Intermediate
60 mins
Teacher/Student led
+80 XP
Pupils work on their own device

VAT, Percentages, Currency Formatting

In this lesson, you will format currency in euro with two decimal places and avoid common percentage errors. You will create a VAT calculator for your project using at least five items.

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    1 - Introduction ~5 mins

    Today you will

    • format money in euro with two decimal places
    • type a VAT rate so it shows 23%, not 2300%
    • build a VAT calculator for five costs from your Something Real project

    Warm-up

    Illustration for IntroductionA net price is €10.00 and VAT is 23%. Is the VAT €2.30 or €23.00?

    2 - Key Concepts ~6 mins

    Net price is the price before VAT is added.

    VAT is a tax on many things sold in Ireland. Today the rate is 23%.

    Gross price is the net price plus VAT. It is what the customer pays.

    Currency format shows a number as money, with the € sign and two decimal places.

    Example

    Net €10.00 at 23% VAT gives €2.30 VAT and €12.30 gross.

    Warning

    Type the rate as 0.23, not 23. If you type 23 and make it a percentage, it shows 2300%.

    3 - Step-by-step Task ~20 mins

    You will build a practice VAT calculator called {{code:sm3_vat_calc_practice}} for a small sticker-and-print business. Follow the steps in the box below. Type the items and net prices from this table. The last three columns show what your answers should be.

    ItemNet (€)VAT rateVAT (€)Gross (€)
    Vinyl sticker pack12.0023%2.7614.76
    Shipping labels (100)8.5023%1.9610.46
    A4 card stock pack15.0023%3.4518.45
    Ink cartridge22.0023%5.0627.06
    Table display stand35.0023%8.0543.05

    4 - Common Issues ~4 mins

    Common issues

    • The rate shows 2300%. Clear the cell, type 0.23, then choose Percentage again.
    • The money shows $ or £. Open the currency menu again and choose Euro.
    • Every VAT row has the same number. Type {{formula:=B2*C2}} in {{cell:D2}} again, then drag it down.

    5 - Independent Practice ~15 mins

    Independent Practice

    Your goal: Build a VAT calculator for five real costs from your Something Real project.
    Time: ~15 minutes
    Task: Keep your practice file open to copy from, then:
    1. In {{code:09_specialism/sm3}}, make a new spreadsheet called {{code:sm3_vat_calc}}. Excel Online adds .xlsx for you.
    2. Type the same five headings as in your practice file.
    3. Type at least five costs from your project and their net prices.
    4. Add the 0.23 rate, the VAT formula and the Gross formula.
    5. Format the money as euro, then change one price to test it.

    If you have no cost list yet, use these for now and swap in real ones later.

    Poster print
    Packing tape
    USB stick
    Pack of pens
    Craft pack
    Success criteria:
    • {{code:sm3_vat_calc}} is saved in {{code:sm3}} with five of my own costs.
    • My rates show 23%.
    • My money columns show € with two decimal places.
    • Changing a net price updates VAT and Gross.
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    This lesson is copyright of Coding Ireland 2017 - 2026. Unauthorised use, copying or distribution is not allowed.
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