Remove VAT from £30
£30 gross contains £5 of VAT, leaving £25 net. Use the calculator below to extract VAT from any gross amount.
To remove UK VAT, divide the gross (VAT-inclusive) amount by 1 + (rate ÷ 100). At the standard 20% rate that is ÷ 1.20, so £30 ÷ 1.20 = £25 net, and the VAT is £30 − £25 = £5.
A common mistake is to subtract 20% from the gross — that under-removes the VAT, because the 20% was charged on the smaller net figure, not the gross.
How it works.
Formula: net = gross ÷ (1 + rate ÷ 100); VAT = gross − net.
- Divide by 1.20: £30 ÷ 1.20 = £25 net.
- VAT element: £30 − £25 = £5.
- Check: £25 × 1.20 = £30.
Worked examples
£30 gross − 20% VAT = £25 net — the VAT element of the £30 total is £5.
Reading a receipt — a £30 VAT-inclusive total breaks down as £25 net plus £5 VAT.
Why divide, not subtract 20% — the VAT is 20% of the net, not of the gross. Divide the gross by 1.20: £30 ÷ 1.20 = £25.
Sources:
HMRC VAT rates
· retrieved 2026-06-18.
Frequently asked questions
How much VAT is in £30?
£5. With 20% VAT included, divide the gross by 1.20 to get the net (£30 ÷ 1.20 = £25), then the VAT is the difference: £30 − £25 = £5.
What is £30 minus VAT?
£25 net. Removing 20% VAT means dividing by 1.20, not subtracting 20% — subtracting 20% would give the wrong answer because the VAT is a fraction of the net.
What is the VAT fraction for 20%?
One-sixth. At 20%, the VAT in any gross amount is gross × 1/6. For £30 that is £30 × 1/6 = £5, matching the divide-by-1.20 method.