Tax Refund Calculator
Ballpark whether you might get a refund or owe more by pairing the same bracket estimate as our federal tax calculator with how much federal income tax you already paid or expect to pay for the year (W-2 withholding, estimated payments, etc.).
State tax, credits, AMT, and children are not modeled here—treat the result as directional.
Estimated refund or balance (federal)
Bracket estimate (2024). Not for filing.
How this is calculated
We compute taxable income from gross, pre-tax deductions, and standard or itemized deduction, then apply 2024 federal brackets to get total tax.
Your refund or balance is federal withholding entered minus that tax (positive means a refund if your inputs are complete and accurate).
Use this tool for
- Checking after a bonus whether extra withholding likely covers the spike in liability.
- Deciding whether to adjust W-4 mid-year when refunds have been huge or tiny.
- Explaining why take-home pay does not equal refund size.
Common questions
Why is my real refund different?
Credits, dependents, other income, state taxes, and IRS rounding all move the number. Use this to reason about federal tax vs withholding, not to prepare a return.
What should I enter for withheld?
Use total federal income tax withheld for the calendar year if you know it (box 2 on a W-2 is per job; combine jobs). For a partial year, prorate or enter what you expect by December.
