Free VAT Calculator · No Signup
VAT calculator — add or remove VAT from a price instantly
Work out how much VAT to add to a net price, or pull the VAT out of a price that already includes it. Includes standard-rate lookups for the UK, EU countries, and other common VAT/GST regions.
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How VAT is different from US sales tax
VAT (Value Added Tax — called GST in some countries) is charged at each stage of production and distribution, not just on the final sale to a consumer, though businesses typically reclaim the VAT they paid on their own purchases so it doesn't stack up. In everyday use, the part that matters most is simpler: consumer-facing prices in most VAT countries are usually shown VAT-inclusive already, which is why "Reverse / Extract VAT" — pulling the VAT back out of a price you already have — is often the more useful direction for everyday calculations, not just adding it on.
Add VAT vs. Reverse / Extract VAT
Use Add VAT when you have a net price and need to know the VAT-inclusive total to charge a customer. Use Reverse / Extract VAT when you already have a VAT-inclusive price — a receipt, an invoice from a supplier, a price tag — and need to know the net amount and how much was VAT, which is the more common bookkeeping direction in VAT countries since prices are typically quoted inclusive.
VAT/GST standard rates by country
These are each country's standard rate — most also have one or more reduced rates for specific goods and services that this table doesn't cover. Use a row as your calculator's rate lookup above, and confirm the reduced-rate list separately if what you're selling might qualify.
| Country | Standard rate |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 20% |
| Ireland | 23% |
| Germany | 19% |
| France | 20% |
| Italy | 22% |
| Spain | 21% |
| Netherlands | 21% |
| Belgium | 21% |
| Austria | 20% |
| Portugal | 23% |
| Sweden | 25% |
| Denmark | 25% |
| Poland | 23% |
| Canada (GST) | 5% |
| Australia | 10% |
| New Zealand | 15% |
| India (GST, standard slab) | 18% |
| Japan | 10% |
| Singapore | 9% |
| South Africa | 15% |
| United Arab Emirates | 5% |
| Saudi Arabia | 15% |
Mistakes people make with VAT specifically
Beyond general invoice-math mistakes (covered in our tax calculation guide), these are the ones specific to VAT:
- Not knowing whether a price is already VAT-inclusive. Most consumer-facing prices in VAT countries already include VAT — running an inclusive price through "Add VAT" charges VAT on top of VAT. Check which you actually have before picking a mode.
- Applying the standard rate to something that qualifies for a reduced rate. Food, books, and other categories are often taxed lower (or at 0%) in many countries — the standard-rate preset here won't reflect that automatically.
- Assuming your home country's VAT applies to every cross-border sale. Cross-border rules — especially for digital goods and services — often require charging VAT based on the buyer's country instead, not the seller's.
- Treating a preset rate as permanently correct. National VAT rates do get changed by governments from time to time — use the lookup as a fast starting point, not a substitute for checking the current rate when it actually matters.
Who this is for
- Freelancers and small businesses working out what to charge a client, VAT-inclusive, before sending an invoice.
- Online sellers pricing products for customers in a different VAT country.
- Bookkeepers reconciling how much of a batch of receipts was VAT versus net revenue.
- Anyone comparing prices across countries with different VAT rates.
Once you've worked out the right total, you can create a full invoice — including a proper VAT Invoice — right on this site.
Common questions
Is this VAT calculator free?
Yes — completely free, with no signup and no account required.
How accurate are the country rate presets?
They're the standard national rate as commonly published — a useful starting point, but many countries also have reduced rates for specific goods and services (food, books, children's clothing, etc.), which this preset can't capture since it depends on what you're actually selling. Always confirm the correct rate for your specific product or service.
What's the difference between "Add Tax" and "Reverse / Extract Tax"?
"Add Tax" starts from a VAT-exclusive (net) price and adds VAT on top, for when you're building up a price to charge. "Reverse / Extract Tax" does the opposite — starting from a VAT-inclusive price (the total a customer actually pays) and backing out how much of it is VAT versus the net amount, which is how prices are usually displayed to consumers in most VAT countries.
Does this calculator save my numbers anywhere?
No — everything happens in your browser and nothing is sent to or stored on our servers. Refreshing the page clears it.
Can I use this for US sales tax instead?
Yes — the same calculator handles any percentage-based tax, and the rate lookup includes all 50 US state base rates too. Our dedicated Sales Tax Calculator opens with that list shown first, and also supports stacking state + county + city rates.
Which countries have the highest standard VAT rates?
Among common presets here, Sweden and Denmark stand out at 25%. Rates change over time and some countries have adjusted theirs in recent years, so treat any preset as a starting point and confirm the current rate before relying on it for a real transaction.
Are there reduced VAT rates for certain goods or services?
Yes — most VAT countries apply a lower rate (or 0%) to categories like basic food, books, children's items, or healthcare, alongside the standard rate this calculator's presets show. Which categories qualify, and at what rate, varies by country — check your local tax authority for your specific product or service.
Do I charge VAT on sales to customers in another country?
It depends on the country, whether the buyer is a business or a consumer, and what you're selling — digital services in particular often follow different rules (e.g. VAT charged based on the buyer's location, not the seller's) than physical goods. This is genuinely complex and worth professional advice if you sell across borders at meaningful volume; see our tax calculation guide for the general concepts.
Is GST the same thing as VAT?
Functionally, yes — GST (Goods and Services Tax, used in countries like Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, and Singapore) works the same way VAT does, collected at each stage of the supply chain with businesses reclaiming what they paid on their own inputs. It's largely a naming difference between countries rather than a different system.
More general questions? See our full FAQ.