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Income tax calculator and tax refund estimator 2026

Enter your wages and the federal tax withheld from your W-2 to see whether you will get a refund or owe when you file your 2026 return in 2027 – using the IRS's own 2026 figures.

Tax year 2026 Rules checked: November 2026 How we calculate

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For the whole year. Use your last pay stub × the paychecks left if the year is not over.

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Estimated refund$380.00Tax year 2026, filed in 2027
Total federal tax
$5,620.00
Taxable income
$48,900
Marginal / effective rate
12% / 8.6%

Your 2026 return

Adjusted gross income (AGI)
$65,000.00
Standard deduction
−$16,100.00
Taxable income
$48,900.00
Income tax after child / dependent credits
$5,620.00
Total tax
$5,620.00
Withholding and estimated payments
$6,000.00
Refund
$380.00

Your taxable income by bracket

RateBracket (taxable income)Your income in itTax
10%$0 – $12,400$12,400$1,240
12%$12,400 – $50,400$36,500$4,380
22%$50,400 – $105,700$0$0
24%$105,700 – $201,775$0$0
32%$201,775 – $256,225$0$0
35%$256,225 – $640,600$0$0
37%over $640,600$0$0
  • Estimate for a 2026 Form 1040 using the IRS 2026 rate schedules, standard deduction, child tax credit ($2,200, up to $1,700 refundable) and the new deductions for overtime, tips and seniors.
  • Not included: earned income credit, education and energy credits, AMT, the qualified business income deduction and state tax.
  • The IRS Tax Table rounds income to $50 steps below $100,000, so your return can differ by a few dollars.

This is an estimate based on published rates, not tax or financial advice. Your payslip or assessment may differ. We are an independent site, not affiliated with any government agency.

How the estimate works

The calculator follows Form 1040 for tax year 2026, the return you file in early 2027:

  1. Adjusted gross income – wages, self-employment profit (minus half of the self-employment tax), interest, dividends and capital gains.
  2. Deductions – the larger of the 2026 standard deduction and your itemized deductions, then the new deductions for qualified overtime, tips and seniors that apply whether or not you itemize.
  3. Tax – the 2026 rate schedules (10% to 37%), with long-term gains and qualified dividends taxed at 0%, 15% or 20%.
  4. Credits – the child tax credit ($2,200 per child) and the $500 credit for other dependents.
  5. Refund or balance due – withholding, estimated payments and the refundable part of the child credit, minus the total tax.

Worked example: married, $100,000, two children

Married filing jointly, $100,000 wages, two children, $7,000 withheld

Taxable income is $100,000 − $32,200 = $67,800. Tax before credits is $7,640; the child tax credit removes $4,400, leaving $3,240. With $7,000 withheld, the refund is $3,760.

Estimated refund$3,760.00Tax year 2026, filed in 2027
Total federal tax
$3,240.00
Taxable income
$67,800
Marginal / effective rate
12% / 3.2%

Your 2026 return

Adjusted gross income (AGI)
$100,000.00
Standard deduction
−$32,200.00
Taxable income
$67,800.00
Income tax after child / dependent credits
$3,240.00
Total tax
$3,240.00
Withholding and estimated payments
$7,000.00
Refund
$3,760.00

2026 standard deduction

Filing statusStandard deductionExtra if 65+ or blind (each)
Single / married filing separately$16,100$2,050
Married filing jointly$32,200$1,650
Head of household$24,150$2,050

Taxpayers aged 65 or older can also take the new $6,000 senior deduction (per person) for 2025–2028. It shrinks by 6% of income above $75,000 ($150,000 joint).

Why refunds differ from year to year

Withholding is set by the W-4 you gave your employer and the IRS percentage-method tables, which assume you earn the same every pay period all year. A raise, a second job, a bonus or a change in children all move the final tax away from what was withheld. If you owed last year, the paycheck calculator shows what each paycheck withholds; adding an extra amount on W-4 Step 4(c) closes the gap.

What is not included

The earned income tax credit, education and clean-energy credits, the qualified business income deduction, alternative minimum tax and state income tax. If any of these apply, your refund will be different – the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator and tax software handle them.

Questions people ask

How much will my tax refund be?

It is the federal tax withheld from your paychecks (W-2 box 2) plus any estimated payments and refundable credits, minus your total tax. A single filer earning $65,000 owes $5,620 for 2026, so with $6,000 withheld the refund is $380.

What is the standard deduction for 2026?

$16,100 for single filers and married filing separately, $32,200 for married couples filing jointly and $24,150 for heads of household. People aged 65 or older or blind add $2,050 (single) or $1,650 each (married).

How much is the child tax credit for 2026?

$2,200 per child under 17, of which up to $1,700 is refundable even if you owe no tax (15% of earnings above $2,500). It phases out by $50 per $1,000 of income above $200,000, or $400,000 for joint filers.

Is overtime really tax-free now?

Partly. For 2025 to 2028 you can deduct the overtime premium – the extra half of time-and-a-half – up to $12,500 ($25,000 joint) when you file. Overtime is still withheld from your paycheck and still pays Social Security and Medicare.

When can I file my 2026 tax return?

The IRS usually opens filing season in late January. The deadline for 2026 returns is April 15, 2027; an extension gives you until October 15 to file but not to pay.

Official sources

Rules checked: November 2026.

This is an estimate based on published rates, not tax or financial advice. Your payslip or assessment may differ. We are an independent site, not affiliated with any government agency. Read the full disclaimer.