Federal Income Tax Calculator

FEDERAL TAX · TAX YEAR 2026

2026 federal tax refund calculator

For tax year 2026, generally filed in 2027. A simplified estimate for ordinary wage income, with child and other-dependent credits.

Income and withholding

Dependents

Deduction choice

Enter gross wages before the deductions above. If you use W-2 Box 1 wages, do not deduct amounts already excluded from Box 1 again. A positive itemized amount replaces the standard deduction even if it is smaller. Enter deductions after individual eligibility limits (such as SALT and charitable limits), but before the 2026 overall high-income limit; the calculator applies that overall limit. Do not enter an amount already reduced by that limit.

Your federal estimate

Bracket slices

Excludes EITC, self-employment tax, capital gains, AMT, FICA, state tax, and extra age, blindness, and senior deductions. Assumes qualifying U.S.-resident children. Refundable child credit uses entered wages less pre-tax deductions. Dependent-filer deductions and married-separate spousal itemization rules are unsupported. Full scope includes the omitted alternative refundable credit formula for families with three or more children.

How this tax refund estimator works

The calculator subtracts entered pre-tax deductions from ordinary income, then subtracts the standard deduction or your positive itemized deduction after applying the 2026 overall high-income limit. It applies the 2026 federal tax brackets to taxable income in layers, subtracts eligible dependent credits, and compares the remaining tax with federal withholding and the modeled refundable child credit.

Example: $75,000 in wages and $8,000 withheld

A single filer with no dependents or other deductions uses the $16,100 standard deduction, leaving $58,900 taxable income. The first $12,400 is taxed at 10% ($1,240), the next $38,000 at 12% ($4,560), and the remaining $8,500 at 22% ($1,870). Estimated tax is $7,670, so $8,000 withheld produces an estimated $330 refund.

This example uses the ordinary-income rate schedule from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32. Actual return calculations can use IRS tax tables and include rules omitted here; see calculation scope and limitations.

2026 standard deduction by filing status

These base amounts come from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and reduce income before ordinary federal income tax is calculated.

2026 base standard deductions
Filing statusDeduction
Single$16,100
Married filing jointly$32,200
Head of household$24,150
Married filing separately$16,100

These amounts exclude additional age, blindness, and senior deductions and special rules for dependent filers or married-separate spouses. Enter 0 for itemized deductions to use the base standard deduction.

Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32.

Tax refund questions

Why do I owe tax instead of receiving a refund?

This estimate shows a balance due when modeled tax exceeds withholding plus the modeled refundable child credit. A refund generally means those payments and refundable credits exceed tax; the final return can include other payments and credits.

Can this calculate my W-4 withholding?

This tool estimates a refund from withholding you enter. For help adjusting Form W-4, use the official IRS Tax Withholding Estimator.