We propose a method for in-plane switching of vertically aligned negative liquid crystals (LCs) for high transmittance and wide viewing angle. By applying an in-plane electric field using a double-layered electrode structure, LC molecules can be rotated by the vertical as well as the in-plane components of the applied field over the entire region so that high transmittance can be achieved. The threshold voltage difference can be obtained simply by varying the electrode structure, which can reduce the off-axis gamma shift in a multidomain vertical alignment LC cell.