Reverse VAT Calculator
Extract the net amount and VAT from a VAT-inclusive (gross) price.
When a price already includes VAT, this calculator works backwards to find the original net amount and the tax portion. Enter the gross (VAT-inclusive) price and the VAT rate to break it down — handy for invoices, expenses and bookkeeping.
Formula / method
Examples
100 net + 20 VAT
200 net + 36 VAT
Working backwards from the gross price
A normal VAT calculation adds tax on top of a net price. This tool does the reverse: it starts from the tax-inclusive (gross) total and pulls out the net amount and the VAT. The formula is Net = Gross / (1 + rate/100), and then VAT = Gross - Net. At a 20% rate, a gross price of 120 breaks down into a net of 100 and 20 of VAT.
The mistake to avoid
A very common error is to take 20% of the gross figure and call it the VAT. On a gross of 120 that gives 24, and a net of 96, which is wrong, because VAT is charged as a percentage of the net price, not the gross. Dividing by 1.20 is the correct step. This is exactly what you need for receipts that only show a total, expense claims, or invoicing. To add VAT to a net figure instead, use the standard VAT Calculator.
Where it's used
- Splitting a VAT-inclusive receipt total into the net price and the tax for bookkeeping
- Filling out an expense claim that needs the tax portion separated
- Finding the ex-VAT price when only the gross shelf price is shown
- Reconciling supplier invoices that quote a gross total
- Checking how much VAT is embedded in a purchase
Real-world examples
- A gross price of 120 at 20% VAT breaks into 100 net plus 20 VAT
- A 236 total including 18% VAT is 200 net plus 36 VAT
- Dividing the gross by 1.20, rather than taking 20% of the gross, is the correct step
A bit of history
Value-added tax was devised by French tax official Maurice Lauré, who first implemented it in 1954; France later rolled it out domestically, and VAT is now used in more than 150 countries.
FAQ
How is this different from the Sales Tax calculator?
The Sales Tax tool adds tax to a net price. This one does the reverse: it strips VAT out of a price that already includes it.