How much is a tax refund with one child?
This version starts with one child under 17, head of household filing, and $40,000 in wages. Change the status, income, or children to compare.
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 child tax credit for one child?
It is $2,200 per child under 17 with a Social Security number for tax year 2026, reduced at high incomes.
Is the whole credit refundable?
No. The credit first lowers your tax. Only what is left over can be refunded, up to a per-child cap that also depends on your earnings.
What one child is worth
A child under 17 with a Social Security number brings a $2,200 child tax credit. For a head of household earning $40,000, the tax before credits is $1,585 after a $24,150 standard deduction. The credit uses $1,585 of its value to erase that tax, and the other $615 is refundable, so the estimate is a $615 refund.
Why the credit is not always a full $2,200
The credit first lowers the tax you owe. Only the part left over can be refunded, and that part has a per-child cap and depends on your earnings. A single filer with $60,000 of wages and $6,000 withheld goes from a $980 refund to $3,180 with one child, because the whole $2,200 fits against the $5,020 of tax.
Updated on October 8, 2026