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Simple Federal Tax Estimator

Refund or Tax Due?

Get a simple estimate of your federal tax, possible credits, refund, or amount due. Enter your income, dependents, credits, and federal tax already paid.

Refund See if you may get money back.
Tax Due See if you may still owe.
Credits Estimate child and earned income credits.
Tax Brackets EIC Limits Simple Explanation

Your Information

Enter what you know. Leave anything blank if it does not apply.
Choose the year you want to estimate.
This changes the standard deduction and tax ranges.
Your income before the standard or custom deduction is removed.
Deductions
Most people use the standard deduction.
Only used if you choose your own deduction amount above.
Dependents and Credits
Used to estimate the Child Tax Credit.
Other dependents who are not under age 17.
This estimates the Earned Income Credit if income appears eligible.
Only enter credits you already know about.
Usually from W-2 federal withholding or estimated tax payments.

Your Tax Estimate

Hover over any box for a quick explanation.
Live Estimate
Enter Income to Start $0 The estimate will update once income is entered.
Tax Year 2026
Filing Status Single
Income Before Deductions $0
Income Actually Taxed $0
Deduction Used $0
Highest Tax Rate 0%
Average Tax Rate 0%
Tax Before Credits $0
Dependent Credits $0
Other Credits $0
Earned Income Credit $0
Refund or Tax Due $0
Waiting on numbers

Enter income to start the federal estimate.

Money Flow Snapshot

Shows how income turns into estimated tax, credits, payments, refund, or tax due.

Income Entered $0
Income Actually Taxed $0
Tax Before Credits $0
Credits Lowering Tax $0
Payments and EIC $0

Tax Bracket Breakdown

Income Range Amount Taxed Rate Tax

Estimate only. Does not include state tax, payroll tax, self-employment tax, capital gains rates, AMT, QBI, penalties, Additional Child Tax Credit refundability, or every EITC eligibility rule.

Federal Tax Brackets

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Tax Rate Single Married Filing Separately Married Filing Jointly Head of Household

This table uses income after deductions, not gross income.

Earned Income Credit Income Limits

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Children Single / Head of Household Limit Married Filing Jointly Limit Max Credit

This is a simplified Earned Income Credit reference. Actual eligibility has more IRS rules.

Simple Explanation

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Income Before Deductions

This is the income you start with before the calculator removes the standard deduction or your custom deduction.

Income Actually Taxed

This is what remains after deductions. This is the number that goes through the federal tax brackets.

Highest Tax Rate

This is the highest tax bracket your income reaches. It does not mean all your income is taxed at that rate.

Average Tax Rate

This is closer to your real average federal tax rate because it compares estimated tax to income.

Refund

A refund usually means federal tax already paid plus refundable credits are higher than the estimated tax.

Tax Due

Tax due usually means the estimated tax is higher than federal tax already paid and refundable credits.

This calculator is only an estimate. Actual tax returns can change based on forms, credits, income types, and IRS rules.