VAT Calculator — Add or Remove VAT by Country

Add vs remove: the formula people get backwards

Adding VAT is multiplication: net × 1.20 = gross at a 20% rate. Removing it is division, not subtraction — a £120 gross price is £100 net + £20 VAT, and 20% of £120 is £24, not £20. Taking '20% off' a gross price always leaves you short.

The clean version: VAT = gross − gross ÷ (1 + rate). That single line is all the calculator does on 'remove' mode — and it's the formula accountants check your invoices against.

Which rate applies when you sell across borders

For EU B2C sales of digital goods and services, VAT is owed at the customer's country rate — a German customer pays German VAT on your UK or Serbian product, which is exactly what EU OSS (One-Stop Shop) registration exists to handle.

B2B sales inside the EU generally reverse-charge: you invoice at 0% and the buyer accounts for VAT in their country. Get a valid VAT ID or the exemption doesn't apply — that's the detail that turns 'simple' cross-border invoicing into a tax bill.

When you're below the registration threshold

Most countries have a registration threshold (UK: £90,000 rolling turnover; EU states vary; the EU-wide SME scheme allows ~€100k) below which you don't charge VAT at all. Staying under it makes your prices 20%+ more competitive — crossing it overnight either raises your prices or eats your margin. Plan the crossing; don't discover it in an accountant's email.

Frequently asked questions

How do I remove VAT from a price?

Divide the gross by (1 + rate). At 20% VAT: net = gross ÷ 1.20, and the VAT portion = gross − net. Never subtract 20% of the gross.

What is the standard VAT rate in the EU?

It ranges 17–27% by country: Hungary highest at 27%, Luxembourg lowest at 17%. Most large economies sit at 19–22%.

Do I charge VAT on exports outside the EU/UK?

Generally no — exports are zero-rated. Sales to consumers inside the EU follow the destination country's rate via OSS.

Is VAT the same as sales tax?

Functionally similar for the buyer, structurally different: VAT is collected at every stage of the supply chain with input credits, US-style sales tax is charged only at the final sale.