VAT Calculator by Country
Add or remove Value Added Tax in 40+ countries. Enter any amount, pick a country or type a custom rate, and get the net, VAT and gross figures instantly.
Standard VAT rates in 42 countries (September 2026)
Complete guide
The two VAT formulas
Every VAT calculation reduces to one of two operations. To add VAT to a net price, multiply by 1 plus the rate: at 20% UK VAT, £100 net becomes £100 × 1.20 = £120 gross, of which £20 is VAT. To remove VAT from a gross price, divide: £120 ÷ 1.20 = £100 net, so the VAT content is £20.
The division trick trips people up. If you subtract "20% of £120" you get £96 — wrong, because 20% should apply to the net figure, not the gross one. Always divide by (1 + rate) when working backwards. The calculator does both directions and shows the formula it used.
| Rate | Add VAT to £100 net | Remove VAT from £120 gross |
|---|---|---|
| 5% | £105.00 | £114.29 (VAT £5.71) |
| 8.1% (CH) | £108.10 | £111.01 (VAT £8.99) |
| 19% (DE) | £119.00 | £100.84 (VAT £19.16) |
| 20% (UK/FR) | £120.00 | £100.00 (VAT £20.00) |
| 21% (ES/NL) | £121.00 | £99.17 (VAT £20.83) |
| 25% (SE/DK/NO) | £125.00 | £96.00 (VAT £24.00) |
Standard VAT rates by country (September 2026)
The calculator's built-in table covers 42 countries. The EU rates follow the European Commission's January 2026 table, including Romania's increase from 19% to 21% on 1 January 2026. Outside the EU, rates come from national tax authorities.
| Country | Standard rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hungary | 27% | Highest standard VAT rate in the world |
| Finland | 25.5% | Raised from 24% in September 2024 |
| Denmark / Sweden / Norway | 25% | Nordic top rates |
| Ireland / Poland / Portugal | 23% | Common EU level |
| Greece / Estonia | 24% | Estonia raised 22% → 24% in 2024 |
| United Kingdom / France | 20% | UK unchanged since 2011 |
| Spain / Belgium / Netherlands | 21% | — |
| Germany | 19% | Unchanged at 19% since 2007 |
| Italy | 22% | Raised from 21% in 2013 |
| Switzerland | 8.1% | Raised from 7.7% in January 2024 |
| Luxembourg | 17% | Lowest standard rate in the EU |
| Japan | 10% | Consumption tax, 8% reduced rate for food |
| Canada | 5% | GST only — provinces add their own HST/PST |
| Australia / New Zealand | 10% / 15% | Called GST, not VAT |
| United States | 0% | No federal VAT; state sales taxes instead |
VAT vs sales tax: why European tags include tax
VAT is collected at every stage of the supply chain. A manufacturer pays VAT on components, charges VAT on the finished product and reclaims the input VAT; only the value each business adds is effectively taxed. The final consumer bears the full amount — and because the displayed price must include VAT in Europe, a £20 price tag really costs £20.
US-style sales tax works the opposite way: it is charged once, at the final retail sale, and added at checkout. A $20 shelf price becomes $21.60 at the register in a state with 8% sales tax. This is why American visitors to Europe often find prices "included" and Europeans find US checkout prices unpredictable.
For businesses the practical consequence: if you invoice a UK customer from abroad, quote prices excluding VAT and let them account for it under the reverse charge; if you sell to consumers, your advertised price must include VAT.
Reduced rates and what they apply to
Every country in the table also runs reduced rates for essentials, typically 5–13%. The standard rate is what applies to most goods and services, which is why this calculator uses it by default — but if you sell books, food, children's clothing or medicines, the reduced rate usually applies.
Examples: the UK charges 5% on domestic energy and 0% on most food and children's clothes; Germany charges 7% on food, books and newspapers; France has an intermediate 10% for restaurants and a 5.5% rate for groceries. Ireland's 9% hospitality rate has moved several times in recent years.
Some categories are exempt entirely (insurance, most financial services, education) — exempt suppliers charge no VAT but also cannot reclaim input VAT. None of these special cases are modeled in the calculator; check the national authority for line-item rates.
Common VAT questions from small businesses
Registration thresholds: in the UK you must register for VAT once taxable turnover exceeds £90,000 in any 12-month period; the EU cross-border scheme for small businesses allows a single €10,000 union-wide threshold for intra-EU distance sales.
Invoicing: a valid VAT invoice must show the supplier's VAT number, the date, a unique invoice number, the net amount, the rate(s) applied and the VAT amount per rate. When you reverse the VAT from a gross price for accounting, keep net and VAT in separate ledger columns.
Brexit note: since 2021, UK-to-EU B2C goods sales are handled by schemes such as IOSS for consignments under €150 — the buyer's country VAT applies, at their standard rate, not the UK's 20%.
Rates reflect standard VAT rates as of September 2026 and can change. Many countries apply reduced rates to categories like food, books or children's goods. This tool is for estimation only and is not tax advice — verify with the relevant tax authority before filing or invoicing.