Adding and Removing VAT
Adding VAT to a Net Price
Gross Price = Net Price × (1 + VAT Rate)
Removing VAT from a Gross Price
Net Price = Gross Price ÷ (1 + VAT Rate)
Note that you can't simply subtract the VAT percentage from a gross price directly — since the VAT rate applies to the net price, not the gross price, you must divide by (1 + rate) to correctly back out the net amount.
Common VAT Rates
- United Kingdom: Standard rate 20%
- European Union: Varies by member state, typically 17-27%
- Many other countries use similar consumption tax systems (GST) at their own rates
Common Uses
- Businesses calculating VAT to charge on invoices
- Consumers figuring out the pre-tax price of a VAT-inclusive purchase
- Comparing prices between VAT-inclusive and VAT-exclusive listings