Add VAT: enter the price before VAT. Remove VAT: enter the total including VAT.
Enter the percentage, for example 12.5. Check that the rate applies to your transaction.
VAT RESULT
£0.00
Enter an amount and select a VAT calculation.
Breakdown
Net amount (before VAT): £0.00
VAT rate: 20%
VAT amount: £0.00
Gross amount (including VAT): £0.00
Calculates one amount at one VAT rate. Choose the correct rate for the goods or services. Zero-rated and VAT-exempt are different.
Related Calculators
UK VAT Calculator: add or remove VAT
Add VAT to a price before tax, or remove VAT from a price that already includes it. The calculator separates the original price, the VAT amount and the total.
Choose Add VAT for a VAT-exclusive price. Choose Remove VAT for a VAT-inclusive price. The standard 20% rate is selected initially, with 5%, 0% and a custom rate also available.
What do net, VAT and gross mean?
- Net: the amount before VAT.
- VAT: the tax added to that amount.
- Gross: the total including VAT.
For example, a £100 net price with 20% VAT has £20 VAT and a £120 gross total. Here, net means before VAT; it does not mean profit or personal take-home pay.
How to add VAT
Multiply the net amount by the VAT rate divided by 100 to find the VAT. Add that VAT to the net amount to find the gross total.
VAT = net amount × VAT rate ÷ 100
Gross amount = net amount × (1 + VAT rate ÷ 100)
At 20%, multiply the net price by 1.20. A £250 price before VAT becomes £300: £250 net plus £50 VAT.
How to remove VAT
Divide the VAT-inclusive amount by 1 plus the VAT rate divided by 100. Subtract the resulting net amount from the gross total to find the VAT included.
Net amount = gross amount ÷ (1 + VAT rate ÷ 100)
VAT = gross amount − net amount
At 20%, divide by 1.20. A £60 VAT-inclusive price contains £50 net and £10 VAT.
Why removing 20% VAT is not taking 20% off
VAT is calculated on the original net price. It is not calculated as the same percentage of the larger VAT-inclusive total.
For example, £120 including 20% VAT contains £20 VAT. Taking 20% off £120 would leave £96, which is incorrect. Dividing £120 by 1.20 correctly returns £100.
At the 20% rate, the VAT included in a gross price is one-sixth of that price. For ordinary percentage reductions instead, use the Discount Calculator or Percentage Calculator.
Worked example: adding 5% VAT
If the applicable rate is 5%, a £200 net amount has £10 VAT and a £210 gross total. Removing 5% VAT from £210 returns £200 net.
Worked example: a custom VAT rate
At a custom rate of 12.5%, £80 before VAT becomes £90: £80 net plus £10 VAT. Removing VAT from £90 at the same rate returns £80. This illustrates the calculation; it does not establish which rate applies to a sale.
Choosing the correct VAT rate
The UK standard rate is 20%. A reduced rate of 5% applies to some goods and services, while qualifying zero-rated supplies use 0%. The correct treatment depends on what is supplied and the relevant conditions.
The calculator applies your selected percentage. It does not decide the VAT classification of a product or service. Check the official guidance listed below if you are unsure.
Zero-rated is different from VAT-exempt
Zero-rated supplies are taxable at 0%. VAT-exempt supplies have a different VAT treatment. Selecting 0% gives a zero VAT amount, but it does not determine exemption or whether VAT on purchases can be reclaimed.
Using VAT figures for pricing and profit
Separate VAT from the selling price before assessing what a sale contributes to your business. The gross amount collected is not automatically your revenue after VAT or your profit.
Use the Profit Margin Calculator with costs and revenue on a consistent VAT basis. Whether purchase VAT can be reclaimed depends on your circumstances.
VAT is also separate from tax on personal income. For that calculation, visit the Income Tax Calculator.
Assumptions and rounding
- One VAT rate applies to the entire amount entered.
- Amounts are entered in pounds and pence.
- A blank amount is incomplete; an entered £0 is valid.
- Negative amounts are not supported.
- Results are shown to the nearest penny.
Invoice systems may round individual lines or the invoice total differently, so a small rounding difference can occur. This calculator is for a single amount rather than a multi-line invoice.
It does not calculate a VAT return, determine VAT registration requirements, or handle mixed-rate baskets, partial exemption, reverse charge, import VAT, flat-rate or margin schemes. Adding VAT here does not establish that you are entitled or required to charge it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current UK standard VAT rate?
The standard rate is 20%. The UK also has a 5% reduced rate and a 0% zero rate for qualifying supplies. Check which treatment applies before calculating.
Does the amount I enter include VAT?
With Add VAT, enter the amount before VAT. With Remove VAT, enter the total that already includes VAT. The breakdown shows both amounts.
How much VAT is included in £100 at 20%?
£100 including 20% VAT contains approximately £83.33 net and £16.67 VAT. By comparison, £100 before VAT becomes £120 after adding 20% VAT.
Can I calculate VAT at 5% or 0%?
Yes. Select the required rate. At 0%, the VAT amount is £0.00 and the net and gross amounts are equal.
What is the custom VAT rate for?
It lets you apply another percentage, such as a historical rate. Enter 12.5 for 12.5%, rather than 0.125. Check the rate and rules relevant to the transaction.
Can I calculate an invoice containing different VAT rates?
Calculate each group of items at its applicable rate separately. Applying one rate to a mixed-rate total can produce an incorrect result.
Does the VAT amount show what I owe HMRC?
No. It shows the VAT associated with the amount and rate entered. A VAT return can also involve VAT on purchases, adjustments and scheme-specific rules.
Official sources and review
VAT rates and calculation guidance checked on 18 October 2026. Consult the official guidance for the rules applying to your transaction.