross: 238.00
Remove 5% UAE VAT from 1050 AED gross Net: 1000 AED / VAT: 50 AED
VAT inside 600 gross at 20% VAT: 100 / Net: 500
Mihail Doncenco
Mihail Doncenco Site Creator & Calculator Expert

Founder and developer of CalcMate. Builds and maintains every calculator on this site, focusing on formula accuracy and clear, practical results.

How to Use the VAT Calculator

Choose whether to add VAT to a net price or remove it from a gross total, enter the rate, and enter the amount. For the UK in 2026 the standard rate is 20%, the reduced rate is 5%, and the zero rate is 0%. The tool returns the net price, the VAT amount, and the gross price together.

Business owners use it for VAT invoices, freelancers for quotes to VAT-registered clients, accountants for reconciling receipts, and travelers for checking the tax in prices that include VAT.

How VAT Calculations Work

Three formulas cover every case, with \(r\) as the VAT rate in percent. Gross from net: \(GA = NA \times (1 + r/100)\). VAT from net: \(VA = NA \times r/100\). Net from gross: \(NA = GA \div (1 + r/100)\). Removing VAT is the step people get wrong. Subtracting 20% from a gross of 120 gives 96, but the correct net is 100, because VAT is charged on the net and not on the gross. A shortcut is the VAT fraction: the VAT inside a gross price is \(GA \times \dfrac{r}{100 + r}\), which is one sixth of the gross at 20% and one twenty-first at 5%.Value added tax calculation: net, VAT, and gross amount breakdown

Useful Tips 💡

  • Use the right rate for the goods. In the UK, domestic energy and children's car seats carry the 5% reduced rate, while most goods carry 20%.
  • If you are VAT-registered, keep input VAT (paid on purchases) and output VAT (charged on sales) separate in your accounts, because the VAT return reports both.
  • To find the VAT inside a gross price quickly, divide by 6 at 20%. A gross of 600 contains 100 of VAT.

📋Steps to Calculate

  1. Enter the amount (net price or gross total depending on your calculation direction).

  2. Select or enter the applicable VAT rate for your jurisdiction.

  3. Choose the calculation type (add VAT, remove VAT, or VAT amount only) and click "Calculate".

Mistakes to Avoid ⚠️

  1. Choosing "add VAT" when you already have the gross price. That charges VAT twice and inflates the total.
  2. Treating a VAT-inclusive price as the net base. This overstates both the net amount and the VAT due.
  3. Using the wrong country rate. As of 2026, standard rates are 20% in the UK and France, 19% in Germany, 23% in Ireland, and 27% in Hungary, and reduced rates differ even more.
  4. Removing VAT by subtracting the percentage. At 20%, 120 minus 20% is 96, and the correct net is 100.

Practical Applications📊

  1. Raise a UK invoice: a net charge of 850 at 20% has VAT of 170 and a gross total of 1,020.

  2. Recover the net: a gross price of 500 at 20% is 416.67 net with 83.33 VAT.

  3. Price for Germany: 200 net at 19% becomes 238 gross.

  4. Check a UAE price: 1,050 AED gross at 5% is 1,000 AED net with 50 AED VAT.

Questions and Answers

Can I use this calculator for global VAT and GST rates?

Yes, the calculator accepts any numeric rate, so it works for VAT or GST in any country. Enter the rate for your case, such as 19% for Germany, 21% for Spain or the Netherlands, 25% for Denmark or Sweden, 15% for New Zealand, 10% for Australia, or 18% for India's standard GST. For countries with several rates, run each rate separately. The formula never changes, only the rate does. For cross-border B2B services in the EU, the reverse charge may apply: the seller invoices without VAT and the buyer accounts for it.

How do I calculate VAT for a UK business invoice?

Apply the rate to the net price, then add the VAT to get the gross. A net charge of £850 at 20% has VAT of £170 and a gross total of £1,020. A UK VAT invoice must state the net amount, the rate, the VAT amount, and the gross total. You must register for VAT when taxable turnover passes £90,000, the threshold in force since 1 April 2024. If you are not registered, you cannot charge VAT or show a VAT number. Check HMRC guidance or ask an accountant about your case.

How do you add VAT to a net price?

Multiply the net price by 1 plus the rate as a decimal. At the UK standard rate of 20%, \(\text{Gross} = \text{Net} \times 1.20\), so a net price of 500 becomes 600 with 100 of VAT. At the 5% reduced rate, \(\text{Gross} = \text{Net} \times 1.05\). The VAT alone is \(\text{Net} \times r/100\). A VAT invoice must show the net, the VAT, and the gross payable.

How do you remove VAT from a gross price?

Divide the gross price by 1 plus the rate as a decimal: \(\text{Net} = \text{Gross} \div (1 + r/100)\). For a gross of 120 at 20%, \(\text{Net} = 120 \div 1.20 = 100\), and the VAT is \(120 - 100 = 20\). Do not subtract 20% of the gross: that is 24, not 20, and it gives a net of 96. VAT is charged on the net, so the reverse step must be a division.

What is a VAT calculator and what does it calculate?

A VAT calculator finds any one of three figures from the other two: the net price, the VAT amount, and the gross price. From net and rate it gives the gross, from gross and rate it gives the net, and from net and gross it gives the effective rate, \(\left(\dfrac{\text{Gross}}{\text{Net}} - 1\right) \times 100\). Example: 500 net and 600 gross means a 20% rate. The figures feed invoicing, expense reports, and VAT returns in the more than 170 countries that use VAT or GST.

What is the difference between VAT and sales tax?

VAT is charged at every stage of the supply chain, while sales tax is charged only at the final sale to the consumer. Under VAT, each business reclaims the VAT it paid on purchases (input tax), so only the value it adds is taxed. Sales tax is collected once from the end customer. Both place the burden on the consumer. VAT is often described as self-policing, because a business needs its suppliers' invoices to claim the input tax back.

What is zero-rated VAT and how does it differ from VAT-exempt?

Zero-rated supplies are taxable at 0%, while exempt supplies are outside VAT. A business making zero-rated supplies reports them on its VAT return and can reclaim input VAT. In the UK, zero-rated items include most food, children's clothing, books, newspapers, and exports. A business making exempt supplies charges no VAT and cannot reclaim input VAT related to them. UK examples of exempt supplies are most financial services, insurance, and residential rent. The difference matters for partial exemption when a business sells both kinds.

Which VAT rates apply in different countries?

Standard rates in the EU run from 17% in Luxembourg to 27% in Hungary as of 2026. The UK charges 20%, with 5% on items like domestic energy. Germany charges 19% with 7% reduced, France 20% with 10% and 5.5% reduced, Ireland 23%, Spain and the Netherlands 21%, and Denmark and Sweden 25%. Australia has a 10% GST, New Zealand 15%, the UAE a 5% VAT since 2018, and India an 18% standard GST rate. Many countries exempt or zero-rate basics such as food and healthcare. Rates change, so confirm with the national tax authority.
Disclaimer: This calculator is designed to provide helpful estimates for informational purposes. While we strive for accuracy, financial (or medical) results can vary based on local laws and individual circumstances. We recommend consulting with a professional advisor for critical decisions.