Income Tax Calculator & Tax Refund Estimator
Estimate your federal and state tax, credits, FICA, and whether you are on track for a refund or an amount owed.
Example: California single filer, $100K gross
Federal Tax
$13,170.10
State Tax
$5,437.80
FICA
$7,650
Federal Refund
$4,829.90
At $100,000 gross in California, effective rate is 26.26%. With $18,000 of federal withholding, the estimated federal refund is $4,829.90; California tax is settled separately on the state return.
Source: FinCalc server-rendered example using the same formulas as the interactive calculator.
Income and deductions
Estimated refund or amount owed
Estimated federal refund
$4,149.90
Federal withholding minus federal income tax after credits. FICA is withheld from pay and isn't refunded.
California tax, settled on your state return
$4,879.80
Enter state withholding (W-2 box 17) to estimate your California refund or amount owed.
Your federal income tax is $11,850. With $16,000 federal withholding, you may get a federal refund of $4,150. California tax ($4,880) is settled separately on your state return. FICA ($7,268) is withheld from pay and isn't refunded. Total tax including state and FICA: $23,997.
Federal tax (after credits)
$11,850.10
State tax
$4,879.80
FICA (SS + Medicare)
$7,267.50
Child tax credit
$0
Effective tax rate
25.26%
Marginal tax rate
38.95%
AGI
$94,000
Taxable income (federal)
$77,900
Tax estimator by state
Sources
Data and assumptions align with official publications. For verification and current figures:
- IRS — Tax brackets, rates, credits, inflation adjustments
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — CPI, wage data, occupational statistics
How this estimator works
AGI = gross income + other income - 401(k) - HSA - IRA - student loan interest / 2.
Taxable income = AGI - deduction (standard by default or your itemized amount).
Total tax = federal tax + state tax + FICA - child tax credit. Refund/owed = withholding - total tax.
Need state-specific assumptions? Choose your state above for a dedicated page and a pre-computed sample scenario.
Frequently asked questions
How do I estimate whether I will get a tax refund?
Compare federal income tax after credits with federal withholding year-to-date (W-2 box 2). If withholding is greater, the difference is a potential federal refund; if it is lower, you may owe the difference when filing. State tax is settled the same way on the state return against state withholding, and FICA (Social Security and Medicare) is withheld from pay and is not refunded or owed at filing.
What is included in this income tax calculator?
This estimator includes federal income tax brackets, state income tax by state, employee FICA (Social Security and Medicare), and a simplified child tax credit model. It also accounts for common pre-tax adjustments like 401(k), HSA, and IRA contributions.
How is AGI calculated in this tool?
AGI is modeled as gross wages plus other income minus selected pre-tax contributions and half of entered student loan interest deduction. This is a planning approximation intended for quick tax forecasting, not filing preparation.
Why can a refund estimate change a lot during the year?
Refund estimates are sensitive to withholding, bonuses, side income, and credits. If your income pattern changes during the year, your final federal and state tax may differ from earlier estimates even with the same filing status.
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