Calculator
Reverse VAT Calculator: remove VAT from a gross price
Enter a gross price, pick a country or type a rate, and the calculator splits it into the net amount and the VAT inside. Instant, private, free.
Runs 100% in your browser. No signup, no uploads.
- United Kingdom20%
- Germany19%
- France20%
- Spain21%
- Italy22%
- Netherlands21%
- Belgium21%
- Austria20%
- Ireland23%
- Portugal23%
- Poland23%
- Sweden25%
- Finland25.5%
- Switzerland8.1%
- Norway25%
- Australia10%
- New Zealand15%
- Canada5%
- United Arab Emirates5%
- Saudi Arabia15%
- Singapore9%
- India18%
- No matches
Custom rate
£0.00
£0.00
VAT @ 20%
£0.00
When you need a reverse VAT calculation
Most of the time you know your net price and add VAT on top. But invoices, receipts and POS totals usually show the gross price, and the VAT is already inside. Working out how much of that total is tax is the reverse VAT calculation.
The formula: net = gross / (1 + rate). Take a 120.00 receipt in the UK: 120 / 1.20 = 100.00 net, so the VAT is 20.00. At German rates a 119.00 receipt splits into 100.00 net and 19.00 VAT. The same division works at any rate.
This matters for input VAT claims, for splitting a bill into its taxable parts, and for quoting net prices when a customer asks what your rate really is.
Common rates, quick reference
Select a country and the calculator sets the rate for you. Quick reference: UK 20%, Germany 19%, France 20%, Spain 21%, Italy 22%, Ireland 23%, Portugal 23%, the Netherlands 21%, Austria 20%, Switzerland 8.1%, UAE 5%, Saudi Arabia 15%, Australia 10% GST, New Zealand 15% GST, Singapore 9% GST.
Remember that reduced rates change the split. Food at the German 7% rate gives a different net and VAT than the same amount at 19%. Use the custom rate field whenever the standard rate does not apply.
Mistakes that cost money
The classic error is subtracting the percentage from the gross instead of dividing. Removing 20% from 120.00 gives 96.00, which is wrong: the correct net is 120 / 1.20 = 100.00, because the VAT inside a gross price is a share of the gross, not a percentage on top of it.
The second error is using the wrong rate for the category. A restaurant bill, groceries and a book each carry a different rate in most countries. Check which band applies before you split the total.
The third is rounding the intermediate steps. Round the final net and VAT amounts, not the factors, or the cents drift across a batch of invoices.
Common questions
How do I reverse a VAT calculation by hand?
Divide the gross price by (1 + rate). At 20%, divide by 1.20; at 19%, divide by 1.19; at 25%, divide by 1.25. The result is the net amount, and the VAT is the gross minus the net.
What does 'VAT included' mean on an invoice?
It means the printed total already contains the tax. The gross amount is what the customer pays, and the VAT amount is a share of it that you owe to the tax authority.
Why is the net amount not simply gross minus 20%?
Because the VAT is 20% of the net, not 20% of the gross. On a 120.00 gross price at 20%, subtracting 20% gives 96.00, which is wrong. The correct net is 120 / 1.20 = 100.00.
How do I find the VAT rate from a gross and net amount?
Divide the gross by the net, subtract 1, and multiply by 100. If 120.00 gross splits into 100.00 net, the rate is (120 / 100 minus 1) x 100 = 20%.
Can I use this for HST and GST countries?
Yes. Canada's GST and HST, Australia's GST, New Zealand's GST and Singapore's GST all work with the same math. Pick the country or type the rate.