VAT calculator for Kenya
The standard VAT rate in Kenya is 16%. To remove it from a gross price you divide by 1.1600, which is not the same as taking 16% off.
%
Price including VAT
116.00
- VAT to add
- 16.00
- Net price behind a gross one
- 100.00
- VAT inside a gross price
- 16.00
- Line total for the quantity
- 116.00
- VAT fraction of a gross price Multiply a gross figure by this to get the VAT directly.
- 0.137 931
- Gross-up multiplier
- 1.160 000
- How far the subtraction method goes wrong
- 2.56
Show the working
- Price excluding VAT = 100
- VAT rate = 16
- Price including VAT = 116
- Quantity = 1
- VAT to add = 100 * 16 / 100 = 16
- Price including VAT = 100 + 16 = 116
- Line total for the quantity = 116 * 1 = 116
- Net price behind a gross one = 116 / (1 + 16/100) = 100
- VAT inside a gross price = 116 - 100 = 16
- VAT fraction of a gross price = (1 + 16/100) > 0 ? (16/100) / (1 + 16/100) : 0 = 0.137 931
- Gross-up multiplier = 1 + 16/100 = 1.16
- wrong_way = 116 * (1 - 16/100) = 97.44
- How far the subtraction method goes wrong = 100 - 97.44 = 2.56
Values are shown to six significant figures here; the arithmetic itself runs on exact fractions and is only rounded where a number is printed.
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The formula
- gross = net x (1 + rate)
- net = gross / (1 + rate)
- VAT fraction of a gross price = rate / (100 + rate) = 0.137931
The VAT fraction is the shortcut accountants use: at 16% you multiply a gross figure by 0.137931 to get the VAT straight out.
Rates and reduced-rate categories change by legislation. The rate here is a default; check the current one before invoicing.
Frequently asked
What is the VAT rate in Kenya?
The standard rate is 16%.
How do I remove VAT from a price?
Divide by 1.1600. Subtracting 16% instead undercharges the net figure every time.
Where the numbers come from
- Standard rates as published by the national tax authorities; reduced and zero rates are not modelled.