VAT Explained: How to Add and Remove VAT
Here's the quick answer: VAT (Value Added Tax) is a consumption tax built into the price of most goods and services across the UK and EU. The UK standard rate is 20%; EU rates vary by country, mostly between 17% and 27%. To add VAT, multiply by 1 plus the rate; to remove it, divide the total by 1 plus the rate — not by subtracting the percentage, which gives the wrong figure.
What VAT is — and how it's different
VAT is charged at each stage of production, but businesses reclaim the VAT they pay on their own costs, so the tax ultimately lands on the final consumer. For shoppers, the key difference from US-style sales tax is that VAT is included in the displayed price — the figure on the shelf is what you pay at the till.
Most countries run more than one rate:
- Standard rate — applies to the majority of goods and services (20% in the UK).
- Reduced rate — a lower rate on things like domestic energy or child car seats (5% in the UK).
- Zero rate — 0% on certain essentials such as most food and children's clothing in the UK.
Standard rates around Europe
| Country | Standard VAT |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 20% |
| Germany | 19% |
| France | 20% |
| Ireland | 23% |
| Hungary (EU's highest) | 27% |
| Luxembourg (among the lowest) | 17% |
Always use your own country's current rate — they're revised from time to time.
How to add and remove VAT
The one mistake people make is removing VAT by subtracting the percentage. To take 20% VAT off a £120 price, you don't subtract 20% (which would give £96) — you divide by 1.20, giving £100. Here's the full picture at 20%:
| You want to… | Do this | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Add VAT | × 1.20 | £100 → £120 |
| Remove VAT | ÷ 1.20 | £120 → £100 |
| Find the VAT amount | total − net | £120 − £100 = £20 |
The VAT calculator does this at any rate, in either direction.
VAT and businesses
Businesses above the VAT registration threshold must charge VAT on their sales, but they reclaim the VAT on their purchases — so for them it's largely a pass-through. That's why prices to other VAT-registered businesses are often quoted "ex-VAT," while consumer prices are shown "inc-VAT."
For more regional tools, see our Europe calculators and United Kingdom calculators.
This article is general information, not tax advice, and all figures are estimates. VAT rates and rules vary by country and change over time — confirm current figures for your location. See our disclaimer.