VAT Calculator South Africa
Instantly add or remove South African 15% VAT from any amount. Switch between "Add VAT" and "Remove VAT" modes to calculate the VAT amount, VAT-inclusive price, or VAT-exclusive price.
Quick Calculator Get a fast estimate
R
Amount Incl. VAT
R 1 150
Amount Excl. VAT
R 1 000
VAT Amount (15%)
R 150
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How to Use the VAT Calculator
- Add VAT tab: Enter a VAT-exclusive amount. The calculator shows the VAT amount and final VAT-inclusive price.
- Remove VAT tab: Enter a VAT-inclusive amount (what the customer pays). The calculator extracts the VAT component and shows the price before VAT.
- All calculations use the current South African VAT rate of 15%.
The Extended Calculator below adds an Invoice Builder and Bulk Calculator. The Professional Calculator provides full input/output VAT tracking and a VAT201 return summary.
Need more detail?
Extended Calculator More options, charts, and scenario comparison
| Description | Qty | Unit Price | VAT Type | Subtotal | VAT (15%) | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R 10 000,00 | R 1 500,00 | R 11 500,00 | |||||
| R 1 000,00 | R 150,00 | R 1 150,00 | |||||
| Subtotal (excl. VAT) | R 11 000,00 | ||||||
| VAT @ 15% | R 1 650,00 | ||||||
| Grand Total (incl. VAT) | R 12 650,00 | ||||||
VAT Formulas
Adding VAT:
- VAT Amount = Price excl. VAT × 0.15
- Price incl. VAT = Price excl. VAT × 1.15
Removing VAT:
- Price excl. VAT = Price incl. VAT ÷ 1.15
- VAT Amount = Price incl. VAT − Price excl. VAT
Important: When removing VAT, you must divide by 1.15, not multiply by 15%. Multiplying gives the wrong answer.
Worked Examples
Adding VAT: A contractor quotes R8,500 excluding VAT.
- VAT: R8,500 × 15% = R1,275
- Total invoice: R8,500 + R1,275 = R9,775
Removing VAT: A till slip shows R345 (VAT inclusive).
- Price excl. VAT: R345 ÷ 1.15 = R300
- VAT component: R345 − R300 = R45
Need full precision?
Professional Calculator Complete parameters, sensitivity analysis, and detailed breakdown
Settings
Output Tax (Sales / Revenue)
| Description | Amount | VAT Type | Excl. VAT | VAT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R 130 434,78 | R 19 565,22 | ||||
| R 30 000,00 | R 0,00 |
Input Tax (Purchases / Expenses)
| Description | Amount | VAT Type | Excl. VAT | VAT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R 17 391,30 | R 2 608,70 | ||||
| R 39 130,43 | R 5 869,57 |
VAT Payable to SARS
R 11 086,96
Output VAT (Collected)
R 19 565,22
Input VAT (Claimable)
R 8 478,26
Total Sales (excl.)
R 160 434,78
Zero-Rated Sales
R 30 000,00
VAT201 Return Summary
| VAT201 Field | Amount |
|---|---|
| Field 1: Standard-rated supplies (excl.) | R 130 434,78 |
| Field 1A: Zero-rated supplies | R 30 000,00 |
| Field 1B: Exempt supplies | R 0,00 |
| Output VAT (Output tax) | R 19 565,22 |
| Input VAT (Input tax claimed) | R 8 478,26 |
| Net VAT Payable | R 11 086,96 |
Frequently Asked Questions
The standard VAT rate is 15%, in effect since 1 April 2018 (increased from 14%).
Multiply the excl. VAT price by 1.15. Example: R1,000 × 1.15 = R1,150 incl. VAT.
Divide the incl. VAT price by 1.15. Example: R1,150 ÷ 1.15 = R1,000 excl. VAT. Do NOT multiply by 15% — that gives the wrong result.
Zero-rated items include basic foods (brown bread, maize meal, fresh vegetables). Exempt supplies include residential rentals and some financial and educational services.
Compulsory registration when taxable supplies exceed R1 million in 12 months. Voluntary registration is possible from R50,000/year in taxable supplies.