FederalSame rules in every state · En español · 中文
See whether you'll get a refund or owe on your 2026 federal return, with every new credit and deduction counted.
This is a federal income tax tool for tax year 2026 (the return you file in early 2027). Oregon has its own return: see the Oregon kicker and state credits. Washington has no income tax.
Wondering when it arrives? Read When will I get my tax refund?.
Want just one piece? Try the child tax credit, EITC, tips, overtime or senior deduction calculators.
Your refund is the federal tax taken out of your paychecks, plus any refundable credits, minus the income tax you owe after credits. This page adds up your income, subtracts the standard deduction and the new senior, tips and overtime deductions, figures the tax with the 2026 brackets, then applies the child tax credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit.
The IRS usually starts taking 2026 returns in late January 2027. Most e-filed returns with direct deposit are paid within 21 days. By law, refunds that include the EITC or the additional child tax credit are held until mid-February, so those usually arrive in early March.
On your W-2, box 2 shows the federal income tax withheld for the year. Before you get your W-2, your last pay stub of the year shows it as year-to-date federal withholding. Add any estimated tax payments you made.
If less tax was withheld than you owe, the difference is due with your return. Common reasons are a second job, self-employment income, unemployment benefits without withholding, or a W-4 that claims too many credits.
No. Federal tax refunds don't count as income for SNAP, SSI, Medicaid or housing aid, and they aren't counted as savings for 12 months after you get them.
Self-employment tax, itemized deductions, education and child care credits, the premium tax credit, capital gains rates, and state income tax. If any of those apply to you, use this as a starting point and check your return.