Tax Refund Calculator
Estimate your 2026 federal tax refund or balance due from your income tax before credits, withholding, estimated payments, the Child Tax Credit (including its refundable part) and the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Last updated: October 2026
Refund Amount (+ = refund, - = owed)
7,622.23 $
Formula below · 3 sources (IRS, everycrsreport.com, kiplinger.com) · Updated Oct 2026
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About this calculator
Refund (or amount owed) = withholding + estimated payments + refundable credits − (income tax before credits − nonrefundable credits). The calculator uses 2026 rules. Child Tax Credit: $2,200 per qualifying child under 17, reduced by $50 for each $1,000 (or part) of income above $200,000 ($400,000 married filing jointly). It first reduces your income tax to as low as zero; any unused part is refundable as the Additional Child Tax Credit, up to $1,700 per child and up to 15% of earned income above $2,500. Earned Income Tax Credit (fully refundable): with 0, 1, 2 or 3+ qualifying children the credit is 7.65%, 34%, 40% or 45% of earned income, up to a maximum of $664, $4,427, $7,316 or $8,231. It phases out at 7.65%, 15.98%, 21.06% or 21.06% of income above $10,860 (no children) or $23,890 (with children); for married filing jointly the phaseout starts $7,280 higher with no children ($18,140) and $7,270 higher with children ($31,160). It reaches zero at $19,540 (no children) and $51,593, $58,629 or $62,974 with 1, 2 or 3+ children for single and head-of-household filers. Assumptions: earned income stands in for AGI in the phaseouts; every child counted is under 17 and qualifies for both credits; investment income is under the 2026 EITC limit of $12,200; and a childless EITC claimant is 25 to 64. The IRS EIC table works in $50 bands, so its figure can differ from this formula by a few dollars. Married filing separately is not offered because separate filers usually cannot claim the EITC. A positive result is a refund; a negative result is the balance due.
This is an estimate for planning, not tax advice; your actual refund is set by the return you file.
| Qualifying children | Credit rate | Maximum credit | Phaseout starts | Credit ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 7.65% | $664 | $10,860 | $19,540 |
| 1 | 34% | $4,427 | $23,890 | $51,593 |
| 2 | 40% | $7,316 | $23,890 | $58,629 |
| 3 or more | 45% | $8,231 | $23,890 | $62,974 |
How to use
Enter your income tax before credits (from Form 1040 or a tax-bracket calculator), the federal tax withheld (W-2 box 2), any estimated payments, your earned income, the number of qualifying children under 17 and your filing status. A positive result is a refund; a negative one is the balance due. The default is a head of household with two children and $45,000 of earned income in 2026. Tax before credits is $2,148 ($45,000 − $24,150 standard deduction = $20,850; 10% of $17,700 plus 12% of $3,150). The $4,400 Child Tax Credit wipes out the $2,148 of tax, and the refundable part is the smallest of the $2,252 left, $3,400 and 15% × ($45,000 − $2,500) = $6,375, so $2,252. EITC = $7,316 − 21.06% × ($45,000 − $23,890) = $2,870.23. Refund = $2,500 + $2,252 + $2,870.23 = $7,622.23. Suppose instead you earned $30,000 with tax before credits of $585 and $2,400 withheld: the refundable child credit is capped at $3,400, the EITC is $6,029.23, and the refund is $11,829.23.
Frequently asked questions
How does the Earned Income Tax Credit affect my tax refund amount?
The EITC is fully refundable, so it can increase your refund beyond the tax you paid in. For 2026 it builds up at 34% of earned income with one child (40% with two, 45% with three or more, 7.65% with none) until it reaches its maximum of $4,427 with one child, $7,316 with two, $8,231 with three or more, or $664 with none. Above $23,890 of income ($31,160 married filing jointly) with children, or $10,860 ($18,140 joint) without, it phases out gradually and reaches zero at, for example, $51,593 for a single parent of one child. Even if your tax liability is zero, the IRS pays the credit as part of your refund.
What is the difference between tax liability and federal taxes withheld?
Tax liability is the total amount of tax you legally owe on your income for the year, calculated from your taxable income and the IRS tax brackets. Federal taxes withheld is the amount your employer already sent to the IRS on your behalf throughout the year. If withholding exceeds liability, you receive a refund of the difference. If liability exceeds withholding, you owe the balance when you file.
When should I use a tax refund calculator instead of waiting to file?
A tax refund calculator is most useful in January or February after you receive your W-2 but before you file your return. It helps you decide whether to file quickly to receive a refund sooner or to take more time gathering deduction records. It is also useful mid-year to adjust your W-4 withholding if you want to avoid a large balance due next April. However, the calculator provides an estimate — your actual refund is determined by your official tax return.
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