VAT Calculator

How to Use the VAT Calculator

This calculator handles four VAT scenarios: adding VAT to a net amount, removing VAT from a gross amount, calculating the VAT rate from two prices, and computing VAT using standard rates for 60+ countries. All calculations use the standard VAT formula.

Calculation Modes

Add VAT — Calculate Gross from Net

Enter a net amount and a VAT rate. The calculator computes the VAT amount and the gross total.

Formula: Gross = Net + (Net × Rate / 100)

Example: $100 net with 20% VAT

• Net Amount: 100
• VAT Rate: 20
• VAT Amount: 20
• Gross Amount: 120

Example: $250 net with 8.1% VAT (Switzerland rate)

• Net Amount: 250
• VAT Rate: 8.1
• VAT Amount: 20.25
• Gross Amount: 270.25

A breakdown table shows the net amount, VAT rate, VAT amount in red, and gross amount in green.

Remove VAT — Calculate Net from Gross

Enter a gross amount and a VAT rate. The calculator backs out the net amount and the VAT portion.

Formula: Net = Gross / (1 + Rate / 100)

Example: $120 gross with 20% VAT

• Gross Amount: 120
• VAT Rate: 20
• Net Amount: 100
• VAT Amount: 20

Example: $135 gross with 10% VAT

• Gross Amount: 135
• VAT Rate: 10
• Net Amount: 122.72727
• VAT Amount: 12.272727

The remove formula accounts for the fact that VAT is a percentage of the net, not the gross. Removing 10% VAT from $135 gives $122.73, not $121.50.

Find Rate — Determine the VAT Rate

Enter a net amount and a gross amount. The calculator determines what VAT rate was applied.

Formula: Rate = ((Gross - Net) / Net) × 100

Example: Net $100, gross $123

• Net Amount: 100
• Gross Amount: 123
• VAT Rate: 23
• VAT Amount: 23

Example: Net $500, gross $595

• Net Amount: 500
• Gross Amount: 595
• VAT Rate: 19
• VAT Amount: 95

Use this when you need to verify a rate on an invoice or compare rates across suppliers.

By Country — Use Standard Rates

Select a country from the combobox to automatically use its standard VAT rate. The calculator supports 60 countries and territories with their local currency symbols, with rates drawn from PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries. The VAT rate field auto-populates when you select a country. You can override it if you need a reduced or regional rate.

Example: Germany, €100 net

• Country: Germany (rate auto-fills to 19)
• Net Amount: 100
• VAT Amount: 19
• Gross Amount: 119

Example: United Kingdom, £250 net

• Country: United Kingdom (rate auto-fills to 20)
• Net Amount: 250
• VAT Amount: 50
• Gross Amount: 300

The breakdown table uses the country's currency symbol and shows the country name in the header.

Precision and Notation Settings

Use the settings bar above the tabs to control how results display:

• Decimal places: Adjust from 0 to 16 decimal places (default is 8)
• Notation: Switch between auto, fixed, exponential, and engineering notation (default is auto)

Your decimal places and notation settings save to your browser automatically. When you return to this calculator, your last chosen format loads without needing to adjust it again.

Common Use Cases

Pricing a Product for Sale

You want to sell a product for $80 net with 20% VAT:

1. Switch to Add VAT
2. Enter 80 as Net Amount
3. Enter 20 as VAT Rate
4. Gross Amount: 96 (this is what you charge customers)

Extracting VAT from a Receipt

You paid $142.50 and want to know the net price and VAT at 25%:

1. Switch to Remove VAT
2. Enter 142.50 as Gross Amount
3. Enter 25 as VAT Rate
4. Net Amount: 114, VAT Amount: 28.5

Verifying a Supplier's VAT Rate

A supplier charged you $500 net and invoiced $590 gross:

1. Switch to Find Rate
2. Enter 500 as Net Amount
3. Enter 590 as Gross Amount
4. VAT Rate: 18

Invoicing an EU Client

You need to invoice a French client €1,200 net:

1. Switch to By Country
2. Select France (rate auto-fills to 20)
3. Enter 1200 as Net Amount
4. Gross Amount: 1,440

Reverse-Calculating from a Total

A receipt shows $330 total. You know the VAT rate is 10%:

1. Switch to Remove VAT
2. Enter 330 as Gross Amount
3. Enter 10 as VAT Rate
4. Net Amount: 300, VAT was 30

Tips for Accurate Calculations

1. Add vs Remove are not symmetric: Adding 20% VAT to $100 gives $120, but removing 20% VAT from $120 gives $100, not $96
2. By Country auto-fills the rate: Selecting a country populates the rate field, but you can edit it for reduced or regional rates
3. Find Rate requires gross > net: The gross amount must be higher than the net amount for a valid rate to exist
4. Currency symbols are display-only: The calculator shows symbols but does not convert currencies
5. Standard rates only: By Country uses standard rates; override for reduced or regional rates
6. Zero-rate VAT is valid: Some goods are zero-rated. Entering 0% returns the same amount for net and gross

Troubleshooting

Required

This appears when a field is left empty. Enter a value in all required fields before calculating.

Amount must be positive

Enter a value greater than 0 for the amount field.

Rate cannot be negative

VAT rates must be zero or positive. Negative rates are not valid.

Net amount must be positive

In Find Rate mode, the net amount must be greater than 0.

Gross amount must be positive

In Find Rate mode, the gross amount must be greater than 0.

Gross amount must be greater than net amount

In Find Rate mode, the gross amount must exceed the net amount. If they are equal, no VAT was applied.

Please select a country

In By Country mode, you must select a country from the dropdown list. Type to filter the list, then click a country.

Breakdown table not appearing

The details table only renders after a successful calculation with no validation errors. Check that all required inputs are filled and valid, then click Calculate.