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VAT Calculator – Add or Remove VAT at Any Rate

Add VAT to a net price or take it out of a price that already includes VAT. Standard rates for the UK, every EU country, Switzerland, Norway, much of Africa, the Gulf, Australia and New Zealand are built in — or type any rate you need.

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How to use the VAT calculator

  1. Enter the amount.
  2. Choose whether it is before VAT (net) or including VAT (gross).
  3. Pick the country to use its standard VAT rate, or choose Other rate and type your own.

You’ll see the VAT amount, the net price and the gross price. Choose your currency at the top; the rate list follows the country, not the currency.

VAT formulas

Adding VAT

VAT = Net × Rate ÷ 100 and Gross = Net × (1 + Rate ÷ 100)

Removing VAT

Net = Gross ÷ (1 + Rate ÷ 100) and VAT = Gross − Net

Worked examples

  • UK, 20% — add VAT to £250: VAT = £50, gross = £300.
  • Germany, 19% — remove VAT from €119: net = 119 ÷ 1.19 = €100, VAT = €19.
  • South Africa, 15% — add VAT to R1,000: VAT = R150, gross = R1,150.
  • Kenya, 16% — a KSh 11,600 price includes KSh 1,600 VAT; the net price is KSh 10,000.

The common mistake

To remove 20% VAT from £120, taking 20% off gives £96 — wrong. The right answer is 120 ÷ 1.2 = £100. VAT is a percentage of the net price, not of the gross price.

Standard VAT rates (selection)

CountryRate
United Kingdom20%
Germany19%
France20%
Italy22%
Spain21%
Netherlands21%
Ireland23%
Sweden, Denmark25%
Hungary27%
Switzerland8.1%
South Africa15%
Kenya16%
Nigeria7.5%

The full list is in the calculator. Rates change from time to time — always check your tax authority’s website before filing a return.

VAT for businesses

VAT-registered businesses charge VAT on sales (output tax), reclaim VAT on business purchases (input tax) and pay the difference to the tax authority. Invoices to other businesses usually show net, VAT and gross amounts separately — for example net £1,000, VAT £200, total £1,000 + £200 = £1,200. Registration thresholds and filing rules differ by country.

Prices for consumers vs businesses

In the UK and EU, prices shown to consumers must normally include VAT, so the shelf price is the gross price — use “Including VAT” to see how much of it is tax. Business-to-business price lists are often shown without VAT, so use “Before VAT” to see what you’ll actually be invoiced. When you travel, some countries let visitors reclaim VAT on goods taken home; ask the shop about tax-free shopping forms.

For US sales tax, use the sales tax calculator. Indian businesses can use the GST calculator. VAT rates are stored with their source and the date we last checked them; please verify before relying on them for tax filings — see our disclaimer.

Frequently asked questions

How do I add VAT to a price?

Multiply the net price by (1 + VAT rate ÷ 100). To add 20% UK VAT to £250: 250 × 1.20 = £300, of which £50 is VAT.

How do I remove VAT from a price?

Divide the gross price by (1 + VAT rate ÷ 100). A price of €119 including 19% German VAT is 119 ÷ 1.19 = €100 before VAT, so the VAT is €19. Don’t just take 19% off — that gives the wrong answer.

What is the VAT rate in the UK?

The standard rate is 20%. There is a 5% reduced rate on some items such as home energy and children’s car seats, and a 0% rate on most food, books and children’s clothes.

What are the VAT rates in the EU?

Each country sets its own standard rate, within EU rules. They range from 17% in Luxembourg to 27% in Hungary; Germany is 19%, France 20%, Spain 21%, Italy 22% and Ireland 23%. Reduced rates apply to some goods and services.

Which African countries charge VAT?

Most do. Built-in standard rates include South Africa 15%, Kenya 16%, Nigeria 7.5%, Egypt 14%, Morocco 20%, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda 18%, and Ethiopia 15%.

Is VAT the same as GST or sales tax?

GST in Australia, New Zealand and India works much like VAT. US sales tax is different: it is added only at the final sale and varies by state and city — use the sales tax calculator for that.

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