VAT calculator — add VAT or work backwards from a gross price
Add VAT to a net figure or take it out of a VAT-inclusive total, at any rate you like. Presets cover the UK standard, reduced and zero rates plus the common rates in Ireland, Germany, France, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, India, Australia and Canada. Every result shows the net, the VAT and the gross together, with the sum used to get there.
How to use the VAT Calculator
- Choose whether you are adding VAT or removing it.
- Enter the amount — net if you are adding, gross (VAT-inclusive) if you are removing.
- Pick a rate preset, or choose Custom and type your own.
- Press Calculate VAT to see the net, the VAT and the gross.
The two sums
Adding VAT multiplies; removing it divides. That asymmetry is where most mistakes come from.
Adding: gross = net × (1 + rate/100). £100 + 20% VAT = 100 × 1.2 = £120.
Removing: net = gross ÷ (1 + rate/100). £120 including 20% VAT = 120 ÷ 1.2 = £100, so the VAT is £20.
Taking 20% off £120 gives £96, which is wrong by £4. The VAT element of a 20% gross price is one sixth of it, not one fifth.
VAT fractions worth remembering
| Rate | Multiply net by | VAT fraction of gross |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | 1.20 | 1/6 |
| 19% | 1.19 | 19/119 |
| 15% | 1.15 | 3/23 |
| 10% | 1.10 | 1/11 |
| 5% | 1.05 | 1/21 |
The presets
UK VAT has a standard rate of 20%, a reduced rate of 5% (domestic fuel and power, children's car seats, some energy-saving materials) and a zero rate (most food, children's clothing, books and newspapers, most public transport). Zero-rated is not the same as exempt: zero-rated sales count towards turnover for registration and allow input VAT to be reclaimed, whereas exempt supplies such as insurance and postage do not.
Elsewhere: Ireland's standard rate is 23%, Germany's 19%, France's 20%, the UAE's 5%, Saudi Arabia's 15%, Australia's GST 10% and Canada's federal GST 5% — Canadian provinces add PST, or use a combined HST, so the effective rate there is often 13% or 15%. Pakistan's standard sales tax on goods is 18%. India's GST is levied in slabs and was restructured in September 2025 around two main rates, 5% and 18%, with a higher rate on selected luxury and "sin" goods; older invoices still show 12% and 28%, which is why those presets remain here. Rates change with every budget — confirm the current rate for your goods or services before you invoice.
Rounding on invoices
Work out VAT on the total for each line at the same rate, then round. HMRC allows rounding down to the nearest penny on the total VAT for an invoice; rounding each unit price can leave a penny difference against a customer's own calculation. When you are reverse-engineering a gross price, expect the net to come out with fractions of a penny — show it rounded but keep the exact figure in any spreadsheet that has to add up.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove 20% VAT from a price?
Divide by 1.2. A £120 gross price is £100 net with £20 VAT. Do not subtract 20%, which would give £96 and be wrong by £4.
What is the VAT fraction?
It is the share of a VAT-inclusive price that is VAT: rate ÷ (100 + rate). At 20% that is 1/6, at 5% it is 1/21.
Is zero-rated the same as exempt?
No. Zero-rated supplies are taxable at 0%, count towards your turnover and let you reclaim input VAT. Exempt supplies, such as insurance and postage, do not.
Which rate should I use?
The one that applies to the goods or services and the country of supply. The presets cover common headline rates, but reduced and special rates exist almost everywhere — check with the tax authority.
Privacy
This tool runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly and the Canvas/File APIs. Your files are never uploaded to ToolFlint or any third party; you can verify this in your browser's network tab or by switching to airplane mode after the page loads. Read how we process files.
Last updated 2026-09-23.