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Costa Rica VAT (IVA) calculator
Add VAT to a price or take it out of an amount that already includes it. Choose the standard 13% rate or a reduced one and see the price before tax, the VAT and the total instantly.
VAT rates in Costa Rica
13%: standard rate for most goods and services.
4%: private health services and air tickets.
2%: medicines, private education and personal insurance premiums.
1%: basic food basket products.
How VAT is calculated
To add it: price without VAT × 1.13.
To break it down: price with VAT ÷ 1.13 gives the price before tax; the difference is the VAT.
Example: ₡10,000 + 13% = ₡11,300. Of ₡11,300 including VAT, ₡1,300 is tax.
VAT questions
How much is VAT in Costa Rica?
The standard rate is 13%. There are reduced rates of 4%, 2% and 1% for certain goods and services.
How do I take VAT out of a price that already includes it?
Divide the price by 1.13: the result is the price before tax, and the difference from the total is the VAT. The calculator does this when you choose “Already includes VAT”.
Why can’t I just subtract 13% from the total?
Because the 13% is calculated on the price before tax, not on the total. Subtracting 13% from ₡11,300 gives ₡9,831, not the correct ₡10,000.
Which products pay 1%?
Those in the basic tax basket defined by the Ministry of Finance, such as rice, beans and other essential foods.
Do you store the amounts I type?
No. The calculation happens in your browser and is not sent to any server.