VAT calculator
Add VAT to a net amount, or work backwards from a gross amount to find the VAT included — at any rate.
Add or remove VAT
Example: £100 net at 20% VAT → £120 gross
How VAT calculation works
VAT (value-added tax) is charged as a percentage on top of the net price. Adding it is easy; the common mistake is removing it — you must divide, not subtract the percentage.
Adding VAT
£100 net at 20% → £120 gross.
Removing VAT (reverse VAT)
£120 gross at 20% → £100 net, £20 VAT. Note that taking 20% off £120 would wrongly give £96.
Common VAT rates
| Country | Standard rate |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 20% |
| Ireland | 23% |
| Germany | 19% |
| France | 20% |
| Italy | 22% |
| Spain | 21% |
| Netherlands | 21% |
| Australia (GST) | 10% |
| Canada (GST) | 5% |
Reduced rates apply to many goods and services — always check the rate for your specific case.
Examples
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove VAT from a gross price?
Divide the gross price by (1 + rate ÷ 100). For 20% VAT, divide by 1.20. Subtracting 20% from the gross gives the wrong answer.
Why can’t I just subtract the VAT percentage?
Because VAT was added on the net, not the gross. 20% of the gross is a bigger number than the VAT actually charged.
What is the VAT fraction?
A shortcut for extracting VAT from a gross amount. At 20% it is 1/6: the VAT inside £120 is £120 × 1/6 = £20.
Does this work for sales tax or GST?
Yes. The math is identical for any add-on percentage tax — just enter your local rate.
Which rate should I use?
The standard rate of your country unless the goods qualify for a reduced or zero rate. The table above lists standard rates for common countries.