VAT Calculator
Add or remove VAT and see the net, VAT and gross amounts instantly. Editable rate (20% default), reverse VAT formula shown, common rates compared.
About the VAT Calculator
Value-added tax splits every price into three numbers: the net (before VAT), the VAT itself, and the gross (after VAT). This VAT calculator converts between them in either direction. Add mode: gross = net × (1 + rate ÷ 100). Remove mode — the reverse VAT calculation — divides instead: net = gross ÷ (1 + rate ÷ 100), which is where most manual attempts go wrong.
The rate is editable with 20% as the default (the UK standard rate, also common across Europe); one click of the rate field adapts it to 5% (Gulf states), 15% (Saudi Arabia, South Africa), 23% (Ireland, Poland) or any other rate. A comparison table shows your amount at several common rates, handy for exporters and freelancers invoicing clients in different countries.
For example, a 400 service at 20% VAT bills as 400 net + 80 VAT = 480 gross; and a 480 gross receipt reverses to 480 ÷ 1.2 = 400 net. Small businesses filing VAT returns, online sellers, and anyone checking an invoice use this daily — all client-side, no signup.
How to Use the VAT Calculator
- 1Choose add VAT (net → gross) or remove VAT (gross → net).
- 2Enter the amount.
- 3Set the VAT rate — the default 20% suits the UK and much of Europe.
- 4Read the net value, VAT amount and gross value instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I add VAT to a net price?
Multiply by 1 plus the rate. At 20%, a 400 net price becomes 400 × 1.2 = 480 gross, of which 80 is VAT. The calculator shows all three figures and the substituted formula.
How do I remove VAT from a gross price?
Divide by 1 plus the rate: 480 ÷ 1.2 = 400 net, so the VAT was 80. A common mistake is subtracting 20% of the gross (480 − 96 = 384) — wrong, because VAT was charged on the net 400, not on 480.
What are the current standard VAT rates around the world?
Examples: UK 20%, Ireland 23%, Germany 19%, UAE and Oman 5%, Saudi Arabia 15%, South Africa 15%, India uses GST (5–28% by slab) and Pakistan charges 18% GST on goods. Rates change with budgets, so this calculator keeps the rate fully editable.
What is the VAT fraction and how is it used?
The VAT fraction converts a gross amount straight to its VAT content. At 20% it is 1/6: VAT = 480 × 1/6 = 80. It comes from rate ÷ (100 + rate) — at 15% the fraction is 3/23. The calculator does this implicitly whenever you use remove mode.
Is VAT the same as GST or sales tax?
VAT and GST are essentially the same multi-stage tax under different names; a retail sales tax is charged only once at the final sale. For a consumer the arithmetic is identical — a percentage added to the net price — so this calculator works for all three; use our GST calculator for India-specific CGST/SGST splits.