VAT Calculator

How to use this VAT calculator

1. Pick Add VAT to put VAT on a net price, or Remove VAT to split a total that already includes it.
2. Choose the country. The currency and number format switch to match (pounds, euros, Australian, New Zealand or Canadian dollars).
3. Pick the rate. Each country lists its official rates, or choose Custom for any other rate.
4. Enter the amount and read the net amount, the VAT and the total.
5. Copy the ready-made line (net, VAT and total) into your invoice.

In Australia, New Zealand and Canada the tax is called GST (or HST), but the maths is the same. The calculator rounds to the penny or cent, as an invoice would.

How to add VAT to a price

Start from the net price, the amount before VAT. Multiply it by the rate as a decimal to get the VAT, then add the two together. At 20%, that's the same as multiplying the net price by 1.2.

Worked example (UK). A web designer bills £1,000 for a project at the 20% standard rate.

• VAT: £1,000 × 0.20 = £200.00
• Total: £1,000 + £200 = £1,200.00

The same steps work anywhere. €2,500 of work in Ireland at 23% adds €575, for €3,075. A C$1,000 job in Ontario at 13% HST adds C$130, for C$1,130.

How to remove VAT (reverse VAT)

When a price already includes VAT, divide it by 1 plus the rate. That gives the net amount. The VAT is the difference.

Worked example. A client agrees to £1,200 including VAT at 20%.

• Net: £1,200 ÷ 1.2 = £1,000.00
• VAT: £1,200 − £1,000 = £200.00

Each rate has a fixed share of the gross price. At 20%, VAT is 1/6 of the total. At 10% (Australian GST), it's 1/11, so A$1,100 includes A$100 of GST. New Zealand's IRD gives the 15% shortcut as multiplying by 3 and dividing by 23: NZ$100 including GST holds NZ$13.04 of GST.

VAT and GST rates by country in 2026

These are the rates built into the calculator, each checked with the official tax authority or the European Commission in October 2026. Which rate applies depends on what you sell; most services sit at the standard rate.

Two recent changes: Nova Scotia's HST fell from 15% to 14% on April 1, 2025, according to the CRA. In Canada, provinces without HST may add their own sales tax on top of the 5% GST; the calculator doesn't include those.

UK VAT registration threshold

In the UK you must register for VAT when your taxable turnover goes over £90,000. Gov.uk sets out two tests:

• Looking back: your total taxable turnover for the last 12 months goes over £90,000. You then have 30 days from the end of that month to register.
• Looking ahead: you expect your taxable turnover to go over £90,000 in the next 30 days alone. You must register by the end of that 30-day period.

You can choose to cancel your registration if your VAT taxable turnover falls below £88,000. Under £90,000 you can still choose to register (voluntary registration). If you register late, gov.uk says you must pay VAT on any sales made since the date you should have registered.

Thresholds elsewhere

• Australia: register for GST when your GST turnover is A$75,000 or more (business.gov.au).
• New Zealand: register when your turnover was at least NZ$60,000 in the last 12 months, or you expect it to be over the next 12 (IRD).
• Canada: you're a small supplier and don't have to register while your taxable sales stay at or under C$30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters. Going over in a single quarter means you must register (CRA).

What a UK VAT invoice must show

Once you're VAT registered, you must issue a VAT invoice when you supply standard-rated or reduced-rated goods or services, normally within 30 days. Under HMRC's VAT Notice 700/21, a full VAT invoice shows:

• a unique, sequential invoice number;
• the time of supply (tax point), and the issue date if it's different;
• your name, address and VAT registration number;
• your customer's name and address;
• a description of the goods or services;
• for each item, the quantity or extent of the service, the unit price, the VAT rate and the amount before VAT;
• the total before VAT and any cash discount rate offered;
• the total VAT, in pounds sterling.

For sales of £250 or less including VAT, you can issue a simplified invoice: your name, address and VAT number, the time of supply, a description, and for each VAT rate the total including VAT and the rate charged. You can't include exempt supplies on it.

You can invoice in euros or dollars, but the VAT total must still be shown in sterling. And zero-rated sales still go on the invoice at 0%.

How to put VAT on your invoice

Decide first whether your prices are net or gross. VAT-registered business clients often think in net prices, since they can usually reclaim the VAT. Consumers think in the price they pay. Either way, state it clearly in your quote: £1,000 + VAT and £1,000 including VAT are £200 apart.

On the invoice itself, list the work as line items, show the subtotal before VAT, a VAT line with the rate, and the total. If you charge two rates, show the VAT for each. Our guide to an itemized invoice shows how to split a job into clear lines.

In Onigiri, line items are qty × rate, with tax rates and discounts, so the subtotal, tax and total add up for you. You can send the invoice by email, as a link or as a PDF. The free plan covers 3 invoices a month, no credit card. For a one-off, the free invoice generator makes a PDF without sign-up. Before you send, check the invoice against the list above.

Common VAT mistakes

• Taking the rate off the total. To remove 20% VAT, divide by 1.2. Subtracting 20% removes too much.
• Registering late. Miss the threshold and you still owe VAT on sales from the date you should have registered, often out of your own pocket.
• Leaving out the VAT number. Gov.uk says VAT invoices must include your VAT number and show the VAT separately.
• Quoting without saying net or gross. A price with no + VAT or including VAT invites a dispute later.
• Using the wrong rate. Most services are standard-rated, but not all. Check the rate for what you sell with your tax authority.
• Missing the 30-day window. HMRC normally expects a VAT invoice within 30 days of the supply.

Billing US clients too? The sales tax calculator covers 2026 state rates. If clients pay by card, the Stripe fee calculator shows what you'll actually receive in pounds, euros or dollars.

Frequently asked questions