A walkthrough, end to end.
- 1
Pick a mode: add VAT to a net price (forward) or extract the net from a gross/VAT-inclusive total (reverse).
- 2
Enter the amount and the VAT rate (your country's standard or reduced rate).
- 3
The calculator returns the net, VAT, and gross amounts.
VAT math
VAT (Value Added Tax) is a consumption tax charged at every point of sale. Forward: gross = net × (1 + rate/100). Reverse: net = gross / (1 + rate/100). The VAT extracted is the gross minus the net.
What you can do with this.
UK VAT (20% standard)
UK standard VAT is 20%. Reduced rates: 5% (energy, children's car seats), 0% (food, books, children's clothes). The calculator works for any rate — choose the rate appropriate to your goods/services.
EU VAT rates by country
Range from 17% (Luxembourg) to 27% (Hungary). France 20%, Germany 19%, Italy 22%, Spain 21%, Netherlands 21%. Cross-border B2B uses reverse-charge VAT; the calculator handles the math regardless.
GST / consumption taxes
Australia GST: 10%. Canada GST: 5% federal (some provinces add HST 13–15%). New Zealand GST: 15%. India GST: 0% / 5% / 12% / 18% / 28% by category. Same math — different rates.
Reverse VAT extraction
VAT-inclusive receipt of £120 at 20% UK VAT. Net = £120 / 1.20 = £100. VAT charged = £20. Useful for accounting, expense claims, and B2B invoicing.
VAT-inclusive vs. VAT-exclusive prices
Most EU/UK retail prices are VAT-inclusive (the price you see is what you pay). Most US prices are tax-exclusive (added at register). Different shopping experiences, same underlying math.
Business VAT registration
VAT-registered businesses charge VAT on sales and reclaim VAT on purchases. The 'VAT in' minus 'VAT out' is what's owed to the tax authority. The calculator helps with both sides.
Brexit and post-Brexit VAT
UK left EU VAT system in 2021. UK retailers selling to EU customers now have to register for OSS (One Stop Shop) or use IOSS for orders <€150. Math is the same; reporting is different.
VAT calculator 2026 — what's current
EU VAT in the digital age (ViDA) reforms phasing in 2025–2030 introduce real-time digital reporting and platform deemed-supplier rules. Math stays the same; compliance overhead is changing.
Frequently asked.
VAT is charged at every step of production with credit for prior tax paid. Sales tax is charged once at final sale. End-consumer cost is similar; business compliance is different.
If you're VAT-registered and the expense is for business use, generally yes (with caveats — e.g., entertainment is often non-recoverable). Specific rules vary by country.
Required above a turnover threshold (varies by country — UK ~£90K, Germany €22K). Below threshold is optional — registering allows VAT recovery on purchases but adds compliance burden.
No. Calculations run entirely in your browser.