Choose a tax year, then enter W-2 wages and federal income tax withheld. For 2026, use expected full-year amounts.
Tax year
Choose the year the income was or will be earned. 2026 uses expected full-year amounts.
W-2 wages and withholding
Filing status
2025 standard deductions: Single $15,750, Married Filing Jointly $31,500, Head of Household $23,625.
2025 Estimated Refund
+$729
Withholding exceeded estimated federal tax
Withheld more than owed
If your actual tax is similar, you may be able to adjust your W-4 withholding for future paychecks.
For tax year 2025, on $45,000 in wages (1 W-2), filing as Single: estimated federal tax $3,272, withheld $4,000.
Withheld vs. Tax Owed
Withheld more than estimated tax
Basic federal estimate using the standard deduction and wages only. State taxes, credits, other income, and additional deductions are not included.
Withheld vs. Tax Owed
Withheld more than estimated tax
Basic federal estimate using the standard deduction and wages only. State taxes, credits, other income, and additional deductions are not included.
Choose the year the wages were earned, 2023 through 2026, rather than the year you file. Add one entry per W-2 job: Box 1 wages and Box 2 federal income tax withheld, then select Single, Married Filing Jointly, or Head of Household. The tool does not determine whether you qualify for a filing status.
To calculate a federal tax refund estimate from W-2s, the tool adds Box 1 wages, subtracts the selected year's standard deduction, and applies that year's federal brackets to successive slices of taxable income. It then subtracts estimated federal tax from total Box 2 withholding. This is a bracket calculation, not one flat rate applied to all wages.
A positive difference is an estimated federal refund; a negative difference is estimated tax owed, even if some tax was withheld. For 2026, use expected full-year wages and withholding and treat the result as a projection. The estimate does not include state tax, credits, other income, itemized deductions, or special tax rules.
The calculator uses the selected year's federal standard deduction and brackets for the filing status you choose. It assumes W-2 Box 1 wages are the only taxable income and Box 2 is the only federal withholding.
Sources: IRS: 2023 tax inflation adjustmentsIRS: 2024 tax inflation adjustmentsIRS: 2025 tax bracketsIRS: Updated 2025 standard deductionIRS: 2026 tax brackets and standard deduction