Tax Refund Estimator
Get a quick estimate of your federal tax refund — or how much you might owe — based on your wages, withholding, and filing situation. Uses 2025 IRS brackets and standard deductions.
Estimated refund
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Taxable income
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Federal tax owed
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Tax withheld
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Deduction applied
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Tax credits
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Effective / marginal rate
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How this estimate works
Your tax refund is the difference between what you’ve already paid in (through paycheck withholding) and what you actually owe for the year. If you withheld more than your tax bill, the IRS sends back the difference. If you withheld less, you owe.
- Filing status — single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, or head of household. Each has its own tax brackets and standard deduction.
- Annual wages — your gross pay before taxes, from Box 1 of your W-2.
- Federal tax withheld — the federal income tax your employer already sent to the IRS on your behalf, from Box 2 of your W-2. This is the prepayment.
- Pre-tax 401(k) / HSA — contributions taken out of your paycheck before taxes. These lower your taxable income dollar-for-dollar.
- Other taxable income — interest, dividends, freelance work, and any other income not on your W-2.
- Qualifying children — kids under 17 typically qualify you for the $2,000-per-child Child Tax Credit, which directly reduces the tax you owe.
- Deduction type — most people take the standard deduction (2025: $15,000 single, $30,000 married jointly, $22,500 head of household). Itemize if your deductible expenses — mortgage interest, state and local taxes, charitable giving — exceed the standard amount.
The math: Adjusted gross income = total income − pre-tax retirement. Taxable income = AGI − deduction. Federal tax is calculated by running taxable income through the 2025 IRS brackets. Child Tax Credit is subtracted. Your refund (or balance due) is withholding minus that final tax bill.
This is a simplified federal-tax estimate. It does not account for state income tax, FICA, AMT, capital gains rates, EITC, Saver’s Credit, education credits, self-employment tax, or itemized-deduction phaseouts. Real tax outcomes vary. This is not tax advice — consult a CPA for your actual return.
Before you file — or just to understand where you stand — this estimator walks your income through the 2025 federal tax brackets and tells you whether you’re getting money back or writing a check. Enter your wages, withholding, and a few details about your filing situation, and the calculator shows your estimated refund or balance due alongside your taxable income, effective rate, marginal rate, deduction applied, and any Child Tax Credit reducing your bill.
Filing status — single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, or head of household. This determines both the tax brackets that apply to your income and the size of your standard deduction, so it’s the first thing to get right.
Annual wages (gross) — your total wages before any taxes are taken out, which is the number in Box 1 of your W-2. If you have multiple jobs or W-2s, add them together.
Federal tax withheld — the federal income tax your employer already sent to the IRS on your behalf throughout the year, found in Box 2 of your W-2. This is your prepayment, and it’s the number your refund or balance due is calculated against. If you have multiple W-2s, add all Box 2 amounts.
Pre-tax 401(k) / HSA — contributions deducted from your paycheck before taxes are calculated. These reduce your taxable income dollar-for-dollar, which is one reason maxing out a 401(k) lowers your tax bill more than most people expect.
Other taxable income — any income not captured on your W-2: interest, dividends, freelance or gig work, rental income. Add it here to keep the estimate accurate.
Qualifying children — the number of children under 17 who qualify you for the Child Tax Credit. The calculator applies $2,000 per child directly against your tax liability, which is a credit — a dollar-for-dollar reduction — not a deduction from income.
Deduction type — the standard deduction for 2025 is $15,000 for single filers, $30,000 for married filing jointly, and $22,500 for head of household. Switch to itemize if your deductible expenses — mortgage interest, state and local taxes capped at $10,000, and charitable contributions — add up to more than your standard deduction amount. The calculator shows which deduction was applied in the results.
The effective rate shown in the results is your actual tax liability divided by your adjusted gross income — the real percentage of your income that goes to federal taxes. The marginal rate is the bracket your last dollar of taxable income falls into, which is the rate that matters when you’re deciding whether to make a last-minute IRA contribution or take on extra income.
A refund is a great opportunity to build your emergency fund — the Emergency Fund Calculator shows you exactly how far it goes toward your target.
Or put it toward a savings goal: the Savings Goal Calculator shows how a lump sum contribution accelerates your timeline.
Want to see how your take-home pay fits into a budget? The Budget Calculator lets you plan the full picture around your after-tax income.
This is a simplified federal-only estimate using 2025 IRS brackets and standard deductions. It does not account for state income tax, FICA, AMT, capital gains rates, EITC, self-employment tax, or itemized deduction phaseouts. Consult a CPA or tax professional for your actual return. This is not tax advice.