A VAT split is not a reclaim decision
A reverse calculation can show the tax included in a price, but it does not establish that the tax is recoverable. Check business use, the supporting invoice and restrictions. Mixed business and private use can require an appropriate allocation.
Prepare a purchase review
List the supplier, invoice reference, date, net amount, VAT and business purpose. Flag missing evidence and unusual expenses rather than silently treating every gross payment as VAT-bearing. Some purchases contain no reclaimable VAT at all.
Worked arithmetic only
A £240 VAT-inclusive purchase at 20% contains £40 VAT and £200 net. That £40 is a mathematical component, not automatically a claim. Record any restriction or adjustment separately so that the original invoice amount remains traceable.
Check specialist cases
Business entertainment, vehicles, exempt activities and pre-registration purchases can involve additional rules. Scheme membership can also change recovery. Consult the relevant HMRC guidance before finalising the amount; a one-rate calculator cannot resolve those questions.
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Official sources
Sources checked: 2026-09-26. Check the official guidance for later changes.
Educational information and estimates. These tools do not submit VAT returns or determine the treatment of a specific transaction.