Quick answer
To add VAT, total = amount × (1 + rate); to remove it, net = amount ÷ (1 + rate). Adding 20% VAT to 200 gives 240, of which VAT is 40.
Choose add or remove, then enter the amount and the VAT rate. The calculator returns the total, the VAT and the price before tax.
Related tools: VAT Calculator: Add or remove value-added tax at the rate you enter. Sales Tax Calculator: Add or remove sales tax at a rate you enter. Lottery Tax Calculator: Take-home from a prize after the tax rates you enter.
How to use the VAT Calculator
- Choose calculate: Add VAT and Remove VAT (price includes it).
- Enter amount ($) (0 or more).
- Enter vAT rate (%) (between 0 and 100).
- Press Calculate to see the result, and use Reset to start again.
| Input | What to enter | Allowed values |
|---|---|---|
| Calculate | Choose one: Add VAT; Remove VAT (price includes it) | Starts at Add VAT |
| Amount | A number, in $ | ≥ 0 |
| VAT rate | A number, in % | ≥ 0, ≤ 100 |
Formula and method
Formula
add: total = amount × (1 + rate); remove: net = amount ÷ (1 + rate); VAT = difference
IEEE-754 double precision; money shown to cents, rates to 4 decimals. Results are estimates, not financial advice.
Rate supplied by you; no jurisdiction rates are assumed.
Worked examples
These examples are verified: each one is an automated test case that the live calculator must reproduce exactly.
Example 1
Inputs: Calculate = Add VAT; Amount = 200; VAT rate = 20.
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Total including tax | $240.00 |
| VAT | $40.00 |
| Price before tax | $200.00 |
Example 2
Inputs: Calculate = Remove VAT (price includes it); Amount = 240; VAT rate = 20.
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Price before tax | $200.00 |
| VAT | $40.00 |
| Price including tax | $240.00 |
The first line is the headline result (total including tax). Below it the vAT Calculator lists vAT and price before tax, which describe the same case from other angles. IEEE-754 double precision; money shown to cents, rates to 4 decimals. Results are estimates, not financial advice.
Removing VAT
A VAT-inclusive price of 240 at 20% has a net price of 240 ÷ 1.2 = 200 and VAT of 40. Don't subtract 20% of 240 (48), which gives the wrong net price.
Rates
Standard VAT rates range from 5% in some countries to 27%; the UK standard rate is 20% with reduced rates on some goods. A rate of 0 leaves the amount unchanged. Check your local rate.
How the result changes with amount
Holding every other input at the first worked example, this table changes only amount. It shows how sensitive the answer is to that one value; each row was produced by running this calculator.
| Amount | Total including tax | VAT | Price before tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | $120.00 | $20.00 | $100.00 |
| 200 | $240.00 | $40.00 | $200.00 |
| 400 | $480.00 | $80.00 | $400.00 |
| 800 | $960.00 | $160.00 | $800.00 |
What happens with invalid input
These messages are produced by the calculator itself, so you know what to fix.
- VAT rate: entering "-5" shows "VAT rate must be at least 0." beside that field and no result.
Choosing between the VAT Calculator and similar calculators
Each row shows what a related calculator on this site asks for and what it returns, so you can pick the one that matches your question.
| Calculator | You enter | It returns |
|---|---|---|
| [VAT Calculator](/finance/value-added-tax-calculator/) | amount, vAT rate and calculation | Price including VAT |
| [Sales Tax Calculator](/tax/sales-tax-calculator/) | calculate, amount and sales tax rate | Total including tax |
| [Lottery Tax Calculator](/tax/lottery-tax/) | prize, federal tax rate and state tax rate | Net after tax |
| [Federal Estate Tax Calculator](/tax/estate-tax-calculator/) | year of death, gross estate and deductions | Estimated federal estate tax |
| [Effective Corporate Tax Rate Calculator](/tax/effective-corporate-tax-rate/) | income tax expense and pre-tax income | Effective tax rate |
Background: tax estimates
Tax results depend on the jurisdiction, the tax year and your circumstances. Whether VAT applies and at what rate depends on what is sold, to whom and where; estate-tax thresholds and rates change by year, and published figures for the same year sometimes conflict between websites.
Treat the result as an estimate and confirm rates and thresholds with the official tax authority (for example the IRS for US federal tax, or your national VAT authority).
Assumptions and limitations
- Rate 0 leaves the amount unchanged
This is an estimate for general information, not tax advice. Tax rules depend on jurisdiction, year and personal circumstances, so check the official guidance or a qualified tax professional.
If a required value is empty, not a number, or outside its allowed range, the form marks that field with a message and shows no result instead of a misleading number. The automated checks deliberately try invalid entries for vAT rate to confirm this.
Frequently asked questions
What is 15% VAT on 100?
15, for a total of 115.
What's the difference between VAT and sales tax?
VAT is collected at each stage.
How do I reverse a 20% VAT?
To remove 20% VAT divide by 1.2: 240 becomes 200 and the VAT is 40.
What does the VAT Calculator calculate?
Add or remove VAT at a rate you enter. It returns Total including tax, VAT and Price before tax.
What formula does the VAT Calculator use?
add: total = amount × (1 + rate); remove: net = amount ÷ (1 + rate); VAT = difference. Rate supplied by you; no jurisdiction rates are assumed.
What do I need to enter in the vAT Calculator?
You enter Calculate, Amount ($) and VAT rate (%).
How is the result rounded or limited?
IEEE-754 double precision; money shown to cents, rates to 4 decimals. Results are estimates, not financial advice. Rate 0 leaves the amount unchanged.
What does the “Calculate” option change?
It sets how the vAT is worked out. The choices are Add VAT and Remove VAT (price includes it).
What is an example of a vAT result?
With calculate Add VAT, amount 200 and vAT rate 20, the total including tax is $240.00.
Can I rely on this calculator for a decision?
This is an estimate for general information, not tax advice. Tax rules depend on jurisdiction, year and personal circumstances, so check the official guidance or a qualified tax professional. For this calculator in particular: Rate 0 leaves the amount unchanged.
Related calculators
- VAT Calculator — Add or remove value-added tax at the rate you enter.
- Sales Tax Calculator — Add or remove sales tax at a rate you enter.
- Lottery Tax Calculator — Take-home from a prize after the tax rates you enter.
- Effective Corporate Tax Rate Calculator — Tax expense as a share of pre-tax income.
- Age Calculator — Calculate your exact age in years, months and days.
Sources
- Standard time-value-of-money relations (e.g. Brealey, Myers & Allen, Principles of Corporate Finance)
Content last reviewed 2026-11-04. Formulas and worked examples are checked by automated tests against independently computed values.