How to calculate the tax included in a total price in Excel
Formula (Excel and Google Sheets)
=B2*$F$1/(1+$F$1)Multiply the total by the rate over 1 plus the rate: =B2*$F$1/(1+$F$1). With 10% tax, a 110 total includes 10 of tax.
- Result on the example
- one result per row in
C2, filled down toC6 - Works in
- Every current version
- Google Sheets
- Same formula
See it work
The formula is already in C2, filled down to C6. Change any input and the result updates, or edit the formula to experiment.
How it works
A tax-inclusive total is the net amount × (1 + rate), and the tax is net × rate. So the tax is the share rate/(1+rate) of the total: 0.1/1.1, one eleventh for a 10% tax. 110 contains 10 of tax.
=B2*$F$1/(1+$F$1)Result10
B2$110.00The value in B2.
$F$110%The value in F1.
B2*$F$111The * operator multiplies.
1+$F$11.1The + operator adds.
B2*$F$1/(1+$F$110The / operator divides.
In Google Sheets
The same formula works in Google Sheets: =B2*$F$1/(1+$F$1). We ran it in Google Sheets mode on the same data and it returns the same results.
Other ways to do it
Each one was run on the same example sheet.
| Formula | Result | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| =B2-B2/(1+$F$1) | $10.00, $5.00, $227.18… | The total minus the price before tax. Same result. |
| =B2*$F$1 | $11.00, $5.50, $249.90…Different result | Takes 10% of the total, the usual mistake. Gives 11 for a 110 total instead of 10. |
Common mistakes
- Multiplying the total by the rate overstates the tax, because the rate applies to the price before tax.
- For 20% VAT the included share is 1/6 (0.2/1.2), not 20%.
Try it yourself
Same data, empty answer cell. Your formula is graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data, so a typed-in number won't pass.
Calculate the tax included in a total price
C2, work out how much tax is included in the total, using the rate in F1, then fill down to C6.Questions
How do I get the price before tax?
Divide: =B2/(1+$F$1).
What fraction of the price is GST at 15%?
=0.15/1.15, about 13.04%, or 3/23.
Checked by running on 2026-10-30: every formula and result on this page was calculated by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine, in both Excel and Google Sheets modes.