VAT Calculator
Choose Add VAT to put VAT on a net price, or Remove VAT to take it out of a price that already includes it. Enter the amount and the VAT rate, such as 20 for the UK standard rate or 19 for Germany's. Pick a currency and press Calculate. You get the net amount, the VAT and the gross amount, each rounded to the cent.
How to use the VAT Calculator
- Enter your numbers in the VAT Calculator above.
- Press the Calculate button to see the result.
- To try other numbers, change any value and press the button again.
The VAT formulas
Gross = Net × (1 + r) · · · Net = Gross / (1 + r) · · · VAT = Gross − Net
r is the VAT rate as a decimal, so 20% is 0.20. The calculator works from the amounts as you type them and rounds once, to the cent. In Remove VAT mode the VAT is the gross minus the net, so the three figures always add up.
Worked example
A €120.00 price that includes 20% VAT: net = 120 / 1.20 = €100.00, and the VAT is €20.00. A €450 invoice at Germany's 19% contains €71.85 of VAT and €378.15 net. Choose Remove VAT and the euro to get the same figures.
Frequently asked questions
What VAT rate should I enter for the UK?
GOV.UK lists three rates. The standard rate of 20% covers most goods and services. The reduced rate of 5% covers some, such as children's car seats and home energy. The zero rate of 0% covers goods such as most food and children's clothes. Enter the rate as a number, such as 20.
What are the VAT rates in EU countries?
Each EU country sets its own. The EU's Your Europe site lists them all. The standard rate is 19% in Germany and 20% in France, and no country's standard rate may be below 15%. A country may also set one or two reduced rates of at least 5% for goods and services on a list in the VAT Directive.
How is VAT different from US sales tax?
VAT is collected at every stage of production with credits for input tax; sales tax is collected only at the final retail sale. End-consumer impact is similar but the back-end administration differs entirely.
Can businesses reclaim VAT?
Yes — VAT-registered businesses can reclaim VAT paid on purchases related to their business activities. This is the primary mechanism that makes VAT economically neutral for businesses.