It depends on the calculator, so the useful habit is to check what a tool adds on its own and what it expects you to enter. Here is exactly how ours handle each item, and what to do about the rest.
By Amara Taylor
Quick answer: Our calculators apply the standard deduction automatically for your filing status and tax year. Itemized deductions and most credits are amounts you enter. The tax refund calculator also works out the child tax credit and the credit for other dependents from the number of dependents you give it.
| Item | In our calculators | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Standard deduction | Applied automatically by filing status and tax year | Nothing, unless you would rather itemize |
| Itemized deductions | You enter the total | Add up your Schedule A items first, keeping their limits in mind |
| Adjustments to income | You enter the total (for example HSA contributions or student loan interest) | Take the figures from your records |
| Child tax credit | Refund calculator: enter children under 17. It uses $2,200 per child, reduces the credit above $200,000 of income ($400,000 if filing jointly) and treats up to $1,700 per child as refundable | In the income tax calculator, enter the credit as a dollar amount |
| Credit for other dependents | Refund calculator: $500 for each other dependent you enter | Confirm the person qualifies |
| Earned income credit | Not calculated | Check eligibility with the IRS, then enter the amount as a refundable credit in the refund calculator |
| Education credits | Not calculated | Check eligibility with the IRS, then enter the amount as a credit that reduces tax |
| Tax already paid | Refund calculator: you enter federal tax withheld | Use the year-to-date figure from your latest pay stub |
| State income tax | Not included | Use your state tax agency’s tool |
A deduction lowers the income your tax is calculated on, so it is worth your marginal rate times the amount. A credit lowers the tax itself, dollar for dollar. For someone in the 22% bracket, a $2,000 deduction saves $440. A $2,000 credit saves $2,000.
Credits also come in two kinds. A nonrefundable credit can reduce your tax to zero but no further. A refundable credit can turn into a refund even when you owe nothing. That distinction is why the refund calculator asks for credits in two separate boxes.
Here is the effect in practice. A single filer with $85,000 of wages in 2026 and the standard deduction has a federal income tax of $9,870. With one qualifying child under 17, the child tax credit lowers it to $7,670.
For how much an estimate can move when these inputs change, see how accurate online tax calculators are. If you are weighing the standard deduction against itemizing, this comparison walks through a worked example.
Enter your children, other credits and tax withheld to see whether you are heading for a refund or a balance due. Details on how the figures are calculated are on the methodology page.
Open the tax refund calculatorThis guide is general information, not tax advice. Sources: IRS Child Tax Credit, IRS Interactive Tax Assistant, IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32. Credit amounts are those used by our calculators and were last checked October 8, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Last updated: October 8, 2026 · Written by Amara Taylor, Content Lead, Anchor AI Tools.