This calculator uses the confirmed 2025 federal tax brackets for the current filing season. The standard deduction is $15,000 for single filers and $30,000 for married filing jointly. The Child Tax Credit is $2,500 per qualifying child. The SALT deduction cap is $40,000. Enter your 2025 income below for an accurate estimate of your refund.

2026 Tax Refund Calculator

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Estimated Federal Refund
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Confirmed 2025 Federal Tax Brackets

These are the official IRS tax brackets for the 2025 tax year. Unlike projected brackets, these numbers are confirmed and final.

RateSingleMarried Filing JointlyHead of Household
10%$0 – $11,925$0 – $23,850$0 – $17,000
12%$11,925 – $48,475$23,850 – $96,950$17,000 – $64,850
22%$48,475 – $103,350$96,950 – $206,700$64,850 – $103,350
24%$103,350 – $197,300$206,700 – $394,600$103,350 – $197,300
32%$197,300 – $250,525$394,600 – $501,050$197,300 – $250,500
35%$250,525 – $626,350$501,050 – $751,600$250,500 – $626,350
37%Over $626,350Over $751,600Over $626,350

Key Tax Numbers for 2025

ProvisionAmount
Standard deduction (single)$15,000
Standard deduction (MFJ)$30,000
Standard deduction (HOH)$22,500
Additional deduction (65+, single)$2,000
Senior bonus deduction (OBBBA)$4,000
Child Tax Credit$2,500 per child
EITC (max, 3+ children)~$7,830
AOTC (per student)$2,500
SALT deduction cap$40,000
401(k) contribution limit$23,500
IRA contribution limit$7,000
HSA limit (individual)$4,300
Social Security wage base$176,100
Filing deadlineApril 15, 2026

One Big Beautiful Bill Act Impact on 2025 Taxes

The OBBBA, signed in 2025, significantly impacts the 2025 tax year. The most notable changes include the Child Tax Credit increase to $2,500 per qualifying child (from $2,000), the SALT cap increase to $40,000 (from $10,000), the senior bonus deduction of $4,000 ($8,000 MFJ), tip income deduction up to $25,000, overtime pay deduction up to $12,500 (single), and auto loan interest deduction up to $10,000 for U.S.-manufactured vehicles.

For detailed coverage of these changes and how they affect the 2027 filing season, see our 2027 tax calculator page.

2026 Filing Tips

File early for the fastest refund. E-file with direct deposit and your refund arrives in 10-21 days. For a complete timeline, visit our tax refund timeline page.

Gather documents first. You need W-2s (due January 31), 1099 forms (due February 15), 1098 forms for mortgage interest and education, records of estimated tax payments, and prior year return for reference.

Check credit eligibility. Use our refund maximization guide to ensure you claim every credit you qualify for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The 2026 calculator estimates your refund for the 2025 tax year — the income you earned from January 1 through December 31, 2025. You file this return in 2026, which is why it is called the 2026 calculator. The tax brackets and deductions used are the confirmed 2025 values.

The standard deduction for the 2025 tax year is $15,000 for single filers, $30,000 for married filing jointly, $15,000 for married filing separately, and $22,500 for head of household. These amounts reflect the One Big Beautiful Bill Act framework with inflation adjustments.

The federal filing deadline for 2025 tax returns is April 15, 2026. You can request an automatic six-month extension by filing Form 4868, which moves the deadline to October 15, 2026. However, any tax owed must still be paid by April 15 to avoid penalties and interest.

The 2026 calculator is pre-configured for the 2025 tax year with confirmed IRS brackets and deductions. The main calculator allows you to toggle between tax years. Both use identical calculation logic — the difference is just the default year setting and the content focused on current-year filing.

The 2025 brackets reflect inflation adjustments to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act framework. The standard deduction increased from approximately $14,600 (2024) to $15,000 (2025) for single filers. Bracket thresholds increased by approximately 2-3% across all rates. The Child Tax Credit increased to $2,500, and the SALT cap increased to $40,000.

Yes. If you file Form 4868 by April 15, you receive an automatic extension to October 15, 2026. No explanation is needed — the extension is automatic. However, you must estimate and pay any tax owed by April 15 to avoid penalties. The extension is for filing, not for payment.

K
Krishn
Founder & Lead Tax Content Strategist

Krishn is the founder of TaxCalcHQ, where he oversees the accuracy of all tax calculators. All content is sourced from official IRS publications and verified against professional tax software. Read more →