How to use the VAT calculator
- Choose Add VAT if you have a price before tax, or Remove VAT if you have a total that already includes tax.
- Type the amount.
- Keep the rate at 15% for Saudi Arabia, tap another rate, or type your own.
The results update as you type. Use Copy results to paste them into an invoice, a message or a spreadsheet.
The formulas
Adding VAT to a price before tax:
- VAT = price × rate ÷ 100
- Total = price + VAT
Removing VAT from a total that includes tax:
- Price before VAT = total ÷ (1 + rate ÷ 100)
- VAT = total − price before VAT
At 15%, that means dividing the total by 1.15. To get just the VAT from a total, use total × 15 ÷ 115.
Worked examples at 15%
| You have | Price before VAT | VAT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| A price of 1,000 SAR | 1,000.00 | 150.00 | 1,150.00 |
| A price of 249 SAR | 249.00 | 37.35 | 286.35 |
| A total of 575 SAR | 500.00 | 75.00 | 575.00 |
| A total of 99 SAR | 86.09 | 12.91 | 99.00 |
A common mistake
Many people remove VAT by taking 15% off the total. That gives the wrong answer, because the 15% was added to the smaller, pre-tax price. On a total of 1,150 SAR, taking off 15% leaves 977.50 SAR, while the real price before VAT is 1,000 SAR.
The VAT inside any total at 15% is always about 13.04% of that total (15 ÷ 115).
VAT in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf
Saudi Arabia introduced VAT on 1 January 2018 at 5% and raised the standard rate to 15% on 1 July 2020. Some goods and services are zero-rated or exempt, so not everything carries 15%. For official rules on registration and invoicing, check the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA).
Other Gulf countries use different rates: 5% in the UAE and Oman, and 10% in Bahrain. Rates can change, so confirm with each country’s tax authority before you rely on them.