United States·Tax year 2026·Figures in USD · federal income tax only
Tax Refund Calculator 2026
Estimate your 2026 federal tax refund, or how much you will owe, from your wages and the tax already withheld. It uses the IRS's 2026 brackets, standard deduction and child tax credit, and shows every step.
Your 2026 income
$
W-2 box 1, or your best estimate
$
W-2 box 2, or year-to-date on your pay stub
$2,200 child tax credit each
$500 credit each
Other income and deductions (optional)
$
Interest, freelance or other income
Enter your 2026 wages and the federal tax withheld. Your estimated refund, or what you owe, appears here as you type.
Calculating
Show the mathSee how this was worked outHide
Federal income tax only, using the 2026 brackets and standard deduction (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and the child tax credit as figured on Schedule 8812. Other credits, such as the earned income credit, and the 2026 overtime and tips deductions are not included.
Figures last verified October 30, 2026. Brackets, the standard deduction and the child tax credit amounts are from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32; the credit is worked as on Schedule 8812.
Worked examples
A single filer earning $60,000 subtracts the $16,100 standard deduction, leaving $43,900 of taxable income and $5,020.00 of tax. With $6,000 withheld, the refund is $980.00.
A married couple filing jointly on $90,000 with two children owes $6,440.00 before credits. The child tax credit takes off $4,400.00, leaving $2,040.00; with $5,000 withheld, they get $2,960.00 back.
A head of household on $30,000 with two children owes $585.00 before credits, so most of the $4,400 credit is left over. Up to $1,700 a child is refundable: $3,400.00 here, plus the $500 withheld, for a refund of $3,900.00.
2026 federal income tax by wages
With the 2026 standard deduction and no other income. Compare with the federal tax withheld on your W-2: if more was withheld, the difference is roughly your refund.
Wages
Single: tax
Married jointly, two children: tax
Married jointly, two children: refundable credit
$30,000
$1,420.00
$0.00
$3,400.00
$45,000
$3,220.00
$0.00
$3,120.00
$60,000
$5,020.00
$0.00
$1,560.00
$80,000
$8,770.00
$840.00
$0.00
$100,000
$13,170.00
$3,240.00
$0.00
$150,000
$24,734.00
$10,940.00
$0.00
Refund or tax due: what decides it
Your employer withholds federal income tax from each paycheck based on your Form W-4. At tax time, your actual tax for the year is worked out. If more was withheld than you owe, the IRS refunds the difference; if less, you pay the rest. Big refunds usually mean too much was withheld, and a bill usually means too little, often because of a second job, a raise late in the year or income without withholding.
Your refund is the federal income tax withheld from your pay during the year, plus any refundable credits, minus the tax you actually owe. The tax is worked from your income less the standard or itemized deduction, through the tax brackets, less credits such as the child tax credit.
Which year does this calculator cover?
Tax year 2026: income from January 1 to December 31, 2026, on the federal return you file in 2027. It uses the 2026 brackets, standard deduction and child tax credit from the IRS.
How much is the child tax credit for 2026?
Up to $2,200 for each child under 17, and $500 for each other dependent. Up to $1,700 a child can come back as a refund even if you owe no tax, limited to 15% of your earned income over $2,500. The credit shrinks by $50 for each $1,000, or part of $1,000, of income over $200,000, or $400,000 if you file jointly.
Why do I owe tax instead of getting a refund?
Because less was withheld from your pay than the tax you owe for the year. A single filer earning $60,000 owes $5,020.00 in 2026 federal income tax; if only $3,000 was withheld, about $2,020.00 is due when they file. Updating your W-4 changes how much is withheld from each paycheck.
What is not included?
State income tax, self-employment tax, the earned income credit, education and other credits, and the 2026 deductions for overtime pay and tips. For overtime, use the tax refund calculator with overtime.
Where do I find my wages and tax withheld?
On your Form W-2: box 1 is your wages and box 2 is the federal income tax withheld. Before you have your W-2, your last pay stub of the year shows the year-to-date amounts.
