VAT calculator
Add VAT to a net price or strip it out of a gross one, at 20%, 5%, zero or any custom rate, with the whole breakdown laid out.
Guide
How to use it
- Type the amount and tell it what that amount is: net (Add VAT) or gross (Remove VAT).
- Pick the rate. 20% covers most goods and services; 5% and zero have their own categories; custom handles anything else.
- Read the three tiles, the highlighted one is the answer to your question, and the formula line shows the working.
- Checking a supplier invoice backwards? The reverse VAT page starts in remove mode.
Examples
Worked examples
Your day rate is £350 net. Add VAT: 350 × 1.2 = £420 on the invoice, £70 of it VAT you collect for HMRC.
A £96 fuel receipt, VAT included. Remove VAT: 96 ÷ 1.2 = £80 net, so £16 is reclaimable input VAT.
A £231 home energy bill at the reduced rate: 231 ÷ 1.05 = £220 net, £11 VAT. Domestic fuel uses 5%, not 20%.
Method
How it works
Adding VAT multiplies the net by (1 + rate ÷ 100). Removing it divides the gross by the same factor, the step people get wrong by subtracting the percentage instead, which overstates the VAT because the tax was charged on the net, not the gross.
Rates are as published at 8 August 2026 and kept as one editable constant in the page code. This is arithmetic, not advice on which rate applies, and nothing you type leaves your browser.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do I add VAT to a price?
Multiply the net amount by 1.2 for 20% VAT. £120 net becomes £144 gross, of which £24 is VAT.
How do I remove VAT from a gross amount?
Divide by 1.2, never subtract 20%. £120 gross is £100 net plus £20 VAT. Subtracting 20% of the gross gives the wrong answer because the VAT was charged on the net.
What are the current UK VAT rates?
20% standard, 5% reduced (home energy, some safety products) and 0% zero rate (most food, books, children's clothes). As published at 8 August 2026, verify current rates at gov.uk.
When must a business register for VAT?
When taxable turnover passes the registration threshold in a rolling 12 months. The threshold changes at Budgets, so check the current figure at gov.uk rather than trusting any calculator page.
Is zero-rated the same as exempt?
No. Zero-rated sales are taxable at 0%, count towards the registration threshold and allow input VAT recovery. Exempt sales (insurance, postage stamps) sit outside the system.
Is this calculator tax advice?
No, it is arithmetic on the rate you choose. Which rate applies to a given sale can be genuinely subtle, that is a question for HMRC guidance or an accountant.
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