VAT Calculator
Add or remove VAT on any amount in seconds. Works with Indian GST rates — 5%, 12%, 18% or 28% — on bills and invoices.
VAT amount
₹3,600
Net price
₹20,000
Gross price
₹23,600
In India the equivalent tax is GST — use this tool with the GST slab that applies to your product (5%, 12%, 18% or 28%). Businesses quote prices either way, so the toggle makes both directions easy.
Last updated: March 2026
How this calculator is verified
Checked by True Calculator automated test suite on
- Formula verified against a published worked example in the automated test suite
- Edge cases (zero, negative, boundary and unit-mismatch inputs) covered by unit tests
The full verification method is on our how we verify page. Found an error? Tell us and we will re-check it.
When to Use This Calculator
Use the VAT calculator for any price that carries an indirect tax, whether you call it VAT or GST. In India it is a GST calculator in all but name: restaurant bills, hotel stays, appliance purchases and professional invoices all carry rates that this tool can add or strip out. The remove direction is the one most people skip and most need — when a bill shows only a total, this reveals the taxable value and the tax inside it, which is what you need for expense claims, input tax credit and simply knowing what you are paying. Vendors pricing a product can work the other way, from a desired after-tax price to the pre-tax number. Freelancers who quote 'inclusive' or 'exclusive' of GST will find the toggle indispensable for keeping the two straight.
How to Use This Calculator
- Step 1: Choose whether the price you know already includes tax (with VAT) or does not (without VAT).
- Step 2: Enter the amount.
- Step 3: Enter the applicable rate — in India use the GST slab: 5%, 12%, 18% or 28%.
- Step 4: Read the VAT amount, the net price and the gross price for either direction.
Worked Example
A service quoted at ₹20,000 without tax at 18% attracts ₹3,600 of GST, making the gross price ₹23,600. Worked backwards, a bill of ₹23,600 that includes 18% tax contains exactly ₹3,600 of tax, so the taxable value is ₹20,000. The two directions are the same formula reversed, which is why the toggle matters: vendors quote one way, bills arrive the other way, and you should be able to read either.
Tips and Common Mistakes
- •Tip 1: GST is charged on the discounted price, so compute discounts before running the tax.
- •Tip 2: For intra-state sales the 18% splits into 9% CGST and 9% SGST; inter-state or imports attract 18% IGST.
- •Tip 3: Exports and certain essentials are zero-rated — check the rate before assuming 18%.
- ✗Mistake 1: Do not add GST to a price that already includes it — that double-counts the tax.
- ✗Mistake 2: Do not use a single rate for everything; food, services and luxury goods fall in different slabs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is VAT the same as GST in India?
GST replaced most state VAT in 2017, but the maths is identical: a percentage tax added to the selling price. Use the GST slab that applies to your product — 5%, 12%, 18% or 28% — and this tool behaves like a GST calculator.
What is the difference between 'add' and 'remove' VAT?
Add takes a price without tax and works out the tax and gross price. Remove starts from a price that already includes tax and works out the underlying net price and the tax inside it — useful when a bill shows one total.
When would I need to remove VAT from a price?
When you see a single price and need the taxable value — for example a restaurant bill that shows service charge and taxes on top, or a quote where the supplier says 'inclusive of GST'.
Is VAT charged on the discounted price or the original price?
GST is charged on the price actually paid after discounts, not on the printed MRP. If you buy a ₹2,500 item at 20% off, GST applies to the discounted ₹2,000.
Does the rate vary by product?
Yes. Essentials like cereals sit at 0%, services like hotels and restaurants at 5% or 18%, and most consumer goods at 18%, with luxury goods at 28%. Check the GST Council rate for your HSN or SAC code.
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