Determine Tax Return Calculator
US, 2025 tax year · figures follow that year's rules
Tax Refund Estimator works out Refund (positive) or amount owed (negative) and Adjusted gross income from Wages, salaries and tips (W-2 box 1), Tax year and Filing status. The default figures on this page give refund (positive) or amount owed (negative) of 1,928.5 USD; change any entry and the result, the working and the sources update together.
Your figures
Updates as you typeHow this is worked out
6 steps
- Total income = wages 60000 + other 0 + self-employment 0 + long-term gains 0 = 60000
- Adjusted gross income = 60000
- Less the standard deduction of 15750 gives taxable income 44250
- 10% on 11925 (from 0 to 11925) = 1192.5
- 12% on 32325 (from 11925 to 48475) = 3879
- Total tax 5071.5 against payments of 7000 leaves 1928.5.
Tax by brackettable
| ratePercent | from | to | taxableAmount | tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 0 | 11,925 | 11,925 | 1,192.5 |
| 12 | 11,925 | 48,475 | 32,325 | 3,879 |
Form 1040 walkthroughtable
| line | amount |
|---|---|
| Total income | 60,000 |
| Adjustments to income | -0 |
| Adjusted gross income | 60,000 |
| Standard deduction | -15,750 |
| Taxable income | 44,250 |
| Tax on ordinary income | 5,071.5 |
| Tax on long-term capital gains | 0 |
| Non-refundable credits | -0 |
| Self-employment tax | 0 |
| Total tax | 5,071.5 |
| Payments and refundable credits | 7,000 |
| Refund (positive) or owed (negative) | 1,928.5 |
Figures from US federal tax tables (IRS), 2026 rules, checked 31 August 2026. Its 5 worked examples are re-run on every release, last on 15 September 2026. What changed · how reference data is kept current
Sources and references
5 sources
Keep this result
Save it, change one figure, then compare the two
The calculation stays free. Save this scenario, adjust one assumption, save that too, and put them side by side to see exactly what the change costs you. A free account keeps 5 scenarios and 2 comparisons; Personal makes both unlimited and adds exports and private links. Nothing is saved unless you press Save.
What the Tax Refund Estimator calculates
Estimates your federal refund or balance due by walking the Form 1040: income, adjustments, deduction, tax on ordinary income and capital gains, self-employment tax, credits and payments.
How to use this Tax Refund Estimator
Enter Wages, salaries and tips (W-2 box 1), Tax year, Filing status and Other ordinary income. Refund (positive) or amount owed (negative) updates as you type, and “Use a worked example” loads checked figures you can adjust. Change one figure at a time to see what drives the result.
How the result is worked out
Open “How this is worked out” beside the result for the step-by-step calculation behind Refund (positive) or amount owed (negative), Adjusted gross income and Deduction applied.
The method follows IRS Form 1040 and instructions: the order of income, adjustments, deduction, tax, credits and payments, IRS Revenue Procedure 2024-40, inflation-adjusted items for tax year 2025 (rate tables and capital gains thresholds), IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32, post-OBBBA 2025 standard deduction and 2026 inflation adjustments, IRS Child Tax Credit: up to $2,200 per qualifying child for 2025, up to $1,700 refundable, phasing out above $200,000 ($400,000 joint) and IRS Schedule SE (Form 1040), Self-Employment Tax.
2025 single, $60,000 of wages, $7,000 withheld example
With Wages, salaries and tips (W-2 box 1): 60000, Filing status: single, Tax year: 2025, Federal income tax withheld: 7000, the calculator returns Taxable income: 44250, Tax on ordinary income: 5071.5, Refund (positive) or amount owed (negative): 1928.5. This example is checked against an independent source in the test suite.
What you can compare
Change one input at a time to see how it affects Refund (positive) or amount owed (negative), Adjusted gross income and Deduction applied. The inputs you can vary are Wages, salaries and tips (W-2 box 1), Tax year, Filing status, Other ordinary income, Net self-employment profit and Long-term capital gains and qualified dividends.
Understanding Refund (positive) or amount owed (negative), Adjusted gross income and Deduction applied
An estimate, not a return. It does not model the earned income credit, education or energy credits, AMT, the qualified business income deduction, state tax, or the many phase-outs that apply at higher incomes. Check it against your actual return or a tax professional.
Results are general information, not financial, tax, legal, medical or engineering advice. Check any decision that matters with a qualified professional.
See something wrong? Report a problem with this calculator
Frequently asked questions
Can I estimate what my tax refund will be?
Estimates your federal refund or balance due by walking the Form 1040: income, adjustments, deduction, tax on ordinary income and capital gains, self-employment tax, credits and payments. On the figures this page opens with — wages, salaries and tips (W-2 box 1) 60,000 USD and federal income tax withheld 7,000 USD — the refund (positive) or amount owed (negative) is 1,928.5 USD. Put your own figures in their place and the working updates beside the result.
Does everyone get a $3,000 tax refund?
It needs Wages, salaries and tips (W-2 box 1), Tax year, Filing status, Other ordinary income, Net self-employment profit and Long-term capital gains and qualified dividends. Nothing else is required, and the figures stay in your browser.
What is the average IRS tax refund for 2026?
On the figures this page opens with — wages, salaries and tips (W-2 box 1) 60,000 USD and federal income tax withheld 7,000 USD — the refund (positive) or amount owed (negative) is 1,928.5 USD. No single number fits everyone: change any figure above and the answer updates as you type, with each step of the arithmetic beside it.
How much will my tax return be if I made $32,000?
The result gives Refund (positive) or amount owed (negative), Adjusted gross income, Deduction applied, Taxable income, Tax on ordinary income and Tax on long-term capital gains, each labelled with its unit so the figure can be read on its own.
What information do I need for the Tax Refund Estimator?
You need Wages, salaries and tips (W-2 box 1), Tax year, Filing status, Other ordinary income, Net self-employment profit, Long-term capital gains and qualified dividends, Adjustments to income and Deduction. The page opens with default figures that give refund (positive) or amount owed (negative) of 1,928.5 USD, so you can see the scale before entering your own.
What does this Tax Refund Estimator show?
It shows Refund (positive) or amount owed (negative), Adjusted gross income, Deduction applied, Taxable income, Tax on ordinary income, Tax on long-term capital gains, Self-employment tax and Child tax credit allowed, with the working and any warnings for your entries.