VAT Calculator
Two VAT jobs account for almost every search: a business prices up — £100 net becomes £120 gross at the UK's 20% standard rate — and an accountant digs the tax back out of a receipt, where the right move is dividing by 1.2, never subtracting 20% (that gives £96, not the true £100 net). This calculator does both directions from one amount box, with quick-pick rates for the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Ireland.
The net / VAT / gross trio updates live so the breakdown is always in view, and the note line shows the exact arithmetic — the multiplier or divisor used — so the method transfers to your own spreadsheet. Fractions of a penny are kept to two decimals the way invoices round, and your last rate stays on this device for the next receipt. It sits alongside the sales tax calculator for US prices and the GST calculator for Indian ones.
How to use
- Pick Add VAT (net to gross) or Remove VAT (gross to net), then enter the amount.
- Type a rate or quick-pick one — UK 20% is the default placeholder.
- Read net, VAT and gross at once; share or bookmark it — the rate is remembered.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove 20% VAT from a price?
Divide the gross by 1.2. A £120 receipt holds £100 of net and £20 of VAT; subtracting 20% instead gives £96 and understates the net by £4. General rule: net = gross ÷ (1 + rate), which the calculator applies and shows in the note line.
How do I add VAT to a net price?
Multiply net by (1 + rate): £100 × 1.2 = £120 gross, of which £20 is VAT payable to HMRC after your input credit. The calculator's add mode does exactly this and keeps all three figures visible at once.
What are the standard VAT rates in Europe?
UK 20%, Germany 19%, Netherlands and Spain 21%, Italy 22%, Ireland 23%, France 20%. Most countries also run reduced rates (UK 5% for energy, 0% for food and children's clothes) — the quick-rate list carries the common ones and the rate box accepts any number a special case needs.
Is VAT the same as sales tax?
Mechanically similar — a percentage on consumption — but VAT is charged at each stage of production with credits for tax already paid, while US sales tax is collected once at the final sale. For arithmetic on a price they behave the same, which is why the sales tax, VAT and GST calculators here share one shape.