Germany VAT Calculator

If you sell to customers in Germany, or you buy from a German supplier, VAT is part of almost every price you see. Germany calls this tax Mehrwertsteuer, usually shortened to MwSt, and it works the same way as VAT in other countries. The seller adds it to the net price, the buyer pays the gross price, and a VAT registered business settles the difference with the tax office. This page explains the German rates in plain language and gives you a calculator that adds or removes German VAT in seconds.

Use the tool above when you need a quick answer. Type any amount in euros, choose Add VAT or Remove VAT, and the calculator shows the net amount, the VAT amount, and the gross amount. It uses the standard German rate of 19 percent, which covers most goods and services. The rest of this page explains when the reduced rate of 7 percent applies, shows a worked example, and covers the registration and invoicing basics that matter if you sell in Germany. If you sell across Europe, our EU VAT calculator compares the standard rates across the member states, and our UK VAT calculator covers the rates that apply in the United Kingdom. You can also return to the VAT calculator homepage at any time for the full set of tools.

German VAT rates: standard and reduced

Germany has two VAT rates. The standard rate is 19 percent and it applies to most goods and services, from electronics and clothing to restaurant meals and most professional services. The reduced rate is 7 percent and it applies to a narrower list of everyday essentials and cultural goods. Knowing which rate fits your sale matters, because the wrong rate means the wrong price and the wrong VAT return.

The 7 percent reduced rate covers categories such as most food and non alcoholic drinks sold for home use, books and newspapers, public transport on local routes, and some cultural and social services. The exact scope is set by German tax law, and borderline cases exist, so check the category for your product before you pick a rate. Hot food served in a restaurant, for example, is treated differently from cold food bought in a shop, and digital books can fall under different rules from printed books. When a product could sit in either category, the wording of the law decides, not the way the product is marketed.

The calculator on this page uses the standard rate of 19 percent, because that is the rate most sellers meet most often. If your sale qualifies for the 7 percent rate, work out the VAT by hand with the same method shown in the worked example below, or ask your tax adviser to confirm the category. Reduced rates exist for some goods and services, and the calculator note above the results reminds you of that.

How to use the Germany VAT calculator

The tool takes seconds once you know what each option does:

1. Enter the amount. Type the price in euros. Use the net amount if you want to add VAT, or the gross amount if you want to remove VAT.
2. Choose Add VAT or Remove VAT. Add VAT starts from the net price and adds 19 percent. Remove VAT starts from the gross price and pulls the VAT back out.
3. Read the three results. The tool shows the net amount, the VAT amount, and the gross amount, so you can copy the figure you need into a quote, an invoice, or a receipt check.

Worked example: 100 euros at 19 percent

A simple example shows the maths. Suppose you sell a lamp in Germany for a net price of 100 euros, and the standard rate applies.

• VAT: 100 euros times 19 percent equals 19 euros.
• Gross price: 100 euros plus 19 euros equals 119 euros.

So the customer pays 119 euros, and 19 euros of that is VAT. Going the other way, start from a gross price of 119 euros. The VAT inside that price is 119 euros times 19 divided by 119, which is 19 euros, and the net price is 119 euros minus 19 euros, which is 100 euros. The calculator does both directions for you, and it rounds the results to the cent, which keeps your invoices tidy.

Registration and invoicing basics in Germany

If you run a business that sells goods or services in Germany, you may need to register for VAT with the German tax office. Registration matters because it lets you charge VAT on your sales and reclaim the VAT you pay on business purchases, and because your invoices must show the correct VAT details. The rules depend on where your business is based, what you sell, and how much you sell, so check your own position before you start trading.

Germany also runs a small business scheme called the Kleinunternehmerregelung. Businesses that use this scheme do not charge VAT on their sales and cannot reclaim VAT on their purchases. The scheme exists to keep the paperwork light for very small businesses, and it has eligibility conditions tied to turnover. If you think the scheme could fit your business, check the current conditions with the tax office or your adviser, because the limits and the details change over time.

A German VAT invoice normally shows the seller name and address, the buyer name and address, a sequential invoice number, the date of issue, a description of the goods or services, the net amount, the VAT rate applied, the VAT amount, and the gross amount. Keep copies of your invoices and your VAT records, because the tax office can ask to see them later. If you sell to customers in other countries, read our EU VAT calculator page for the cross border rules that apply inside the European Union.

Frequently asked questions

Final Thoughts

German VAT is simple once you know the two rates and the two directions of the calculation. Most sales use 19 percent, a smaller list uses 7 percent, and the calculator above handles the standard rate for you in both directions. Work through the example with your own figures, check the category when a reduced rate might apply, and keep your invoices complete. If you also sell into other markets, the EU VAT calculator and the UK VAT calculator on this site can help you price those sales correctly.