How much tax refund will I get for 2026 or 2027 planning?
Use this 2026-2027 federal tax refund calculator to estimate whether you may receive a refund or owe the IRS. Enter wages, self-employment income, deductions, credits, withholding, and estimated payments to compare projected total tax against what you have already paid.
tax refund calculator
Quick answer
A tax refund calculator works by estimating total federal tax, subtracting credits, and comparing the result with withholding and estimated payments. If payments are higher than tax, the difference is your estimated refund; if tax is higher, the difference is your estimated balance due.
Also answers
- federal tax refund estimator
- 2026 tax refund calculator
- tax return calculator
- refund or balance due calculator
Good fit when
- Checking a likely refund before filing
- Comparing standard versus itemized deduction scenarios
- Seeing how credits and withholding change your refund
Have ready
- Filing status and tax year
- W-2 wages, 1099 or self-employment income, and other income
- Deductions, credits, withholding, and estimated payments
Result you get
Estimated federal refund or balance due, total federal tax, and marginal tax rate.
How this calculation works
- Adds all income sources to estimate total income.
- Applies above-the-line adjustments and a standard or itemized deduction.
- Uses IRS brackets to estimate total tax and applies credits.
- Compares tax to withholding and estimated payments to calculate refund or amount due.
Common mistakes and caveats
- Results depend on accurate inputs for credits, deductions, and withholding.
- Special situations (AMT, NIIT, multiple jobs, or large capital gains) can change results.
- IRS rules can change; confirm figures with official guidance.
FAQ
Is this an official IRS refund amount?
No. This is an estimate based on the information you enter and published IRS rules.
Does this include state taxes?
No. This tool estimates federal tax only. Use a state calculator separately if needed.
Last updated & sources
Last updated June 21, 2026.
How to use the federal refund estimator
A refund estimate starts with the same sequence used on a federal return: income, adjustments, deductions, credits, then payments. Enter W-2 wages first because they usually explain most withholding. Add self-employment net profit only after business expenses, since Schedule C net profit is what flows into the self-employment tax calculation.
The calculator compares your estimated total federal tax with withholding and estimated payments. If payments are higher than tax, the difference is an estimated refund. If tax is higher than payments, the difference is an estimated balance due. This is a planning estimate, so unusual items such as AMT, net investment income tax, repayment of marketplace credits, or large phaseouts can change the final return.
For refund timing, use the estimate as a dollar amount only. The IRS says refund status is normally available 24 hours after e-filing a current-year return, 3 days after e-filing a prior-year return, and 4 weeks after filing a paper return. The IRS also says most refunds are issued in fewer than 21 days, but returns with errors, identity checks, EITC, ACTC, or manual review can take longer.
Worked refund examples
W-2 household with withholding
A single filer enters $70,000 of W-2 wages and $9,000 of federal withholding. The calculator subtracts the standard deduction, applies the federal brackets, then compares the estimated tax with the $9,000 already paid. The result shows whether the filer is overwithheld or should adjust Form W-4.
Mixed W-2 and freelance income
A taxpayer with $55,000 in wages and $18,000 of net 1099 profit adds both income sources. The tool estimates self-employment tax on the freelance profit, deducts the allowable half of that tax before income tax, then compares the combined tax with withholding and estimated payments.
TaxGuide Pro provides free state and federal tax calculators for individuals, freelancers, and small businesses.