How to use it
- Enter your household income, filing status, and dependents.
- Add any deductions you have, and the federal tax already withheld from your paychecks.
- Press Calculate.
You'll see your taxable income, your tax before and after credits, your tax rates, and whether you are likely to get a refund or owe more.
This is a simplified estimate, not a tax return
It includes only a few common items: wages and salary, the standard or itemized deduction, IRA contributions, student loan interest, the child and dependent credits, and the earned income credit. It does not include state taxes, self-employment tax, investment income and capital gains, retirement withdrawals, Social Security benefits, the alternative minimum tax, or many other credits and deductions.
Your actual tax and refund will likely be different. Treat the result as a learning tool and a rough guide, and use tax software or a tax professional when you file.
Learn more
About this calculator
How it Works
This calculator estimates your federal income taxes for the 2026 tax year, due in 2027.
First, we calculate your adjusted gross income (AGI). This is your income minus certain "above the line" deductions, such as IRA contributions and student loan interest, which you can take whether you use the standard deduction or itemize. Next, we subtract the standard deduction or your itemized deductions, along with any other deductions you entered, to find your taxable income.
Your tax is then calculated using the tax brackets for your filing status. Each bracket's rate applies only to the part of your income that falls inside that bracket, which is why moving into a higher bracket never reduces your take-home pay. Credits you qualify for are subtracted from the tax, and then the tax already withheld from your paychecks is subtracted as well. If the result is negative, you get that amount back as a tax refund.
Limitations
Note that this is not an exhaustive calculator, and you will need to know which credits and deductions you qualify for beyond the ones listed here. The child tax credit, the credit for other dependents, and the earned income tax credit (EITC) are included and up to date for 2026. Other situations, such as self-employment tax, capital gains, the alternative minimum tax, and state income taxes, are not included. You may enter your own withholdings and itemized deductions.
More About Deductions and Credits
A deduction lowers the income you are taxed on, while a credit lowers the tax itself. A $1,000 credit is therefore worth more than a $1,000 deduction.
The Child Tax Credit is $2,200 per child under age 17 for the 2026 tax year. Up to $1,700 per child is refundable, which means you can receive it even if you owe no tax, as long as you earned more than $2,500. The credit is reduced by $50 for every $1,000 of income above $200,000 ($400,000 for married couples filing jointly). Other dependents, such as children age 17 or older or relatives you support, qualify for a $500 credit.
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) depends on your income and number of children and is typically given to lower income working families. To qualify during the 2026 tax year, you must have earned income, have no more than $12,200 in investment income, and should NOT file Form 2555 (foreign earned income). Those who are married filing separately can qualify under certain conditions. See more about eligibility for this credit on the IRS website.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act added temporary deductions for qualified tips (up to $25,000), overtime pay (up to $12,500, or $25,000 when filing jointly), interest on a loan for a qualifying new car (up to $10,000), and an extra $6,000 for each person age 65 or older. You can take them whether or not you itemize, and they shrink at higher incomes. Enter any that apply under Other Deductions. See the IRS page on new and enhanced deductions for who qualifies.