Tax refund calculator
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
Estimate your 2026 federal tax refund — or what you'll owe — from your wages, the tax withheld from your paychecks, your filing status and dependents. Uses the 2026 brackets, standard deduction and Child Tax Credit.
- Adjusted gross income
- $65,000
- Standard deduction
- −$16,100
- Taxable income
- $48,900
- Tax before credits
- $5,62012% bracket
- Federal income tax for 2026
- $5,6208.6% of AGI
- Total withheld and paid
- $6,500
- Refund
- $880
Estimate for the 2026 tax year (returns filed in 2027) using 2026 federal brackets and the OBBBA deductions. It does not include the Earned Income Tax Credit, education or child-care credits, self-employment tax, capital-gain rates, the Additional Medicare Tax or state taxes. Not tax advice — check your actual return or the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator.
How to estimate your tax refund
- Pick your filing status.
- Enter your expected full-year wages. Box 1 of your W-2 (or your pay stub's year-to-date federal taxable wages, projected to December) already excludes pre-tax 401(k) and health premiums.
- Enter the federal income tax withheld so far, then the withholding per paycheck and the number of paychecks left this year.
- Add qualifying children under 17 and other dependents.
- Open "Add other income" for interest, IRA/HSA deductions, itemized deductions, the 65+ senior deduction, and the new tips and overtime deductions.
The formula
Taxable income = AGI − max(standard, itemized) − senior/tips/overtime deductions
Tax = bracket tax on taxable income − Child Tax Credit & $500 dependent credit (non-refundable part)
Refund = withholding + estimated payments + refundable child credit − tax
Refundable child credit = min(unused credit, $1,700 × children, 15% × (earned income − $2,500))
Example: a married couple filing jointly earning $95,000 with two children and $6,000 withheld. Taxable income is $62,800 after the $32,200 standard deduction, the bracket tax is $7,040, and the $4,400 Child Tax Credit brings it to $2,640. They get a refund of about $3,360.
A head of household earning $32,000 with one child and $900 withheld owes $785 before credits. The credit wipes that out, and the leftover child credit is partly refundable, so the refund is about $2,315 ($1,415 of it refundable credit) — before any Earned Income Tax Credit, which could add more.
2026 numbers used
| Item | Single | Married jointly | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard deduction | $16,100 | $32,200 | $24,150 |
| Extra if 65+ or blind (each) | $2,050 | $1,650 | $2,050 |
| Senior deduction (65+, each) | $6,000, reduced by 6% of MAGI over $75,000 ($150,000 joint) | ||
| Child Tax Credit | $2,200 per child under 17 ($1,700 refundable); phase-out from $200,000 ($400,000 joint) | ||
| Qualified tips deduction | Up to $25,000; reduced $100 per $1,000 of MAGI over $150,000 ($300,000 joint) | ||
| Qualified overtime deduction | Premium pay up to $12,500 ($25,000 joint); same phase-out | ||
Sources: Rev. Proc. 2025-32 and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21). The tips, overtime and senior deductions apply for 2025–2028 and aren't available to married couples filing separately.
What this estimator leaves out
- Earned Income Tax Credit — worth up to several thousand dollars for lower-income workers. Check eligibility with the IRS EITC Assistant.
- Education, child and dependent care, saver's and clean-energy credits.
- Self-employment tax, capital-gain and qualified-dividend rates, the Additional Medicare Tax, and state income taxes.
Disclaimer: Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice. Your actual refund depends on your full return. Use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator or a tax professional before changing your W-4.
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Frequently asked questions
How is my tax refund calculated?
Your refund is everything you paid during the year (withholding from each paycheck plus estimated payments) plus refundable credits, minus your actual tax for the year. Your actual tax is the bracket tax on taxable income (income minus deductions), minus credits like the Child Tax Credit.
How much is the Child Tax Credit for 2026?
$2,200 per qualifying child under 17, of which up to $1,700 is refundable (you can get it even if you owe no tax, if you earned more than $2,500). It phases out by $50 per $1,000 of income above $200,000 ($400,000 married filing jointly). Other dependents qualify for a $500 credit.
What is the 2026 standard deduction?
$16,100 single or married filing separately, $32,200 married filing jointly and $24,150 head of household. Add $2,050 (single/HoH) or $1,650 (married, per person) if you are 65+ or blind.
Why do I owe taxes this year?
Common reasons: two jobs or a working spouse (each employer withholds as if it's your only income), side income with no withholding, a W-4 with extra allowances or credits claimed, or losing a credit (a child turning 17). Adjust your W-4 to fix it for next year.
When will I get my 2026 refund?
2026 returns are filed in early 2027. The IRS issues most e-filed refunds with direct deposit within 21 days; refunds with the Additional Child Tax Credit or EITC can't be released before mid-February by law.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.