VAT & Sales Tax Calculator

Add VAT to a net price, or work out how much VAT is already included in a total you were given. Set your own rate and currency, then use the notes below for a worked example, the FAQ, and where the rate itself comes from.

VAT & sales tax calculator

Add tax to a figure that excludes it, or take tax back out of a total that already includes it. Works for VAT, GST or US sales tax — the rate is yours to set.

What do you want to work out?
Your figures
USD

The figure before tax is added.

%

Use your VAT rate, GST rate, or combined state and local sales tax rate. Enter 0 if this sale is exempt or zero-rated.

This changes the denomination shown only. No exchange rate is applied and no amount is converted.

Breakdown

Amount, excluding tax—
Tax at 20%—
Total, including tax—

Enter an amount to see the tax breakdown.

total = amount * (1 + rate / 100)
tax = total – amount
See a worked example

These examples use a 20% rate purely to show the arithmetic. It is not a recommendation, and it is not the right rate everywhere — a US sales tax rate is commonly much lower, often single digits.

Adding tax to a figure of 200.00

total = 200.00 * (1 + 20 / 100) = 240.00
tax = 240.00 – 200.00 = 40.00

Removing tax from a figure of 240.00

amount = 240.00 / (1 + 20 / 100) = 200.00
tax = 240.00 – 200.00 = 40.00

Note that you cannot get back to the tax-excluded figure by taking 20% off the total: 20% of 240.00 is 48.00, not 40.00. That is why removing tax divides rather than subtracts.

Everything here is worked out in your browser. The figures you type are not sent to us, saved or shared.

This is a general arithmetic calculator, not tax advice and not a tax-filing tool. Whether this is called VAT, GST or sales tax, and whether a given sale is taxable, exempt or zero-rated, depends on your jurisdiction and your own registration status. Check with your tax authority or your accountant before relying on any figure here.

How to use the calculator

  1. Choose “Add VAT” if you have a net figure, or “Remove VAT” if you have a total that already includes VAT.
  2. Type in the amount. Figures with commas, spaces or a currency symbol are read correctly.
  3. Set the VAT rate that applies to this transaction. It defaults to 20% but you can change it to whatever you need, including 0 for a zero-rated supply.
  4. Pick a currency if you want the figures shown in something other than pounds. This changes the display only; no exchange rate is applied.
  5. Read the net, VAT and gross figures in the breakdown. The formula is shown underneath with your own numbers filled in.

A worked example

Say you have raised an invoice for a net amount of £850.00 and VAT applies at 20%. VAT is calculated on the net figure: 850.00 × 20% = 170.00. Add that to the net amount and the gross total your client pays is 1,020.00.

Working the other way: if a supplier’s invoice shows a total of 1,020.00 and you know VAT was charged at 20%, you cannot get back to the net figure by taking 20% off the total, that gives 204.00, not the 170.00 of VAT actually charged. Dividing 1,020.00 by 1.20 gives the correct net amount of 850.00, and the difference between the two figures is the VAT. This is why “Remove VAT” divides rather than subtracts.

The 20% rate used above is illustrative only. It is a common standard rate in some jurisdictions, not a default that applies to your situation.

Limitations

This is a general-purpose arithmetic calculator. It applies the rate and amount you enter and nothing more.

It is not tax-filing advice and does not file anything with a tax authority. It does not look up VAT rates or know your jurisdiction: rates vary by country, by the type of goods or service supplied, and change over time, so checking and entering the correct rate is always your responsibility.

Frequently asked questions

What rate should I use?

Check your local tax authority. This tool does not supply rates, and using the wrong one will give you a figure that is wrong for your situation. Rates differ by country, and often by the type of goods or service too.

Does this file my return?

No. This calculator only works out the arithmetic on a single amount. Filing a VAT return, keeping the records it depends on, and submitting it to your tax authority are separate steps that this tool does not do.

Does it store or send the figures I type in?

No. The calculation runs in your browser. Nothing you type into the amount, rate or currency fields is sent to us, saved or shared.

Why can’t I just take the rate off the total to remove VAT?

Because the rate applies to the net amount, not the total. Taking 20% off a total of 1,020.00 gives 204.00, not the 170.00 of VAT that was actually charged. Removing VAT correctly means dividing the total by (1 + rate ÷ 100), which is what this calculator does.

Can I use a currency other than the default?

Yes. The currency selector changes how the figures are displayed, for example as $ instead of £. It does not convert between currencies: no exchange rate is applied anywhere in the calculation.

Related guides

If you price your work by adding a margin, “Margin vs markup” covers a mix-up that shows up in the same kind of arithmetic as VAT. If you have run our free website checker, “Understanding your website check results” walks through what the findings mean.

Setting up invoicing or VAT handling properly

This calculator is for one-off figures. If you want VAT handled correctly across your invoicing, bookkeeping or website checkout, we can help you set it up.

Ask about invoicing setup