French VAT Calculator (Net to Gross)
Written by Thierno Sadou Diallo, formula verified per our methodology • Last checked on 9/3/2026
To go from a net (tax-excluded) amount to a gross (tax-included) amount, multiply the net amount by the VAT rate, then add that result to the net amount. Example: €100 net at a 20% VAT rate gives €20 of VAT, for a €120 gross total.
Explanation
VAT (Value Added Tax, TVA in French) is a consumption tax added to the net price of a good or service. France applies four rates: 20% for most goods and services (standard rate), 10% for restaurants and certain renovation work (intermediate rate), 5.5% for essential goods like food (reduced rate), and 2.1% for reimbursed medicines and the press (special rate). The applicable rate depends on the nature of the good or service, not on who is buying it. Once the right rate is identified, the calculation is a standard percentage calculation applied to an amount: net amount × rate = VAT amount, then net amount + VAT amount = gross amount — the same logic as our discount calculator, but adding the percentage instead of subtracting it. These are specifically the rates set by the French tax authorities for mainland France; VAT and sales tax rates vary widely from one country to another.
Example: a €100 net invoice at the standard rate
Inputs
Net amount: €100. VAT rate: 20%.
Calculation
First calculate the VAT amount: €100 × 20% = 100 × 0.20 = €20. Then add that amount to the net price: €100 + €20 = €120.
Result
The VAT amount is €20, for a gross total of €120.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate the net amount from a gross price?
This is the reverse calculation: net amount = gross amount ÷ (1 + rate/100). For example, for a €120 gross amount at 20%, the net amount is 120 ÷ 1.20 = €100. This calculator goes from net to gross; the reverse calculation follows the same proportional logic.
Which VAT rate applies to my purchase?
The rate depends on the nature of the good or service, not the type of buyer: 20% by default, 10% for restaurants and certain renovation work, 5.5% for food and books, 2.1% for reimbursed medicines. When in doubt, the invoice or receipt always shows the rate applied.
Does a business really pay VAT?
A VAT-registered business collects it from its customers and then remits it to the government, after deducting the VAT it has itself paid on its own business purchases. In practice, it is the end consumer who bears the cost of the tax.
Are these rates the same everywhere in France?
No: Corsica and the overseas departments and regions apply specific VAT rates, generally lower than those of mainland France. This calculator uses mainland France rates.