Tax Refund Estimator: Federal Refund
This tax refund estimator gives you a quick estimate of your federal refund or amount owed. Pick the tax year, your filing status and enter your wages, the federal tax already withheld, other income, adjustments and the number of children under 17. The tool applies the standard deduction or your itemized total, the official tax brackets, and the child tax credit, then compares your total tax with what you have already paid. It is a simplified estimate that does not cover every credit or situation, so use it for planning and confirm with tax software or a preparer. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
Tax Refund Estimator
Estimate your federal tax refund or amount owed for tax year 2025 or 2026.
How to use the Tax Refund Estimator
- Choose the tax year and your filing status.
- Enter your total wages and the federal income tax withheld from your pay stubs or W-2.
- Add other income, adjustments, any extra deductions and the number of qualifying children under 17.
- Add estimated payments and any refundable credits you already know about.
- Read the estimated refund or balance due and how it was worked out.
How the estimate works
Adjusted gross income = wages + other income − adjustments. Taxable income = AGI − deductions. Tax comes from the bracket table for your filing status, then the child tax credit and other credits reduce it. Refund = payments (withholding, estimated payments, refundable credits) − total tax.
Features
- Tax years 2025 and 2026 brackets and standard deductions
- Single, married filing jointly and head of household
- Child tax credit with refundable portion
- Standard or itemized deduction
- Estimated payments and other credits
- Copy and print
Frequently asked questions
How is a tax refund calculated?
Your refund is the tax you have already paid, through withholding, estimated payments and refundable credits, minus your total tax for the year. If the payments are larger, the difference is refunded.
How accurate is this tax refund estimator?
It is a simplified estimate for common situations. It does not include every credit, self-employment tax, or state tax, so your actual refund may differ.
What is the standard deduction?
For tax year 2025 it is $15,750 for single filers, $31,500 for married filing jointly and $23,625 for head of household. For 2026 it is $16,100, $32,200 and $24,150.
How does the child tax credit work?
The credit is up to $2,200 per qualifying child under 17. It first lowers your tax, and a refundable part of up to $1,700 per child can be paid even if you owe no tax, based on your earnings.
Where do I find the tax already withheld?
Look at box 2 of your W-2 form, or add up the federal income tax withheld on your final pay stub of the year.