Document text
Tax refund estimate 2026
Federal return filed in 2027: wages, standard deduction, 2026 brackets, child tax credit and withholding
Name: [YOUR NAME]
City and state: [CITY, STATE]
Prepared on: [DATE]
1. Your numbers
What Your number
Filing status [CHOOSE ONE]
Wages for 2026 (all Forms W-2, box 1) $ [AMOUNT]
Other taxable income (interest, unemployment, 1099 income after expenses) $ [AMOUNT]
Extra deductions (no tax on tips or overtime, senior $6,000, car loan interest) $ [AMOUNT]
Children under 17 at the end of 2026, with a Social Security number [NUMBER]
Federal income tax withheld (all W-2s, box 2) and estimated payments $ [AMOUNT]
2. From income to refund
Step Result
Total income (wages + other income) [RESULT]
Standard deduction 2026 [RESULT]
Taxable income = income − standard deduction − extra deductions [RESULT]
Federal income tax on it (2026 brackets) [RESULT]
Child tax credit: $2,200 per child, less $50 per $1,000 over $200,000 ($400,000 joint) [RESULT]
Credit used against your tax [RESULT]
Refundable part (additional child tax credit): up to $1,700 per child and 15% of wages over $2,500 [RESULT]
Your tax after credits [RESULT]
Refund (+) or amount you owe (−) [RESULT]
Your tax as a share of total income [RESULT]
The rules (checked October 21, 2026) • 2026 standard deduction: $16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household. • 2026 brackets from 10% to 37%; the full table is on the Rules sheet of the Excel file. • Child tax credit: up to $2,200 per child under 17 with an SSN, up to $1,700 of it refundable; reduced over $200,000 ($400,000 joint). • EITC, education credits, self-employment tax and state tax are not in this estimate. Check at the start of the year: the IRS updates these numbers each fall.
3. Before you file in 2027
Done Check
☐ All W-2s are in (employers must send them by January 31)
☐ Box 1 of each W-2 added up — not gross pay
☐ Box 2 (federal tax withheld) added up, plus any estimated payments
☐ Every child has a Social Security number issued before the return's due date
☐ 1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-NEC, 1099-K and 1099-G (unemployment) collected
☐ Overtime (box 12, code TT) and tips — see the separate calculators
☐ Bank routing and account number for direct deposit
☐ Last year's AGI if you e-file and need to verify your identity
An estimate, not tax advice. 2026 federal numbers from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 and IR-2025-103, checked October 21, 2026. Check at the start of the year.