VAT Calculator
Welcome to my online VAT calculator, a simple no frills easy to use calculator to work out the VAT on any amount whether it be adding or reversing/subtracting/backwards calculations. I've also added the capability to select the VAT rate as the UK government has tweaked it between 15%, 17.5% and 20% during the last decade. For more information on VAT in the UK and its history please see below
What is VAT? VAT stands for Value Added Tax and is charged upon purchase of most goods and services in the United Kingdom. The current VAT rate in 2024 for the UK currently stands at 20% and has been since the 4th January 2011. There have been just 3 changes to the VAT rate since 1991. UK Gov website source A global recession prompted a temporary reduction to 15% on the 1st December 2008 which lasted until the 1st January 2010, the VAT rate was then returned to the ever familiar 17.5% however on the 4th January 2011 the rate was raised to 20% following a coalition government emergency budget and has remained there ever since.
How to add VAT To calculate the current (20%) rate of VAT on any number that excludes VAT, simply multiply it by 1.2 and the result will then be inc VATFormula: X*1.2=Inc VAT
How to subtract/reverse VAT To subtract/reverse the current (20%) rate of VAT from any number that includes VAT, divide it by 1.2. The resulting number will now exclude VATFormula: X/1.2=Excl VAT. This is also known as a backwards VAT calculation.
How to find the VAT To calculate how much VAT was paid from any number that already includes VAT, multiply it by 0.2, the resulting number will now show just the VATFormula: X*0.2=VAT Amount
Brief History of VAT Rates 1977-1979: 8% plus higher rate of: 12.5% 1979-1991: 15% 1991-2008: 17.5% 2008-2010: 15% 2010-2011: 17.5% 2011-2024: 20%
*New* added IPT (Insurance Premium Tax) to the calculator Added a 12% / 20% setting to allow calculation of standard & higher rate insurance premium tax (IPT). What is IPT?
Random VAT Facts 1. There are currently three rates of value added tax: standard (20%), reduced (5%) and zero (0%). Examples of VAT exempt items include: gambling, insurance and postage stamps.2. VAT was introduced as a European replacement for the old purchase tax. This was charged at differing rates according to the luxury of an item.3. Frenchman Maurice Lauré was the first to introduce VAT on the 10th April 1954 however the idea was not his, German Dr. Wilhelm von Siemens dreamed up the concept in 1918. It avoids drawing comparison with a sales tax by only taxing the value added at each stage of production.4. VAT exemption fails include Lucozade, who failed in their quest to be classified as a 'functional food', Innocent trying to pull off their smoothies as a 'liquified fruit salad' and Pringles who insisted that their crisps were not actually made of potato...5. Donations to charity, MOT testing and National Insurance contributions are all outside the scope of VAT.6. VAT is a requirement of EU membership. From December 2015 no country is permitted to charge a VAT rate below 15%.7. The interpretation of tax law on food has lead to some very high profile court cases including the famous 'pastygate' affair and also the Jaffa Cakes brand taking matters to a tribunal to argue that they should be classified as a 'chocolate covered cake' (0% VAT) as opposed to a 'chocolate covered buscuit' (20% VAT)8. Pringles went all the way to the court of appeal to claim that their crisps were 'not made from potato' to avoid having to charge 20% VAT on their product.