Tax refund calculator for single filers
The calculator starts as a single filer with $60,000 in wages and $6,000 withheld. Change any figure to see your own refund or balance owed.
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
How much is the standard deduction for a single filer in 2026?
It is $16,100 for tax year 2026. On $60,000 of wages that leaves $43,900 of taxable income, and the federal tax on it is $5,020.
What refund does a single filer get on $60,000 of wages?
With $6,000 of federal tax withheld, the estimate is a $980 refund. With $4,000 withheld, the same filer would owe $1,020 instead.
A single filer with $60,000 in wages
A single filer earning $60,000 takes a $16,100 standard deduction, which leaves $43,900 of taxable income. The federal tax on that is $5,020. With $6,000 withheld during the year, the estimate is a $980 refund.
What moves a single filer's refund
- $1,000 more in wages adds $120 of tax at the 12% rate, so the refund drops to $860.
- A qualifying child under 17 cuts the tax by $2,200 and lifts the refund to $3,180.
- With nothing withheld, the same filer would owe $5,020.
These are estimates for tax year 2026 and leave out credits such as the earned income credit. Use the tax refund calculator to try your own numbers.
Updated on October 8, 2026