What is the difference between VAT and sales tax?

VAT (Value Added Tax) and sales tax are both consumption taxes, but they work very differently. VAT is collected at every stage of the supply chain — each business charges VAT on its sales and can reclaim the VAT it paid on its purchases, so only the value added at each stage is taxed. Sales tax, used primarily in the United States, is collected only once at the final point of sale to the end consumer.

How do I calculate VAT backwards from a gross price?

To remove VAT from a gross (VAT-inclusive) price, divide the gross amount by (1 + VAT rate as a decimal). For example, if the gross price is $120 and the VAT rate is 20%, divide $120 by 1.20 to get a net price of $100.

VAT calculator: how do I calculate VAT on a price?

To ADD VAT to a net price: multiply net × (rate ÷ 100), then add to net. Example: £500 net + 20% VAT = £500 + £100 = £600 gross. To REMOVE VAT from a gross price: divide gross by (1 + rate ÷ 100). Example: £600 gross ÷ 1.20 = £500 net; VAT = £100.

When did the UK VAT registration threshold change to £90,000?

The UK VAT registration threshold rose from £85,000 to £90,000 on 1 April 2024 and remains £90,000 for the 2026 tax year, per HMRC guidance. If your rolling 12-month taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 you must register within 30 days.

VAT Calculator

Add or remove VAT from any price. Quickly calculate the net price, VAT amount, and gross price using standard or custom VAT rates.

How Does the VAT Calculator Work?

The VAT calculator helps you instantly determine the Value Added Tax on any transaction. Whether you need to add VAT to a net price to find the gross total, remove VAT from a gross price to find the net amount, or simply find out how much VAT is included in a price you have already paid, this tool handles all three scenarios. VAT is a consumption tax applied at each stage of the supply chain in most countries around the world, and understanding how to calculate it correctly is essential for businesses, freelancers, accountants, and consumers alike.

When you add VAT to a price, you are calculating the tax-inclusive amount that a customer will pay. The formula multiplies the net price by the VAT rate and adds the result to the original price. When you remove VAT from a price, you are working backwards from the gross amount to determine the original net price before tax was applied. This is particularly useful when you receive an invoice that includes VAT and you need to know the pre-tax cost for your accounting records. The third mode, finding the VAT amount, uses the same mathematics as removing VAT but focuses on highlighting the tax portion of the total price.

VAT rates vary significantly by country and even by product category within a single country. The standard rate in the United Kingdom is 20%, while Germany uses 19%, France applies 20%, and many Nordic countries charge 25%. Some countries have reduced rates for essential goods such as food, medicine, and children's clothing. In the European Union, the minimum standard VAT rate is 15%, though no country currently charges that low. The United States does not use VAT but instead applies sales tax at the state and local level, which operates differently from VAT in important ways.

Understanding VAT is not just about compliance — it directly impacts your pricing strategy, cash flow management, and profit margins. Businesses registered for VAT can typically reclaim VAT paid on their purchases (input VAT) against the VAT they collect on their sales (output VAT), meaning only the difference is remitted to the tax authority. This mechanism ensures that VAT is ultimately borne by the end consumer rather than by businesses in the supply chain. However, businesses below certain revenue thresholds may not need to register for VAT at all, which can provide a competitive pricing advantage.

Formulas

Add VAT to Price:
VAT Amount = Net Price × (VAT Rate ÷ 100)
Gross Price = Net Price + VAT Amount

Remove VAT from Price:
Net Price = Gross Price ÷ (1 + VAT Rate ÷ 100)
VAT Amount = Gross Price − Net Price

Find VAT Amount:
Net Price = Total Price ÷ (1 + VAT Rate ÷ 100)
VAT Amount = Total Price − Net Price

Examples

Example 1: Adding VAT to a Product Price
A retailer sells a product with a net price of $100 and needs to add 20% VAT. The VAT amount is $100 × 0.20 = $20. The gross price the customer pays is $100 + $20 = $120. This is the most straightforward VAT calculation and is commonly used when preparing invoices or setting shelf prices in countries where prices are displayed inclusive of tax.

Example 2: Removing VAT from an Invoice
A business receives an invoice for $240 including 20% VAT and needs to determine the net cost for accounting purposes. The net price is $240 ÷ 1.20 = $200. The VAT amount is $240 − $200 = $40. A common mistake is to calculate 20% of $240 ($48), but that is incorrect because 20% refers to the rate applied to the net price, not the gross price. This distinction is crucial for accurate bookkeeping.

Example 3: Finding VAT on a Receipt
A consumer pays $150 for a service in a country with 25% VAT and wants to know how much tax was included. The net price is $150 ÷ 1.25 = $120. The VAT portion is $150 − $120 = $30. This is useful for expense claims, reimbursement requests, and understanding the true pre-tax cost of goods and services.

VAT Registration and Thresholds

Most countries set a revenue threshold below which businesses are not required to register for VAT. In the United Kingdom, businesses must register when their taxable turnover exceeds 85,000 pounds over any rolling 12-month period. In the EU, thresholds vary by member state, typically ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 euros. Once registered, a business must charge VAT on its sales, file periodic VAT returns (usually quarterly), and can reclaim VAT on its eligible business purchases. Voluntary registration below the threshold is also possible and can be advantageous if your customers are VAT-registered businesses, since they can reclaim the VAT you charge.

Common VAT Rates by Country

Standard VAT rates around the world include 20% in the UK and France, 19% in Germany, 21% in the Netherlands and Spain, 25% in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, 22% in Italy, 23% in Ireland and Portugal, 27% in Hungary (the highest in the EU), and 10% in South Korea and Australia (GST). Many countries also apply reduced rates for necessities: the UK charges 5% on domestic fuel and zero-rates food and children's clothing, while France applies 5.5% to most food items and 10% to restaurant meals. Knowing the correct rate for your product category and jurisdiction is essential to avoid underpaying or overcharging VAT.

VAT Calculator for Freelancers — Reverse-Charge, OSS, and UK Post-Brexit Rules

Three rules turn an otherwise simple VAT calculator into a freelancer trap. (1) EU B2B reverse charge: when you (a VAT-registered business) invoice a VAT-registered EU business in another country, you charge 0% VAT and add the note "Reverse charge — Article 196 of Council Directive 2006/112/EC" per the EU VAT rates and rules. The buyer self-accounts for VAT. (2) OSS for B2C digital services: selling to EU consumers from one member state means you must charge the buyer's local VAT rate and remit through the One-Stop Shop. (3) UK post-Brexit: EU-to-UK B2B services are still reverse-charged, but the UK is not part of OSS; for B2C digital services to UK consumers, you must register for UK VAT once you cross the £85k threshold per HMRC VAT rates. Use this calculator for the math, but always check both jurisdictions' invoice-text requirements before issuing.

Last updated 2026-06-22. Sources: European Commission VAT rates, HMRC UK VAT rates.

VAT Calculation Worked Examples: Adding, Removing, and Reverse-Charge

Three of the most common VAT scenarios for freelancers and small businesses, with concrete numbers a 2026 EU/UK consultant would face:

Add UK 20% VAT to a £500 invoice: VAT = £500 × 0.20 = £100. Gross invoice = £600. The freelancer collects £600, remits £100 to HMRC quarterly. Net retained = £500.
Remove German 19% VAT from a €1,190 gross price: Net = €1,190 ÷ 1.19 = €1,000. VAT included = €190. Common mistake: don't multiply €1,190 × 19% (= €226) — that overstates VAT by €36.
EU B2B reverse-charge invoice (Germany supplier → France client): Net invoice €5,000. VAT = €0 (reverse charge). Invoice text must include: "Reverse charge — Article 196 of Council Directive 2006/112/EC". Buyer self-accounts 20% French VAT (€1,000) on their own VAT return — supplier remits nothing.
UK post-Brexit B2C digital service to French consumer: Charge French 20% VAT through the EU One-Stop Shop (OSS) once registered. Net €100 → gross €120. UK freelancer remits the €20 quarterly via OSS, single return for all EU countries.
OSS B2C digital service from Germany to Hungary (highest EU rate): Charge Hungarian 27% VAT. Net €100 → gross €127. Remit €27 via OSS quarterly — distinct from your domestic German return.

Per the EU VIES service, always validate the buyer's VAT ID before issuing a reverse-charge invoice. An unverified or expired VAT number invalidates the reverse-charge claim, and the supplier becomes liable for the full VAT amount.

VAT Calculator: 2026 Standard Rates and What Changed This Year

A VAT calculator turns any net or gross price into the correct tax split for your jurisdiction. In 2026, standard rates confirmed by the European Commission VAT rates database include: UK 20%, Germany 19%, France 20%, Netherlands 21%, Spain 21%, Italy 22%, Portugal 23%, Ireland 23%, Denmark 25%, Sweden 25%, Norway 25% (non-EU), Hungary 27% (highest in EU), Luxembourg 17% (lowest). The EU-wide OSS/IOSS thresholds for cross-border B2C digital services remain €10,000 in 2026. UK VAT registration threshold is £90,000 (up from £85,000 in April 2024). Estonia raised its standard rate to 24% effective July 2025 — always cross-check the current rate before invoicing, since even a 1% error on a €10,000 invoice costs €100.

Last updated 2026-07-15.