Ireland & UK VAT Calculator
Our free online VAT calculator lets you add VAT, remove VAT, and calculate VAT backwards for both Ireland and the UK in seconds. Whether you need a gross figure with tax included or the net of VAT amount stripped out of a total, this Irish VAT calculator and VAT calculator UK tool handles every rate from 23% down to 0%. Just pick your country, choose a mode, and enter your amount.
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Add VAT
Adding VAT means applying the tax on top of a net (ex VAT) price to find the gross, tax-inclusive total a customer pays. The formula is:
Gross = Net × (1 + Rate/100)
For example, to add 23% VAT to a net price of €100, multiply €100 by 1.23. The result is €123.00 gross, made up of €100 net plus €23 in VAT. This is the standard calculation any business uses to display tax-inclusive prices.
Remove VAT
Removing VAT (also called calculating backwards) means working out the original net, price-excluding-VAT figure from a gross total that already includes tax. A common mistake is to simply subtract 23% from the gross price, but this gives the wrong answer, because the 23% was originally added to the smaller net figure, not the larger gross one. To deduct VAT correctly and take VAT off a price, use:
Net = Gross ÷ (1 + Rate/100)
For example, to remove 23% VAT from €123, divide €123 by 1.23. The result is €100.00 net, meaning the VAT portion was €23.00. Subtracting 23% of €123 would have wrongly given €94.71, which is why the formula to remove VAT matters.
Comprehensive VAT Guide for Ireland & UK
Value Added Tax (VAT) is a consumption tax charged on the sale of goods and services. Understanding rates, thresholds, and cross-border trade calculations is critical for businesses operating in Ireland, Dublin, Northern Ireland, and Great Britain.
Understanding VAT in Ireland
Value Added Tax in Ireland is administered by the Revenue Commissioners, the national tax and customs authority. Businesses must register for VAT once their turnover exceeds the relevant threshold — currently €42,500 for services and €85,000 for goods in a twelve-month period — though voluntary registration below these limits is also permitted (see our complete VAT Thresholds Ireland guide). Once registered, a business charges VAT on its sales, reclaims VAT on eligible purchases, and files periodic returns with Revenue.
Standard Rate: 23%
The 23% standard rate is the default rate and applies to most goods and services that do not fall into a reduced or zero-rated category (see the full breakdown of VAT Rates Ireland). This covers items such as electronics, furniture, adult clothing, alcohol, soft drinks, bottled water, cosmetics, motor vehicles, fuel, and most professional and consumer services.
Reduced Rate: 13.5%
The 13.5% reduced rate applies to a range of goods and services including building and construction work, general repair and maintenance, hotel and short-term holiday accommodation, and many tourism-related supplies. It also covers fuel for heating and light such as oil and solid fuels, along with certain other labour-intensive services. Non-EU visitors purchasing items under this category may qualify for tax-free shopping rebates through the VAT Refund Ireland Retail Export Scheme.
Second Reduced Rate: 9%
The 9% second reduced rate applies to gas and electricity supplies (extended to 31 December 2030; see details on VAT on Electricity Ireland), newspapers, e-books, sporting facilities, and the sale of completed apartments. Effective 1 July 2026, restaurant and catering services, hot takeaway food, and hairdressing services were permanently reduced from 13.5% to 9%. Note that hotel accommodation remains at 13.5%, and alcohol served with a meal stays at 23%.
UK VAT Rates Explained
VAT in the United Kingdom is administered by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), and businesses must register once taxable turnover passes the £90,000 threshold. Northern Ireland operates under special arrangements set out in the Windsor Framework, meaning it follows UK VAT rates for most purposes while remaining aligned with certain EU VAT rules for goods, which affects trade between NI, Great Britain, and the Republic of Ireland (verify NI and EU trader registrations via our VIES VAT Checker).
Standard Rate: 20%
The 20% standard rate is the default UK rate and applies to the majority of goods and services, including electronics, adult clothing, furniture, alcohol, catering, most professional services, and non-essential consumer purchases. If a product or service is not specifically listed as reduced-rated, zero-rated, or exempt, the 20% rate applies.
Reduced Rate: 5%
The 5% reduced rate applies to domestic fuel and power such as household gas and electricity, energy-saving materials, and certain residential conversions. It also covers children's car seats and other child safety items, along with mobility aids for older people and some smoking-cessation products.
Zero Rate: 0%
The zero rate applies to most food and drink (excluding restaurant meals, hot takeaways, and confectionery), books, newspapers, and printed matter, as well as children's clothing and footwear. Zero-rated supplies are still taxable — businesses record them and can reclaim input VAT — but the rate charged to the customer is 0%.
How to Use Our VAT Calculator
Getting a result takes only a few steps:
- Select your country — choose Ireland or the UK so the correct preset rates load.
- Choose your mode — select "Add VAT" to apply tax to a net figure, or "Remove VAT" to strip tax out of a gross total.
- Enter your amount — type the figure you want to work from into the input field.
- Choose a rate — pick a preset (23%, 13.5%, 9%, 20%, 5%, or 0%) or enter your own custom rate.
- Copy your results — the net, VAT, and gross amounts calculate instantly; use the copy button to grab any value.
- Check the history log — review your recent calculations in the on-screen history to compare figures without re-entering data.
Frequently Asked Questions
To remove 23% VAT from a price in Ireland, divide the gross amount by 1.23. For example, €123 divided by 1.23 gives a net price of €100, meaning €23 was VAT. Do not subtract 23% directly, as this overstates the deduction and gives an incorrect net figure.
The VAT rate in Dublin is the same as everywhere else in the Republic of Ireland, since VAT is set nationally rather than by city. The standard rate is 23%, with reduced rates of 13.5% and 9% applying to specific goods and services, and a 0% rate on certain essentials.
Northern Ireland uses UK VAT rates — a 20% standard rate, 5% reduced rate, and 0% zero rate — administered by HMRC. Under the Windsor Framework, NI stays aligned with certain EU VAT rules for goods, which affects cross-border trade with the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain, but services follow standard UK rules.
To calculate VAT backwards, divide the gross (tax-inclusive) price by 1 plus the rate as a decimal. For 23%, divide by 1.23; for 20%, divide by 1.20. This gives the net price, and subtracting the net from the gross reveals the VAT amount that was included in the total.
Adding 23% VAT to €100 gives €23 of VAT and a €123 gross total, while adding 20% VAT to £100 gives £20 of VAT and a £120 gross total. If €100 or £100 is instead the gross figure, the VAT already included is €18.70 (Ireland) or £16.67 (UK).