Bruttopreise

Bruttopreise, literally gross prices, are prices that include all taxes and duties payable by the final consumer. In German-speaking markets they are contrasted with Nettopreise, which exclude value-added tax (VAT) and other sales taxes. The term is widely used in retail, advertising, and pricing to indicate the amount a customer actually pays at the point of sale.

In consumer commerce, the displayed price is typically a Bruttopreis. This means the price already includes VAT, so no additional tax is added at checkout. For businesses buying from other businesses (B2B), Nettopreise are common on invoices, with VAT added separately to produce the final Bruttopreis.

VAT and tax rates vary by country and product. In Germany, the standard VAT rate is 19% with a reduced rate of 7% for certain goods and services. The relationship is Brutto price = Netto price × (1 + VAT rate). Conversely, Netto price = Brutto price ÷ (1 + VAT rate). Some markets require the VAT amount to be shown separately on invoices or price tags, even if the brutto price is presented as the final consumer price.

Legal and regulatory frameworks govern price labeling. In Germany, the Preisangabenverordnung (Price Indication Regulation) requires that consumer prices presented to end users reflect the final amount payable, including VAT; online shops must display the final price and, where applicable, unit prices.

Examples: a product with a Nettopreis of 100 € at 19% VAT yields a Bruttopreis of 119 €, with 19 € VAT. The Bruttopreis is what most shoppers see on shelves and in advertisements.