🏷️ VAT Calculator
Choose add or remove, pick one of 177 countries or type your own rate, and enter the amount. Net, VAT and gross come back separately, ready to copy onto an invoice or check against a receipt.
Quick answer: To add VAT, multiply the net amount by 1 + the rate: £500 + 20% VAT = £600.00 (£100.00 VAT). To remove VAT, divide by 1 + the rate: £600 ÷ 1.2 = £500.00.
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VAT Calculator inputs
Result
Gross amount (incl. VAT)
£600.00
£100.00 VAT at 20%
| Net | £500.00 |
| VAT (20%) | £100.00 |
| Gross | £600.00 |
Adding VAT to £500.00 at common rates
| Country | Rate | Net | VAT | Gross |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 20% | £500.00 | £100.00 | £600.00 |
| Germany | 19% | £500.00 | £95.00 | £595.00 |
| France | 20% | £500.00 | £100.00 | £600.00 |
| Italy | 22% | £500.00 | £110.00 | £610.00 |
| Spain | 21% | £500.00 | £105.00 | £605.00 |
| Netherlands | 21% | £500.00 | £105.00 | £605.00 |
| Ireland | 23% | £500.00 | £115.00 | £615.00 |
| United Arab Emirates | 5% | £500.00 | £25.00 | £525.00 |
| Saudi Arabia | 15% | £500.00 | £75.00 | £575.00 |
| Bahrain | 10% | £500.00 | £50.00 | £550.00 |
| Oman | 5% | £500.00 | £25.00 | £525.00 |
How VAT works
Value Added Tax is charged at each stage of the supply chain. A VAT-registered business adds VAT to its sales (output tax), reclaims the VAT on its purchases (input tax) and pays the difference to the tax authority. The end consumer carries the cost.
VAT formulas
Add VAT: Gross = Net × (1 + Rate ÷ 100) · Remove VAT: Net = Gross ÷ (1 + Rate ÷ 100)
Example (add): a £500 net invoice at 20% → VAT £100.00, gross £600.00.
Example (remove): a £600 receipt including 20% VAT → net £500.00, VAT £100.00.
Handy VAT fractions
The share of a gross price that is VAT is Rate ÷ (100 + Rate):
- 20%: VAT is 1/6 of the gross price.
- 15%: VAT is 3/23 of the gross price.
- 5%: VAT is 1/21 of the gross price.
VAT rates by region (2026)
The country list covers all 177 countries and territories with a VAT or GST; the main ones are below.
| Region | Standard rates |
|---|---|
| EU | Hungary 27%, Finland 25.5%, Denmark, Sweden, Croatia 25%, Greece, Estonia 24%, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia 23%, Italy 22%, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Romania 21%, France, Austria 20%, Germany 19%, Luxembourg 17% |
| Rest of Europe | UK 20%, Norway 25%, Iceland 24%, Russia 22%, Turkey 20%, Ukraine 20%, Switzerland 8.1% |
| Middle East | Saudi Arabia 15%, Bahrain 10%, UAE, Oman 5%, Israel 18%, Jordan 16%, Egypt 14%; Qatar and Kuwait have no VAT |
| Asia-Pacific | India 18% (main GST slab), China 13%, Indonesia, Philippines 12%, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Australia 10%, Singapore 9%, Thailand 7%, New Zealand 15% |
| Americas | Uruguay 22%, Argentina 21%, Chile, Colombia 19%, Peru 18%, Mexico 16%, Canada 5% federal GST (provinces add PST/HST); the US uses state sales tax |
| Africa | Morocco 20%, Kenya 16%, South Africa, Ethiopia 15%, Ghana 15% plus 5% levies, Nigeria 7.5% |
Tips for businesses
- Show net, VAT and gross separately on invoices, along with your VAT number.
- Round VAT per invoice, not per line, unless your tax authority allows otherwise.
- Keep receipts for purchases – you can only reclaim input VAT you can evidence.
Reduced and zero rates
Most countries charge lower rates on essentials. The UK applies 5% to domestic energy and 0% to most food and books; Germany charges 7% on many foods; and the UAE zero-rates certain healthcare and education. Zero-rated supplies are still taxable – you can reclaim input VAT on them – whereas exempt supplies are outside the system and block recovery of related input tax.
Sources: European Commission, PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries, OECD Consumption Tax Trends and national tax authorities, checked October 2026.
Estimates for educational purposes, not financial or tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove 20% VAT from a price?
Divide the VAT-inclusive price by 1.2. For £120, the net price is £100 and the VAT is £20. A quick check: the VAT in a 20% gross price is always one-sixth of the total.
Why can’t I just take 20% off the gross amount?
Because VAT was calculated on the net price, not the gross. Taking 20% off £120 gives £96, which is wrong – the correct net figure is £100.
What are the UK VAT rates?
The standard rate is 20%, a reduced rate of 5% applies to items such as home energy and children’s car seats, and a zero rate applies to most food, books and children’s clothing.
Do I have to register for VAT?
In the UK you must register once taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 in a rolling 12-month period. Other countries set their own thresholds – the UAE, for example, uses AED 375,000.
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