Add VAT or GST to a net amount, or strip it out of a gross total. Rate presets for the UK, Ireland, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, South Africa, and Nigeria, with fourteen currencies. Free, no signup, nothing stored.
Rates shown are standard national rates and change from time to time. Check with your tax authority before filing.
Total including VAT
VAT at 20%
Removing tax is not the same as subtracting it
This trips up more people than any other part of the calculation, and it costs real money.
If a total of 1,200 includes 20 percent VAT, the tax portion is not 240. Take 20 percent off 1,200 and you get 960, which is wrong. The correct net figure is 1,000, and the VAT is 200.
The reason is that the 20 percent was calculated on the net amount, not on the total. To reverse it you divide by 1.2 rather than subtracting. At 5 percent you divide by 1.05, at 18 percent by 1.18.
Switch the tool to Remove tax and the arithmetic is handled for you.
Standard rates by country
These are the standard national rates. Reduced rates apply to particular categories in most of these countries, and rates change, so confirm before you charge or file.
| Country | Called | Standard rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | VAT | 20% | Reduced 5%, zero rate on most food and children’s clothing |
| Ireland | VAT | 23% | Reduced rates of 13.5% and 9% |
| United Arab Emirates | VAT | 5% | Some supplies zero rated or exempt |
| Saudi Arabia | VAT | 15% | Raised from 5% in 2020 |
| India | GST | 5, 12, 18, 28% | Slab system, splits into CGST and SGST within a state |
| Pakistan | Sales Tax | 18% | Provincial services rates differ |
| Malaysia | SST | 6 to 8% | Separate sales and service rates |
| Singapore | GST | 9% | Raised in stages from 7% |
| Australia | GST | 10% | Fresh food and most medical supplies excluded |
| South Africa | VAT | 15% | Zero rate on a list of basic foods |
| Nigeria | VAT | 7.5% | Raised from 5% in 2020 |
Getting it right on the document
The calculation is the easy part. What causes problems later is how the tax appears on the paperwork.
A total with the tax folded in is not enough for your customer to reclaim it. Net, tax, and gross should each be visible, with the rate stated next to the tax amount.
A VAT number, GSTIN, TRN, or NTN depending on where you are. Without it, a business customer usually cannot claim the tax back, and they will ask you to reissue the document.
Writing VAT on an Indian invoice, or GST on a British one, invites questions from an accountant. It is a small detail that signals whether you know the system you are operating in.
Round the tax to two decimal places once, on the total, rather than per line item. Rounding each line separately produces totals that are a few units out and will not reconcile.
Our receipt generator handles all four of these, with a configurable tax label and an optional registration number field.
Common questions
What is the difference between VAT and GST?+
Very little in practice. Both are consumption taxes charged at each stage of the supply chain, with businesses reclaiming what they paid on inputs. The name depends on the country. Europe, the UK, the Gulf states, and much of Africa say VAT. India, Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, and Canada say GST. The calculation is identical.
How do I remove VAT from a total?+
Divide the gross amount by 1 plus the rate as a decimal. At 20 percent that means dividing by 1.2, not subtracting 20 percent. Subtracting 20 percent from a gross figure gives the wrong answer, and it is the most common mistake people make with this calculation. Switch the tool to Remove tax and it handles it for you.
Which rate should I use?+
The standard rate in the country where the supply takes place, unless the goods or services fall into a reduced or zero rated category. Food, books, children’s clothing, and medical supplies are commonly reduced or exempt, and the rules differ by country. Check with your tax authority for anything you are unsure about.
Do the preset rates stay up to date?+
They are the standard national rates at the time of writing and they do change. Treat them as a starting point, not a source of truth. Before you charge or file anything, confirm the current rate with your national tax authority.
Can I calculate GST for India with this?+
Yes. Presets are included for the 5 percent and 18 percent slabs, and you can type any rate for the 12 and 28 percent slabs. Note that GST in India splits into CGST and SGST for supplies within a state, or IGST across states, but the total rate and the arithmetic are the same.
Is my data saved anywhere?+
No. The calculation runs in your browser and nothing is sent to our servers. Close the tab and it is gone.
Can I use this for invoices I send to clients?+
Yes. Work out the tax here, then build the document in our receipt generator, which lets you set the same rate and label so the figures match.