The Saudi Arabia VAT calculator works out value added tax (VAT) on any amount at the rate you enter. The standard VAT rate in Saudi Arabia is 15%, and the calculator uses 15% by default, but you can change it to any rate. Choose whether to add VAT to a price that does not yet include it, or to remove VAT from a price that already includes it. The result shows the VAT amount, the amount before VAT, and the total including VAT, so you can check a receipt, a quote, or an invoice in seconds.
How VAT Works in Saudi Arabia
VAT is a tax charged on most goods and services in Saudi Arabia. A business that is registered for VAT charges it on top of its selling price and passes the tax to the tax authority, after deducting the VAT it paid on its own purchases. The standard rate is 15%. Some supplies are zero-rated or exempt, which means no VAT is charged on them, but the treatment depends on the type of supply and the rules that apply to it. This calculator does not decide whether a particular supply is taxable, zero-rated, or exempt. It only does the arithmetic once you know the rate that applies.
There are two directions, and mixing them up is the most common mistake. Adding VAT means the amount you enter is the price before tax: VAT equals the amount multiplied by the rate, and the total is the amount plus the VAT. Removing VAT means the amount you enter already includes tax: the amount before VAT equals the total divided by one plus the rate, and the VAT is the difference between the total and the amount before VAT. Dividing by 1.15 is not the same as deducting 15%, and this calculator keeps the two directions separate so the result is always the right one.
How to Use the Calculator
- Enter the amount. Use the price before VAT if you want to add VAT, or the VAT-inclusive price if you want to remove VAT.
- Check the VAT rate. It defaults to 15%. Change it if a different rate applies to your supply.
- Choose Add VAT or Remove VAT from the calculation list.
- Press Calculate and read the VAT amount, the amount before VAT, and the total including VAT.
Worked Example
A shop quotes a price of 1,000 riyals before VAT. At the standard rate of 15%, the VAT is 1,000 multiplied by 0.15, which is 150 riyals, and the total including VAT is 1,150 riyals. The other way round, a receipt shows 1,150 riyals including VAT. Removing VAT gives an amount before VAT of 1,150 divided by 1.15, which is 1,000 riyals, and the VAT included in the receipt is 150 riyals. Both directions agree, as they should, because they are the same calculation run in reverse. Try changing the rate to 5% to see how the same amount behaves under a lower rate: 1,000 riyals before VAT gives 50 riyals of VAT and a total of 1,050 riyals.
Checking a Receipt or Invoice
To check a receipt, enter the total shown on it, choose Remove VAT, and compare the VAT amount the calculator gives with the VAT printed on the receipt. If the two figures differ, the receipt may include items at different rates, items that are exempt, or a discount applied before or after VAT, so ask the seller for an itemized breakdown before assuming an error. To price your own goods or services, enter your price before VAT, choose Add VAT, and use the total as the price your customer pays. Keep the amount before VAT and the VAT separate in your records, because that is how VAT returns are prepared.
Who Uses This Calculator
Shoppers use it to check that the VAT on a receipt is correct and to know the true price of a purchase before tax. Small business owners use it to set VAT-inclusive prices, prepare quotes, and check supplier invoices. Freelancers and contractors use it to add VAT to an invoice only when they are registered for VAT and the supply is taxable. Accountants use it as a quick cross-check while preparing returns. In every case, the calculator is an arithmetic aid only. It is not tax advice, and the rate and treatment that apply to a particular supply should be confirmed with the current rules or a qualified adviser.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the VAT rate in Saudi Arabia?
The standard VAT rate in Saudi Arabia is 15%. This calculator defaults to 15%, and you can change the rate if a different rate applies to your supply.
How do I add VAT to a price?
Enter the price before VAT, set the rate, choose Add VAT, and press Calculate. The VAT is the price multiplied by the rate, and the total is the price plus the VAT.
How do I remove VAT from a price?
Enter the VAT-inclusive price, set the rate, choose Remove VAT, and press Calculate. The amount before VAT is the total divided by one plus the rate, and the VAT is the difference.
Is 15% of 1,150 the same as the VAT included in 1,150?
No. The VAT included in a total of 1,150 riyals at 15% is 150 riyals, not 172.50. To remove VAT you divide by 1.15; deducting 15% of the total gives the wrong answer.
Does this calculator work for gold purchases?
Yes, for the arithmetic. Enter the gold price before VAT and add VAT at the rate that applies. For a dedicated tool, see the Gold Price with VAT Calculator on this site.
What if a receipt has items at different VAT rates?
Calculate each group of items separately at its own rate and add the results. A single calculation cannot split a mixed receipt correctly.
Is this tax advice?
No. This calculator only does the arithmetic. Whether a supply is taxable, zero-rated, or exempt, and which rate applies, depends on the current rules and the nature of the supply.