How to use the VAT calculator
Calculating VAT for VAT-inclusive and VAT-exclusive prices has never been easier. Only 3 easy steps for VAT calculation:
Our calculator always rounds the number down, unlike many similar calculators. So, you can always be sure your calculations are correct.
If you need to find Net or Gross price knowing VAT amount and VAT rate try our reverse calculator.
The calculator allows you to specify any tax rate, not just the standard VAT rate of 20% or the reduced VAT rate of 5%.
The calculator is designed as a progressive web application. This makes it possible to do calculations even without access to the internet.
You can export the result as text at the touch of a button. You can also share a link to the result with a single click.
Soon you will have the ability to keep a history of all calculations. This can be useful for HMRC Making Tax Digital compliance.
Reduced-rate items | Zero-rated items | VAT exempt items |
---|---|---|
Children's car seats | Children's clothing and shoes, public transport | Betting and gaming |
Women's sanitary products | Books and newspapers | Subscriptions to membership organisations, postage stamps |
Residential conversions | Food - except meals in restaurants | Fundraising events by charities |
Installation of energy-saving materials | Most goods you export to a country outside the UK | Some education and training |
Domestic fuel and power | Motorcycle helmets | Providing credit and Insurance |
The standard rate of VAT in the UK was increased from 17.5% on 4 January 2011.
The reduced rate of 5% is applied to some goods and services such as children’s car seats and home energy.
Zero VAT rate is applied to a range of products and services to do with health, publishing and kids’ clothing.
Date | VAT changes |
---|---|
1st April 1973 | 10% Value Added Tax has been introduced in the UK |
29th July 1974 | VAT rate reduced to 8% but 25% fuel tax introduced |
18th June 1979 | Value Added Tax rate increased to 15% |
1st April 1991 | The VAT rate has been increased to 17.5% |
1st December 2008 | Standard sales tax rate reduced by 15% |
1st January 2010 | The standard rate was increased to 17.5% and a reduced rate of 7% was introduced |
4th January 2011 | The standard VAT rate is increased to current 20% and the reduced rate is set at 5% |
Country | Standard VAT Rates | Reduced VAT Rates |
---|---|---|
Austria | 20% | 10%, 13%, 19% |
Belgium | 21% | 12%, 6% |
Bulgaria | 20% | 9% |
Croatia | 25% | 13%, 5% |
Cyprus | 19% | 5%, 9% |
Czech Republic | 21% | 15%, 10% |
Denmark | 25% | - |
Estonia | 20% | 9% |
Finland | 24% | 14%, 10% |
France | 20% | 5.5%, 2.1% |
Germany | 19% | 7%, 5.5% |
Greece | 24% | 13% |
Hungary | 27% | 5%, 12%, 7%, 18% |
Ireland | 23% | 13.5%, 4.8%, 9% |
Italy | 22% | 4%, 5%, 10% |
Latvia | 21% | 12% |
Lithuania | 21% | 9%, 5% |
Luxembourg | 17% | 14%, 3%, 8% |
Malta | 18% | 5%, 7% |
Monaco | 20% | 5.5%, 10%, 2.1% |
Netherlands | 21% | 9% |
Poland | 23% | 8%, 5% |
Portugal | 23% | 6%, 13% |
Romania | 19% | 9%, 5% |
Slovakia | 20% | 10%, 6% |
Slovenia | 22% | 9.5%, 5% |
Spain | 21% | 10%, 4% |
Sweden | 25% | 12%, 6% |
If you want to add VAT to original figure, to divide the amount by 100 and then multiply by (100 + VAT percentage). That's all, you got inclusive of VAT value (Gross amount).
For example, we will calculate VAT at a standard UK VAT rate of 20. If your business sells goods and services for £500
We will calculate VAT at a reduced VAT rate of 5. If your business sells goods and services for £1000
If you want to subtract VAT from a figure (to make a reverse VAT calculation), to divide the amount by (100 + VAT
percentage) and then multiply by 100. Now you know the amount exclusive of VAT (Net amount).
For example, we will calculate VAT at a standard UK VAT rate of 20. If your business sells goods and services for £500
We will calculate VAT at a reduced VAT rate of 5. If your business sells goods and services for £1000
If you need to calculate VAT for several goods at once, it is easier to use Excel than a our VAT calculator. I created a Excel spreadsheet – download, it's
free.
Rates vary according to what you’re supplying, and there are four main categories to think about: standard rate, reduce rate, zero-rated and exempt supplies. Rates are subject to change and you must apply changes from the date they change. Read more about what exactly is VAT
To verify the validity of the VAT number you can use the official services. For UK companies there is an UK VAT number checker. If you need to check the VAT number of a European company, try VIES VAT number validation.
The Flat Rate Scheme is open to businesses with a turnover of less than £ 150 000, and it’s designed to simplify the VAT process – particularly for freelancers, contractors and small businesses. You have to make sure you apply to HMRC to sign up for it. Read more about flat rate VAT scheme.
Well, that depends on your particular circumstances. If your turnover in a 12-month period reaches the current £85,000 threshold, then registration is compulsory – and if you don’t do it, you’ll receive a fine as a penalty. If you don’t hit this figure, then registration isn’t obligatory. Read more about registration for VAT.
Although both of these categories result in no VAT being applied to the supply, the consequence is very different between them. Where a supply could be either zero-rated or exempt, zero-rating takes priority.
There is no general exemption for charities from the VAT system. Only VAT registered charities can reclaim the VAT they are charged, subject to restrictions on the amount they can recover.
When purchasing Goods from EU (from the 1 Jan 2021) the process falls in line with the current process for purchasing goods from overseas. The invoice from the supplier won't contain VAT and should be processed using Tax Code PZ.
All goods imported into the U.K. from countries outside the UK (from 1 Jan 2021) are subject to import duty and VAT at rates applicable. Customs Duty will not be applied on goods with a value less than £135 but duty is waived if the amount of duty calculated is less than £9.
VAT was first introduced in France in 1954. The UK VAT rate was originally set at 10% and gradually increased over time, rising to 20% in 2011, and has remained so ever since.
In the 2019/2020 tax year, the UK generated £129.88 billion in VAT revenue. VAT is the third largest source of government revenue after income tax and National Insurance.
Hungary has the highest VAT rate in the world at 27%, followed by Iceland with 25.5%. Countries that don't charge VAT at all include the Bahamas, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Brands that have fought and won VAT victories include Jaffa Cakes and Tunnocks Snowballs, which have successfully proven that their products are cakes (VAT-free) and not cookies, which in turn are subject to VAT.
The highlight for the media was the emergence of Pastygate in 2012. The government's proposal to start charging VAT on takeout items such as hot sausage rolls and pastries met with widespread disapproval.
Goods with a zero rate of VAT in the UK include: children's clothing, most foodstuffs, books and prescription drugs. Other items not subject to VAT include visits to museums, antiques and postal services.
Fresh coffee beans first come from the local farmer. If the roaster pays a total of £5 per pound of fresh coffee beans, a VAT of £1 (£5 x 20%) is added to this cost, so that the farmer receives a total of: £6 for each pound of coffee beans from the roaster.
The roaster roasts the coffee beans and charges the coffee shop owner £10 per pound of roasted coffee beans. This means that the shopkeeper has to pay a total of £12 per pound, £10 for the roasted coffee beans and 20% VAT, which is £2. However, since the farmer has already paid the first £1 to the HMRC, the roaster only has to pay the government £1 in VAT.
A coffee shop owner can use each pound of roasted coffee beans to sell 5 cups of coffee at £4 each for a total of £20. For every 5 cups of coffee sold, the store owner receives a total of £24 from customers who bought his coffee, £20 and £4 VAT. However, since a total of £2 in VAT has already been paid to the state by the farmer and the roaster, the shopkeeper pays only £2 to the HMRC.
If you’re self-employed, it can sometimes be difficult to work out exactly what your take-home pay is once you’ve covered all of your business costs. Find out your take-home pay if you earn 30k, 35k, 40k or 45k.
Whether you’re employed, self-employed or a combination of both, working out your take home pay after tax can be tricky.
Use this calculator to find out how much corporation tax your limited company will be liable for, which is based on your net profit before taxes.
Our take-home pay calculator gives a rough estimate of what your potential salary might look like if you work through an umbrella company.
Use this calculator to calculate your take home pay as well as contributions to PAYE and NI, determined by your annual gross salary.
A mortgage is one of the biggest commitments you make in your financial life. Our mortgage calculator can help you to know how much they will cost you.
How much do you need in retirement and how much will you have? Our pension calculator will help you answer these questions.
IR35 calculator have become an easy way to find an instant figure of your earnings depending on your situation.
Find out how much income tax you have to pay based on your current salary and annual dividends with this calculator.
You will learn about the 3 most popular schemes: cash accounting scheme, flat
rate scheme, annual accounting scheme. Watch webinar about VAT accounting
schemes.
This webinar is about: how and when to send your VAT Return, useful tips on
how
to complete a VAT Return. Watch how to do your
VAT
Return.
You will learn about: what the Flat Rate Scheme is, how to keep VAT records,
how to fill in your VAT Return. Watch video about the VAT Flat Rate
Scheme
There are several VAT schemes contractors can register to: the standard rate VAT scheme, VAT flat rate scheme, annual accounting VAT scheme and cash accounting scheme.
VAT officers can visit your business to inspect your VAT records and make sure you’re paying or reclaiming the right amount of VAT.
If you submit a late return, you will not have to pay a surcharge if you: pay your VAT in full by the deadline, have no tax to pay, are due a VAT repayment.
Vatulator's reviews & testimonials: see what other are saying. You can also leave your review here or on Smart Reviews, Trustpilot, G2 or Capterra
Christian, thanks for the feedback! In my calculator you can change the VAT rates as you like. I have also made pages for United Arab Emirates, South African and Irish users. There is also a Ukrainian and a Russian version of the calculator. By the way, we are hiring a copywriter to localize the site into other languages.
Please add to VAT calculator export data to excel. I think you should add other calculators such as IR35 or a dividend tax calculator.
Due to this tool, you will easily find out how much income tax you have to pay according to your salary and annual dividends. My full review here https://freeappsforme.com/vat-calculator-review/
If you make a drop-down list with rates for any country then it would really be a universal VAT calc.
I use this calculator to calculate the price without VAT. I think it will be more convenient to work out VAT if the VAT percentage will be in the form of a slider.
Vatulator is a quick and efficient tool for calculating how much money you pay for a certain product. Sadly, the only region it can be useful in is the United Kingdom. I wrote a full review here https://www.softpedia.com/get/Others/Finances-Business/VATulator.shtml