Ginti US

2026 Tax Refund Estimator (New Deductions)

Enter your wages, withholding and family to see your estimated refund or balance due for tax year 2026, with every new deduction counted.

Filing status

Wages ($)

Form W-2 box 1, tips and overtime included.Other income ($)

Federal tax withheld ($)

Form W-2 box 2, plus any estimated payments.Children under 17

People aged 65 or over

Qualified tips ($)

Overtime premium ($)

Qualifying car-loan interest ($)

State and local taxes paid ($)

Mortgage interest, charity and other itemized ($)

Estimated refund

$4,920

The new deductions save $360 of tax

Taxable income: $49,800
Tax before credits: $5,480
Child tax credit: $4,400
Standard deduction: $32,200

An estimate of federal income tax for 2026, filed in early 2027. It leaves out the earned income credit, education and energy credits, self-employment tax, capital gains rates and the alternative minimum tax, so check a full return before relying on it.

What you entered

Status: married filing jointlyWages: $85,000Withheld: $6,000Children: 2

1
Adjusted gross income
$85,000 wages + $0 other= $85,000
2
Standard deduction, married filing jointly
2026 amount, larger than $6,000 itemized= $32,200
3
New Schedule 1-A deductions: tips + overtime + car-loan interest + seniors
$0 + $3,000 + $0 + $0= $3,000
4
Taxable income
$85,000 − $32,200 − $3,000= $49,800
5
Income tax on it, 2026 brackets
tax on $49,800= $5,480
6
Child tax credit: $2,200 a child, first against the tax
smaller of $4,400 and $5,480= − $4,400
7
Refund: tax withheld plus refundable credit, less the tax due
$6,000 + $0 − $1,080= $4,920 refund

Result

Refund: $4,920

Uses the 2026 brackets and standard deductions (Rev. Proc. 2025-32), the $40,400 SALT cap, the $2,200 child tax credit with $1,700 refundable, and the Schedule 1-A deductions for tips, overtime, car-loan interest and seniors.

The 2026 standard deduction and tax brackets

From Rev. Proc. 2025-32, for the return you file in early 2027. The 10% rate applies below the 12% threshold.

Filing status	Standard deduction	Extra at 65 or over	12% from	22% from	24% from
Single	$16,100	$2,050	$12,400	$50,400	$105,700
Head of household	$24,150	$2,050	$17,700	$67,450	$105,700
Married filing jointly	$32,200	$1,650 each	$24,800	$100,800	$211,400

The thresholds are taxable income, after deductions. The Schedule 1-A deductions for tips, overtime, car-loan interest and seniors come off on top of the standard or itemized deduction. The child tax credit is $2,200 a child, with up to $1,700 refundable.

What's new on the return you file in 2027

Tax year 2026 brings the 2026 brackets and a standard deduction of $16,100 single, $24,150 head of household and $32,200 joint. On top of that come the Schedule 1-A deductions from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, available whether or not you itemize: qualified tips, the overtime premium, car-loan interest on a new US-built vehicle and $6,000 for each person 65 or over. The child tax credit is $2,200 a child with up to $1,700 refundable, and the cap on state and local taxes for itemizers is $40,400.

Why your refund might rise

Paycheck withholding only allows for tips, overtime, a car loan or age if you tell your employer on Form W-4, so the new deductions often show up as a larger refund. A married couple with $85,000 of wages, two children, $3,000 of overtime premium and $6,000 withheld would get about $4,920 back for 2026, $360 of it from the overtime deduction. A refund means you over-paid during the year; you can change your W-4 to keep more in each paycheck instead.

Frequently asked questions

How do I estimate my 2026 tax refund?

Add your wages and other income, take off the larger of the standard and itemized deductions and any Schedule 1-A deductions, and work out the tax on what's left with the 2026 brackets. Take off the child tax credit; what you had withheld minus the tax left is your refund, or what you owe if it is negative.

When can I file my 2026 tax return?

The IRS usually opens filing in late January. Returns for 2026 are due on 15 April 2027, and refunds for e-filed returns with direct deposit usually arrive within three weeks.

What is the standard deduction for 2026?

$16,100 single or married filing separately, $24,150 head of household and $32,200 married filing jointly, plus $2,050 (unmarried) or $1,650 (married) for each person 65 or over or blind.

What does this estimator leave out?

The earned income credit, education and energy credits, self-employment tax, the lower rates on capital gains and qualified dividends, and the alternative minimum tax. For an exact figure, use tax software or the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator.