Tax refund calculator for head of household
This version starts as head of household with $40,000 in wages, one child, and no tax withheld. Change the figures to match your year.
Enter your wages to see your estimate.
Federal income tax for tax year 2026, the return you file in 2027.
How the result is reached
| Step | Amount |
|---|
What would change it
| If you had | Result | Change |
|---|
Each row changes one input and keeps the rest the same.
An estimate for tax year 2026, not tax advice
Your real refund depends on your full return, so use this to plan, not to file.Not modeled in this estimate
This tool covers W-2 wages and other taxable income on a federal return. It uses the standard deduction and leaves out:
- Credits other than the child tax credit: earned income credit, credit for other dependents, retirement savings, education, child and dependent care, and energy credits.
- Itemized deductions, the extra standard deduction at 65 or older or if blind, and the 2025 to 2028 deductions for seniors, tips, overtime, and auto loan interest.
- Self-employment income and tax, rental income, Schedule K-1 income, taxable Social Security, and the qualified business income deduction.
- Alternative minimum tax and net investment income tax.
- State and local income tax. This is a federal estimate only.
If any of these apply to you, your refund can be higher or lower than shown.
Verified on October 8, 2026. Sources: IRS, Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (2026 inflation adjustments) (brackets, standard deductions, credit limits); 26 U.S.C. 24 (phase-out, refundable earned-income threshold); amounts from Rev. Proc. 2025-32 section 4.05 (child tax credit).
How to use it
- Pick your filing status: single, married filing jointly, head of household, or married filing separately.
- Enter your wages from W-2 box 1 and any other taxable income, such as interest or unemployment.
- Enter the federal tax withheld (W-2 box 2, all forms added together) and any estimated payments you made.
- Enter the number of children under 17 who have a Social Security number.
- Read your refund or balance owed, the steps that lead to it, and what would change it. Copy the result or a link.
Frequently asked questions
What is the head of household standard deduction in 2026?
It is $24,150 for tax year 2026, which is $8,050 more than the $16,100 for a single filer.
Can I get a refund if nothing was withheld?
Yes, if you qualify for a refundable credit. Here the child credit of $2,200 first erases the $1,585 of tax, and the remaining $615 is paid to you.
Head of household with one child
Head of household filers take a $24,150 standard deduction, higher than the $16,100 for single filers. On $40,000 of wages that leaves $15,850 of taxable income and $1,585 of tax before credits.
The child tax credit does the rest
One child under 17 brings a $2,200 credit. It wipes out the $1,585 of tax, and the unused $615 is paid to you as a refundable credit, so the estimate is a $615 refund even with $0 withheld. Check the tax refund calculator for your own filing status.
Updated on October 8, 2026