GST Calculator

GST Calculator: Your Complete Guide to Goods and Services Tax

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a comprehensive indirect tax levied on the supply of goods and services across many countries worldwide. Understanding how to calculate GST correctly is essential for businesses, freelancers, and consumers alike. Our free GST calculator supports multiple countries including India, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Singapore, and Malaysia, each with their unique GST/HST/SST rate structures, making it easy to handle tax calculations regardless of your location.

Whether you're adding GST to your invoices, extracting GST from inclusive prices for accounting purposes, or running batch calculations for multiple items, this tool handles all scenarios with precision. The calculator provides clear breakdowns of net amounts, GST amounts, and gross totals—essential information for bookkeeping, tax filing, and financial planning. For broader tax calculations including income tax, explore our Income Tax Calculator.

Understanding GST: Exclusive vs Inclusive Pricing

GST exclusive pricing shows the base price without tax—this is common in business-to-business (B2B) transactions where buyers can often claim input tax credits. When you see an exclusive price, you need to add the applicable GST rate to determine the actual payment amount. For example, a ₹10,000 item with 18% GST becomes ₹11,800 (₹10,000 + ₹1,800 GST).

GST inclusive pricing is typical in retail and consumer-facing businesses—the displayed price already contains the tax component. To extract the GST from an inclusive price, you need to reverse-calculate: divide the total by (1 + GST rate). A ₹11,800 inclusive price at 18% GST breaks down to ₹10,000 net and ₹1,800 GST. Our calculator handles both scenarios automatically.

Understanding this distinction is crucial for proper accounting. Businesses must record the net sale value separately from the GST collected, as the GST component is held in trust for the government and must be remitted during tax filing periods. For related financial calculations, try our Percentage Calculator or Margin Calculator.

GST Rates by Country

India uses a four-tier GST structure: 5% for essential goods, 12% for standard goods, 18% for most services and products, and 28% for luxury and sin goods. Some items like basic food grains, fresh produce, and exports are exempt (0% GST). India's GST system is destination-based, with separate Central GST (CGST) and State GST (SGST) components that together equal the displayed rate.

Australia has a flat 10% GST rate on most goods and services. Certain items are GST-free, including basic food, medical services, and educational courses. Businesses with annual turnover above AUD 75,000 must register for GST and can claim input tax credits for GST paid on business purchases.

New Zealand applies a 15% GST rate—one of the higher rates globally. Like Australia, certain categories like financial services and residential rent are exempt. The straightforward single-rate system simplifies compliance for businesses operating in New Zealand.

Canada uses a hybrid system with 5% federal GST, but most provinces add Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) combining federal and provincial components (13% in Ontario, 15% in Nova Scotia, etc.). Some provinces like Alberta have no provincial component, charging only 5% federal GST. Use our VAT Calculator for European tax calculations.

Singapore currently charges 9% GST (increased from 8% in January 2024, with plans for further increases). The city-state uses GST as a significant revenue source, with registration mandatory for businesses exceeding SGD 1 million in annual taxable turnover.

Malaysia replaced GST with SST (Sales and Services Tax) in 2018, with 6% for services and 5-10% for goods depending on category. This two-rate structure differs from GST's single-rate approach but serves similar revenue purposes.

Common GST Calculation Scenarios

Creating invoices: When invoicing clients, you typically start with your net (exclusive) price and add GST. Our calculator shows the exact GST amount and total, which you can transfer directly to your invoice. Many accounting systems require separate line items for net amount and tax.

Recording purchases: When entering purchase receipts, you often need to extract GST from the inclusive total to correctly record the expense and claimable input tax credit. The reverse GST function handles this instantly.

Batch processing: Month-end reconciliation often requires processing many transactions simultaneously. Our batch mode lets you enter multiple amounts at once, calculating individual and total GST across all items—significantly faster than processing individually. For loan-related calculations, check our EMI Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions About GST

How do I calculate GST from an inclusive price?

Divide the inclusive price by (1 + GST rate as decimal). For 18% GST: Net = Inclusive ÷ 1.18. For ₹11,800 inclusive: Net = ₹11,800 ÷ 1.18 = ₹10,000. The GST amount is the difference: ₹11,800 - ₹10,000 = ₹1,800.

How do I add GST to an exclusive price?

Multiply the exclusive price by the GST rate: GST = Exclusive × Rate. For ₹10,000 at 18%: GST = ₹10,000 × 0.18 = ₹1,800. Total inclusive = ₹10,000 + ₹1,800 = ₹11,800.

What's the difference between GST and VAT?

GST and VAT (Value Added Tax) are similar consumption taxes with different names used in different regions. GST is used in India, Australia, Canada, Singapore, and New Zealand. VAT is used in the European Union, UK, and many other countries. Both work on the same principle of taxing value addition at each stage of the supply chain. Check our VAT Calculator for European calculations.

Can I use this for my business accounting?

Yes! The calculator provides accurate GST breakdowns suitable for invoicing and bookkeeping. However, always verify current GST rates with your local tax authority, as rates may change. For complex tax situations, consult a qualified accountant.