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Germany VAT calculator

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Standard rate 19%, reduced rate 7% (for example most food, books and local transport). Amounts are rounded to the cent.

Your amount is

VAT rate

Gross amount

€119

€100 net plus 19% VAT (€19.00) makes €119 gross.

Net
€100
VAT
€19.00
Gross
€119
Net84%€100VAT16%€19.00

The same net amount at each rate

RateNetVATGross
19%€100.00€19.00€119.00
7%€100.00€7.00€107.00
0%€100.00€0.00€100.00

How German VAT works

VAT is added on top of the net price. Germany has two rates: 19% standard, and 7% for basics such as food, books and local transport tickets.

From net to gross, multiply by 1.19 or 1.07. A laptop at €840 net costs €999.60 gross, with €159.60 VAT. From gross to net, divide by the same factor: €50 gross at 7% is €46.73 net and €3.27 VAT.

A common mistake is to take 19% off the gross price. On €119 that gives €22.61 instead of the correct €19. The VAT share of a gross price is 19/119, about 15.97%, or 7/107, about 6.54%, at the reduced rate.

Invoices between businesses usually focus on the net amount, because the buyer reclaims the VAT from the tax office. Private customers pay the gross price. For tax on your pay, which is a different thing, see the Germany net salary calculator.

Sources

What this calculator does not account for

  • Special schemes such as margin taxation, intra-EU supplies or reverse charge.
  • Rounding per line on invoices with many items.

How this is calculated

Formula: German VAT

gross =net × (1 + rate) · net =gross ÷ (1 + rate)

What the symbols mean

  • netPrice before VAT.
  • grossPrice including VAT, the price you pay in a shop.
  • rate19% standard or 7% reduced, as a decimal 0.19 or 0.07.

Good to know

  • The VAT inside a gross price is not 19% of it but gross × 19 ÷ 119.
  • For other countries and Indian GST, use the GST and VAT calculator.

Read the full methodologyFound an error? Contact us

Worked examples

Each example is worked out by the same code as the calculator above.

€840 net, 19%

€160 VAT, €1,000 gross.

€50 gross, 7%

€46.73 net and €3.27 VAT.

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Questions

How do I take 19% VAT out of a gross price?

Divide the gross price by 1.19. €119 gross is €100 net, and the VAT is €19.

When does the 7% rate apply?

Among others for most food, books and newspapers, local public transport and hotel nights. Restaurant food is back at 7% since 2026; drinks in restaurants stay at 19%.

Is Mehrwertsteuer the same as Umsatzsteuer?

Yes. Umsatzsteuer is the legal term and Mehrwertsteuer the everyday one. Both mean the same tax.

Why is 19% of the gross price not the VAT?

Because the 19% is added to the net price. Of €119, €19 is VAT, which is only about 15.97% of the gross.

Do small businesses have to charge VAT?

Not under the small business rule (§ 19 UStG), as long as turnover stays under the limits. Their invoices show no VAT, so choose 0%.