Business & Work
UK VAT Calculator - Add or Remove 20% VAT
Add or remove UK VAT - 20% standard rate pre-filled, with 5% and 0% one tap away.
Free to useNo sign-up requiredNo watermarkRuns in your browser
Last reviewed: 30 September 2026 by Vishal Senthilkumar
The UK standard VAT rate is 20%, in effect since January 2011. This calculator has it pre-filled, along with the 5% reduced rate (used for things like home energy) and 0% zero rate, as one-tap options - so you do not have to remember or look up the number before you can start.
It works in both directions: add VAT to a net price, or work out the net amount and VAT from a price that already includes it. Always confirm the correct rate for what you are actually selling with HMRC or your accountant - VAT treatment varies by product and service, and this is arithmetic, not tax advice.
How this tool works
Choose add or remove
Adding VAT to a net price and extracting it from a VAT-inclusive price are different calculations.
The 20% standard rate is already set
Tap 5% or 0% instead if that is what applies to what you are selling.
Enter the amount
Net price if adding VAT, or the total if removing it.
How it works
Adding VAT multiplies the net amount by the rate and adds it on. Removing VAT divides the VAT-inclusive total by (1 + rate) to get the net amount - not a straight subtraction of the percentage, which would overstate the VAT.
The 20% figure is the UK's standard rate; 5% covers specific reduced-rate goods and services; 0% covers zero-rated items like most food and children's clothes. Which one applies depends on what you are actually selling.
Worked examples
£100 plus 20% VAT
VAT is £20, so the total charged is £120.
A £120 price that already includes 20% VAT
The net amount is £100 and the VAT is £20 - not £24, which wrongly subtracting 20% of £120 would give.
Frequently asked questions
What is the current UK VAT rate?
The standard rate is 20%, in effect since January 2011. A 5% reduced rate and a 0% zero rate also apply to specific goods and services.
How do I remove VAT from a price that already includes it?
Divide the total by 1.20 (for the 20% rate) to get the net amount - do not simply subtract 20% from the total.
Is this official HMRC guidance?
No - this is a general calculation tool. Confirm the correct VAT treatment for your specific goods or services with HMRC or an accountant.