How this calculator works
Works through a simplified 2026 Form 1040: income minus the standard (or itemized) deduction and the new Schedule 1-A deductions for tips, overtime and seniors, the 2026 tax brackets, the child tax credit and credit for other dependents, the earned income credit, and self-employment tax if you had 1099 income. What you've already paid (withholding and estimated payments) minus the tax gives the refund or the amount due.
- AGI = wages + other income + self-employment profit − half of self-employment tax.
- Taxable income = AGI − the larger of the standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 joint, $24,150 head of household) or your itemized deductions − Schedule 1-A deductions (tips, overtime, seniors) − QBI deduction.
- Tax = the 2026 rate schedule (10% to 37%) applied bracket by bracket, minus the child tax credit ($2,200 per child under 17) and $500 per other dependent, plus self-employment tax.
- Refund = withholding + estimated payments + refundable credits (up to $1,700 per child, and the earned income credit) − tax. A negative result is the amount you owe by April 15, 2027.
Worked example
With these inputs: filing status Single; wages $60,000; federal tax withheld $6,500; children under 17 0; other dependents 0; other taxable income $0; self-employment profit $0; estimated tax payments made $0; itemized deductions $0; people on the return age 65+ 0; qualified tips $0; qualified overtime premium $0.
The result is estimated federal refund $1,480.00, with adjusted gross income $60,000.00 and standard deduction $16,100.00. A planning estimate under 2026 federal rules, not tax advice. It leaves out state tax, AMT, capital-gain rates and most credits.
What changed for 2026 returns
The standard deduction rose to $16,100 for single filers and married people filing separately, $32,200 for married couples filing jointly and $24,150 for heads of household. The child tax credit is $2,200 per qualifying child, with up to $1,700 of it refundable, and it starts to phase out above $200,000 of income ($400,000 joint).
Four deductions from the 2025 tax law are claimed on the new Schedule 1-A whether or not you itemize: up to $25,000 of qualified tips, the premium part of overtime pay up to $12,500 ($25,000 joint), $6,000 for each person 65 or older, and up to $10,000 of interest on a new car loan (not in this calculator). Tips, overtime and senior deductions shrink at higher incomes and need a joint return if you're married. In the example, $5,000 of qualified overtime premium raises the single filer's refund from $1,480.00 to $2,080.00.
Why your refund might be smaller (or bigger) than last year
A refund is only the withholding you overpaid. A raise, a second job, freelance income with no withholding, or a W-4 that hasn't been updated can all shrink it. A new child, the higher standard deduction or the new overtime and tips deductions can grow it. The bracket table under the result shows exactly how much of your income lands at each rate.
Low and moderate earners with children often get back more than they paid in, because the refundable child tax credit and the earned income credit are paid even when no tax is due. A head of household earning $30,000 with one child and $1,200 withheld could see about $6,266.00: $1,615.00 of refundable child credit and $3,451.00 of earned income credit on top of the withholding.
Owe instead? Plan the payment now
If the estimate shows a balance due, the W-4 calculator works out how much more to withhold from each remaining paycheck, and 1099 workers can use the quarterly estimated tax calculator. To have the money ready by April, divide the balance into a sinking fund or fold it into your monthly budget.
Expecting a refund? Decide where it goes before it lands: an emergency fund, an extra debt payment in the extra payment calculator, or next year's planned bills.
Sources
- IRS IR-2025-103: Tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026 (brackets, standard deduction)
- IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32: 2026 tax rate tables, standard deduction, child tax credit, EITC and QBI thresholds (PDF)
- IRS Form 1040-ES (2026): estimated tax, due dates, safe harbors and what's new for 2026 (PDF)
- IRS: How to take advantage of no tax on tips and overtime
- 26 U.S.C. §225: overtime deduction limits and $100-per-$1,000 phase-out (Cornell LII)
- 26 U.S.C. §151(d)(5)(C): $6,000 deduction for seniors, 6% phase-out (Cornell LII)
- 26 U.S.C. §24: child tax credit phase-out and refundable portion (Cornell LII)
Frequently asked questions
How do I estimate my 2026 tax refund?
Subtract the standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly) from your income, apply the 2026 brackets, subtract credits such as $2,200 per child under 17, and compare the tax with what was withheld (W-2 box 2). Single, $60,000 wages, $6,500 withheld: tax $5,020.00, refund $1,480.00.
When can I file my 2026 tax return?
The IRS usually opens filing season in late January. Returns for 2026 are due April 15, 2027. E-filing with direct deposit is the fastest way to get a refund.
Does the 2026 refund estimator include no tax on overtime and tips?
Yes. Enter the qualified overtime premium (W-2 box 12 code TT) and qualified tips (code TP). They're deducted after the standard deduction, up to $12,500 of overtime ($25,000 joint) and $25,000 of tips, and shrink above $150,000 of income ($300,000 joint).
How much is the child tax credit for 2026?
$2,200 per qualifying child under 17 with a Social Security number, of which up to $1,700 is refundable. It drops by $50 for every $1,000 of income above $200,000 ($400,000 married filing jointly).
Is this tax refund calculator accurate?
It follows the IRS's 2026 rate schedules and credits for a typical return, so it's close for W-2 earners. It doesn't include state tax, capital gains, the AMT or credits such as education and dependent care, so use it to plan and let tax software or a professional do the actual return.