Refund Estimator
Estimate your 2026 federal tax refund or balance due from wages, withholding and credits (the $2,200 child tax credit, earned income credit and American opportunity credit), and see the W-4 change that gets you to break even.
Refund estimator (2026 tax year)
How your tax refund is calculated
Refund = tax withheld and paid − (tax − credits). The calculator figures 2026 tax on your taxable income (AGI minus the $16,100 / $32,200 / $24,150 standard deduction), applies credits in the IRS order, adds refundable credits, and compares the result with your withholding.
Example: head of household, $52,000 of wages, 2 children under 17, $2,600 withheld: taxable income $27,850, tax $2,988. The child tax credit wipes out the tax, $1,412 of the unused credit is refunded as the additional child tax credit, and the earned income credit (partly phased out at this income) adds $1,396: a refund of about $5,408.
2026 credits used in this estimator
- Child tax credit: $2,200 per child under 17 with a Social Security number; up to $1,700 per child is refundable (15% of earnings over $2,500). It phases out by $50 per $1,000 of income over $200,000 ($400,000 joint). $500 credit for other dependents.
- Earned income tax credit (earned income credit): up to $664 with no children, $4,427 with one, $7,316 with two and $8,231 with three or more, phased out at higher incomes; not allowed if investment income is over $12,200. Workers without children must be 25 to 64.
- American opportunity tax credit (AOTC tax credit): up to $2,500 per student for the first four years of college (100% of the first $2,000 of expenses + 25% of the next $2,000); 40% (up to $1,000) is refundable; phases out at $80,000 to $90,000 of income ($160,000 to $180,000 joint).
IRS withholding estimator and your W-4
If you'll owe, add the amount ÷ remaining paychecks to Step 4(c) of a new Form W-4. If your refund is large, you can claim credits in Step 3 so more of each paycheck stays with you. The IRS tax withholding estimator does the same comparison using your pay stubs; your W-2 form (box 2) shows what was withheld for the year.
Calculate my refund, calculate my tax return, tax back estimator
All of these mean the same thing: estimate whether you'll get money back (a tax rebate or tax reimbursement, in everyday terms) or owe. Refunds from returns with the EITC or additional child tax credit can't be issued before mid-February by law.
Calculate your tax return and withholding
To calculate your tax return result, you need your W2 form (box 1 wages, box 2 federal tax withheld) or your last pay stub. Calculating withholding tax for the rest of the year is the W-4 step above. A tax rebate calculator or tax reimbursement calculator answers the same question this one does: how much comes back to you.
Common questions
How do I calculate my tax refund?
Subtract your tax after credits from what was withheld and paid; a positive number is your refund.
How much is the child tax credit for 2026?
$2,200 per child under 17, with up to $1,700 refundable.
What is the maximum earned income credit in 2026?
$664 (no children), $4,427 (one), $7,316 (two) and $8,231 (three or more).
How much is the American opportunity tax credit?
Up to $2,500 per student, 40% refundable, for the first four years of college.
How do I change my withholding?
Give your employer a new Form W-4; Step 4(c) adds extra withholding per paycheck.
Sources
- IRS: 2026 inflation adjustments (Rev. Proc. 2025-32), via Journal of Accountancy
- Social Security Administration: 2026 contribution and benefit base
- Current Federal Tax Developments: Rev. Proc. 2025-32 analysis (EITC, CTC)
- IRS: Tax withholding estimator
- IRS: American opportunity tax credit
Related
General information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Check important numbers with the official source before acting on them.