Your federal refund is what you have already paid toward your tax bill minus the tax you actually owe. Enter your income, filing status and withholding to see which side of zero you land on, for tax year 2025 or 2026.
By Amara Taylor · Last updated October 8, 2026 · IRS figures for 2025 and 2026
| Adjusted gross income | – |
| Deduction used | – |
| Taxable income | – |
| Tax from the brackets | – |
| Credits used | – |
| Total tax | – |
| Total payments and refundable credits | – |
| Effective rate on total income | – |
| Marginal bracket | – |
Estimate only. It ignores state tax and the items listed under “What this estimate leaves out”.
Subtract your total federal tax from everything you have already paid toward it. Total tax is the tax on your taxable income, less credits. Payments are federal withholding, estimated payments and refundable credits. A positive result is your refund and a negative one is what you owe.
A single filer earns $60,000 in 2026 and has $6,000 of federal tax withheld. There are no dependents or other credits.
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Wages | $60,000 |
| Standard deduction (single, 2026) | −$16,100 |
| Taxable income | $43,900 |
| 10% on the first $12,400 | $1,240 |
| 12% on the next $31,500 ($12,400 to $43,900) | $3,780 |
| Total tax | $5,020 |
| Federal tax withheld | $6,000 |
| Refund | $980 |
The same person would owe tax if only $4,500 had been withheld, because $5,020 minus $4,500 leaves a $520 balance due.
These are the IRS figures built into the calculator. Head of household and married filing separately use their own tables inside the tool. Each cell shows where the rate stops.
| Rate | 2026 single, up to | 2026 joint, up to | 2025 single, up to | 2025 joint, up to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $12,400 | $24,800 | $11,925 | $23,850 |
| 12% | $50,400 | $100,800 | $48,475 | $96,950 |
| 22% | $105,700 | $211,400 | $103,350 | $206,700 |
| 24% | $201,775 | $403,550 | $197,300 | $394,600 |
| 32% | $256,225 | $512,450 | $250,525 | $501,050 |
| 35% | $640,600 | $768,700 | $626,350 | $751,600 |
| 37% | over $640,600 | over $768,700 | over $626,350 | over $751,600 |
| Standard deduction | $16,100 | $32,200 | $15,750 | $31,500 |
Sources: IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 for 2026 and the IRS page on federal income tax rates and brackets for 2025. Figures last checked October 8, 2026.
Treat the result as a planning number. For a return with business income, investments or several credits, check with a CPA or enrolled agent, or use the IRS tools.
Most of the inputs are on your W-2. Box 1 shows wages and box 2 shows federal income tax withheld. If you had more than one job, add the boxes across all your W-2s. Interest and side income appear on 1099 forms. Your last pay stub of the year shows year-to-date withholding if the W-2 has not arrived yet.
The usual causes are credits that were not entered, income that was missed, and withholding that changed during the year. The guide How to Estimate Your Tax Refund Before You File walks through the common gaps one by one.
No. It estimates federal income tax only. For New York, try the NY state tax calculator, and check your own state’s tax agency for other states.
Choose 2025 if you are working on a return for income earned in 2025. Choose 2026 to preview the return you will file in 2027 from this year’s paychecks.
A refund means you paid in more than you owed during the year, and a balance due means you paid in less. The lever is the withholding on your W-4. The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator recommends checking withholding every January and after life changes such as a new job, marriage or a child. You can also see your pay after withholding in the payroll calculator.
The IRS says an e-filed return takes about 3 weeks from the date you e-file. Returns that claim the earned income credit are held until mid-February, and the additional child tax credit needs more review time. Use the IRS refund status tool for your own return.
Estimate for planning and learning, not tax advice. Sources: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, IRS federal income tax rates and brackets, IRS 2025 tax law changes, IRS child tax credit, IRS refunds, IRS Tax Withholding Estimator. See also our editorial standards.
Last updated: October 8, 2026 · Written and tested by Amara Taylor, Content Lead, Anchor AI Tools.