Tax Refund Calculator

How your refund is worked out

A refund is not a bonus: it is the part of the tax withheld from your paychecks during the year that turned out to be more than you owe. The calculator works through your return the same way the IRS form does:

1. Add wages and other income, then subtract the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household).
2. Apply the 2026 tax brackets to what is left.
3. Subtract the child tax credit: up to $2,200 per qualifying child under 17, of which up to $1,700 per child can be paid out even if you owe no tax.
4. Compare the result with the federal tax withheld (box 2 of your W-2).

Refund = Tax withheld − (Tax on taxable income − Credits)

When will I get it?

The IRS usually starts accepting returns in late January. Most e-filed returns with direct deposit are refunded within 21 days. Refunds that include the additional child tax credit or the earned income credit cannot be issued before mid-February by law.

Owe instead of a refund?

If the estimate shows a balance due, your withholding was too low. Updating your W-4 for the rest of the year spreads the tax over your paychecks; the paycheck calculator shows the effect on each check. Freelancers should look at the self-employment tax calculator.