PureTools
VAT Calculator 2026 rates
Multi-tier VAT, GST and sales tax calculator covering 50+ countries with official 2026 rates. Single calc, bulk invoice mode, reverse detection of tax rate from any net/gross pair.
| Description | Net amount | Rate (%) | Tax | Gross |
|---|
Enter any two of the three values (net, gross, or already-known rate) and we will compute the third. With net + gross, we also identify which countries use the detected rate.
| Country | Tax | Standard | Reduced | Super / Zero |
|---|
Sources: European Commission TEDB, HMRC, OECD, national tax authorities. Rates current as of January 2026.
How to use the VAT Calculator
- Pick a mode from the tabs: Single (one-off calculation), Bulk Invoice (multi-line invoices with mixed rates), Reverse Detect (find the rate from gross/net), or All Rates (a full searchable table).
- In Single mode, the English site starts with the United States by default. You can choose any country preset, pick the tier or state base rate, and enter the amount.
- Toggle between Add tax (you have a net price and want the gross) and Remove tax (you have the gross and want to extract the net and tax).
- For Bulk mode, add as many invoice lines as you need. Each line has its own description, net amount and rate, mix standard and reduced rates freely. Subtotals update live.
- Reverse Detect takes a net + gross pair and tells you the implied tax rate, plus a shortlist of countries that use that exact rate.
Multi-tier rates: why it matters
Most online VAT calculators only handle a single standard rate per country. But every serious VAT regime layers multiple bands. France has four (20% / 10% / 5.5% / 2.1%), Ireland has four (23% / 13.5% / 9% / 4.8%), Italy has four (22% / 10% / 5% / 4%). The right rate depends on what you sell, basic food in France is 5.5%, while restaurant meals are 10%, and most retail goods are 20%. Picking the wrong tier on an invoice is one of the most common VAT compliance errors. This tool exposes every tier explicitly so you can pick the right one with confidence.
VAT vs sales tax vs GST
- VAT (Value Added Tax): applied at every stage of the supply chain, with businesses reclaiming VAT on inputs. Used in the EU, UK, Norway, Switzerland, most of Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
- Sales tax: applied only at the final retail sale. The United States is the main developed economy that uses it. Rates are set by states (and sometimes cities), ranging from 0% to over 10%.
- GST (Goods and Services Tax): functionally identical to VAT, just a different name. Used in Australia (10%), New Zealand (15%), Canada (5% federal + provincial), Singapore (9%), India (multi-tier 0–28%).
Common VAT formulas
- Add tax: Gross = Net × (1 + r / 100)
- Remove tax: Net = Gross / (1 + r / 100)
- Tax amount from net: Tax = Net × r / 100
- Tax amount from gross: Tax = Gross − Net
- Detect rate: r = (Gross / Net − 1) × 100
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate VAT from a gross amount?
To extract VAT from a gross amount, divide the gross by (1 + rate / 100), then subtract from the gross to get the VAT portion. For 20% VAT on a £120 gross: net = £120 / 1.20 = £100, and VAT = £120 − £100 = £20. The Single Calculation mode does this automatically when you select Remove Tax.
What is the difference between standard, reduced and super-reduced VAT rates?
The standard rate applies to most goods and services, for example 20% in France or the UK, 19% in Germany, 22% in Italy. Reduced rates (typically 5–13%) apply to essentials such as food, books, medicines and public transport. Super-reduced rates (below 5%) cover a narrow list of items in a few countries, France 2.1% on certain medicines and newspapers, Italy 4% on basic foods, Spain 4% on essentials, Luxembourg 3% on certain goods. Each country defines its own categories.
How accurate is the Reverse Detect mode?
Reverse Detect computes the implied VAT rate from a net and gross pair using rate = (gross / net − 1) × 100. The math is exact. The tool then highlights known countries that match the detected rate within a small tolerance. Because many countries share the same standard rate (for example 20% applies in the UK, France, Austria, Slovakia and several others), the result is a list of candidates rather than a single answer.
Are the 2026 rates official?
Rates are taken from the European Commission Taxes in Europe Database, HMRC, the OECD VAT/GST guide and national tax authorities, current as of January 2026. They cover the EU27, UK, Norway, Switzerland, plus 25+ major non-European jurisdictions. For binding tax decisions always verify with the official authority of your country, since rates can change mid-year.
How does the US sales tax option work?
The United States has no federal VAT or GST, sales tax is set by each state and often topped up by city/county rates. Pick United States and then your state from the dropdown to apply the state base rate (Tax Foundation, January 2026). The 15 most populous states are listed (covering ~67% of the US population). For a city or county that adds a local surcharge, for example Chicago at 10.25% combined or Los Angeles at 9.5%, switch to Custom Rate and enter the exact combined percentage. Five states have no statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon.
Can I use this tool for invoices?
Yes, switch to Bulk Mode. You can add as many invoice lines as you need, each with its own description, net amount and tax rate (mixing standard, reduced and zero-rated lines as required), and the tool computes per-line VAT plus the global subtotal, total VAT and grand total. Use Copy Summary to paste a clean breakdown into your accounting system or email. To estimate advance cash and fees on unpaid invoices, see the Invoice Factoring Calculator.
Does VAT apply to cross-border sales between EU businesses?
B2B sales between VAT-registered businesses in different EU member states are generally zero-rated for VAT under the intra-community supply rules, provided both parties have valid VAT registration numbers. The buyer accounts for the tax locally under the reverse charge mechanism, where they effectively act as both buyer and seller for VAT purposes on their own return. This means the seller charges 0% VAT on the invoice, and the buyer reports the equivalent VAT as both input and output tax. Services sold between EU businesses follow the same principle under the general B2B place of supply rule. This tool calculates the VAT amounts for a given rate and direction; for the question of whether a specific rate or zero-rating applies to your transaction, always confirm with a qualified tax advisor or your national tax authority, as rules differ by product category and country.