Tax refund calculator
Your refund is just the gap between what came out of your paychecks and what you really owe. Enter both sides and see which way it tips.
Taxable income $59,250 · 22% bracket · effective rate 10.6%
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An AI explainer reads the figures on this page and answers in plain English. Your question and inputs are sent to it only when you press Ask; nothing is stored.
Two jars: why refunds happen
Picture one jar filling with every paycheck’s withholding and another holding the tax you actually owe. On filing day the IRS compares them. Slide your pay and your withholding rate and watch the jars.
Withheld $4,160 − owed $4,060 = refund $100
Simplified: single filer, 2026 brackets, standard deduction, no credits.
What moves your refund
- Withholding. Your employer withholds using the W-4 you filed and IRS Publication 15-T tables. Two jobs, or a working spouse, often means too little is withheld because each job starts the brackets over.
- Credits. The child tax credit is $2,200 per child under 17. Up to $1,700 of it per child is refundable, meaning you can get it even if you owe no income tax, provided you earned more than $2,500.
- Side income. Freelance or gig income has no withholding and adds 15.3% self-employment tax, so a modest side hustle can turn a refund into a bill. The 1099 tax calculator shows how much to set aside.
- New 2025 deductions. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act added a $6,000 deduction for people 65 and older plus deductions for qualified tips and overtime, which can raise refunds for people who were withheld under the old rules.
Questions people ask
How is a tax refund calculated?
A refund is the difference between what you already paid and what you actually owe. Add federal tax withheld from your paychecks (W-2 box 2), any estimated payments and refundable credits, then subtract your total tax: income tax after nonrefundable credits, plus self-employment tax. A positive result is your refund; a negative one is a balance due.
Why is my refund smaller this year?
The usual reasons are a raise or bonus withheld at too low a rate, a second job (each employer withholds as if it were your only one), 1099 income with nothing withheld, a child aging out of the child tax credit at 17, or a W-4 changed mid-year. Enter your real figures above and the tape shows which line moved.
When will I get my refund?
The IRS says most e-filed returns with direct deposit are refunded within 21 days. Returns that claim the earned income credit or additional child tax credit cannot be refunded before mid-February by law. Use the IRS “Where’s My Refund?” tool to track it.
Is a big refund good?
A refund means you lent the government money interest-free during the year. If you would rather have the cash in each paycheck, lower your withholding with a new Form W-4; the W-4 calculator on this site shows how much.
What if I owe?
You can pay by the April deadline with IRS Direct Pay or set up a payment plan. If you owe more than $1,000 and paid less than 90% of this year’s tax or 100% of last year’s (110% above $150,000 AGI), an underpayment penalty may apply.