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Income tax estimate
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Estimate your federal income tax for the year you choose, with an optional flat state rate, compared with what you have had withheld.
- Adjusted gross income$85,000
- Standard deduction$32,200
- Taxable income$52,800
- Federal tax before credits$5,840
- Federal tax$5,840
- Marginal bracket12%
- Effective federal rate6.9%
Uses 2026 federal figures (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32). Leaves out self-employment tax, capital gains rates, AMT, and most credits. Enter only the taxable part of Social Security.
How this calculator works
The estimate starts with your income, subtracts pre-tax contributions to reach adjusted gross income, then takes the larger of the standard deduction or your itemized deductions. It applies the federal tax brackets for the year you choose, the extra deduction for people 65 and older, and the child tax credit. Comparing the result with what you have had withheld shows whether you are headed for a refund or a balance due.
A worked example
The example is a married couple filing jointly for 2026 with $90,000 in wages, $5,000 of other taxable income, and $10,000 in pre-tax contributions. Adjusted gross income is $90,000 plus $5,000 minus $10,000, which is $85,000. Subtracting the $32,200 standard deduction leaves $52,800 of taxable income.
The first $24,800 is taxed at 10%, which is $2,480. The remaining $28,000 is taxed at 12%, which is $3,360. Federal tax is $5,840. With $9,000 withheld, the estimate is a refund of $3,160. If the couple had two children under 17, a $4,400 child tax credit would bring the tax down to $1,440 and the refund up to $7,560.
How to read your results
The two rates on the results answer different questions. The marginal bracket, 12% in the example, is the rate on your next dollar of income, and it is the one to use when you weigh a raise or a retirement contribution. The effective rate, 6.9% in the example, is your total federal tax divided by your adjusted gross income. It is always lower, because the first part of your income falls in the standard deduction and the lower brackets.
A refund means you had more withheld than you owed. An amount owed means the opposite. Either way, the size of the gap tells you whether your withholding is about right.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Thinking a raise can lower your take-home pay. Moving into a higher bracket only changes the rate on the dollars above the threshold. Everything below it is taxed exactly as before.
- Entering all of your Social Security. Only part of it is taxable, between none and 85% depending on your other income. Enter only the taxable part.
- Itemizing out of habit. The standard deduction is large. Enter your itemized total and the calculator uses whichever is bigger.
- Treating a big refund as a bonus. A refund is your own money coming back without interest. Adjusting your W-4 puts it in each paycheck.
Common questions
What is the standard deduction for 2026?
$16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married couples filing jointly, and $24,150 for heads of household. People 65 or older add $2,050 if single or head of household, or $1,650 per spouse if married.
What is the senior deduction?
A deduction of up to $6,000 per person age 65 or older, available for tax years 2025 through 2028. It phases out above $75,000 of income for single filers and $150,000 for joint filers, and it applies whether or not you itemize.
What does this estimate leave out?
Self-employment tax, the special rates on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends, the alternative minimum tax, and most credits other than the child tax credit. If those apply to you, treat this as a rough starting point.
How accurate is the state tax figure?
It is rough. It applies one flat rate that you enter. Many states have their own brackets, deductions, and credits, and some have no income tax at all.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for education only and is not tax, legal, or investment advice. Tax rules change often and depend on your full situation, so confirm with a CPA, enrolled agent, or licensed financial professional.
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