★ MONEY · TAX REFUND · 2026 TAX
Refund $1,330.00 — federal tax $7,670.00 on a $75,000.00 income. On a $75,000 income a single filer owes $7,670.00 in federal tax and already paid $9,000 in withholding, so $1,330.00 comes back. Enter your income, filing status, withholding and credits to see your number.
What will you get back? Enter your annual gross income, filing status, federal withholding already paid and other nonrefundable credits to see your 2026 federal tax, your refund or amount owed, and the income where the refund hits zero.
Before a single bracket applies, the standard deduction wipes out a chunk of your income. For 2026 a single filer deducts $16,100 — the first $16,100 of income is never taxed — a married couple filing jointly deducts $32,200, a head of household $24,150, and married filing separately $16,100. On the defaults — income $75,000.00, filing status single, withholding $9,000.00, credits $0.00 — the taxable income is $58,900.00, the federal tax is $7,670.00, the net tax is $7,670.00, the refund is $1,330.00, the amount owed is $0.00, the effective rate is 10.23% and the marginal rate is 22%.
| Rate | Taxable income from | Taxable income to |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 | $12,400 |
| 12% | $12,400 | $50,400 |
| 22% | $50,400 | $105,700 |
| 24% | $105,700 | $201,775 |
| 32% | $201,775 | $256,225 |
| 35% | $256,225 | $640,600 |
| 37% | $640,600 | — |
| Scenario | Taxable | Tax | Net | Refund | Owed | Effective | Marginal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Default ($75,000 income, single, $9,000 withholding, $0 credits) | $58,900.00 | $7,670.00 | $7,670.00 | $1,330.00 | $0.00 | 10.23% | 22% |
| Income $50,000 | $33,900.00 | $3,820.00 | $3,820.00 | $5,180.00 | $0.00 | 7.64% | 12% |
| Income $120,000 | $103,900.00 | $17,570.00 | $17,570.00 | $0.00 | $8,570.00 | 14.64% | 22% |
| Income $250,000 | $233,900.00 | $51,304.00 | $51,304.00 | $0.00 | $42,304.00 | 20.52% | 32% |
| Married filing jointly, income $120,000 | $87,800.00 | $10,040.00 | $10,040.00 | $0.00 | $1,040.00 | 8.37% | 12% |
| Head of household, income $120,000 | $95,850.00 | $13,988.00 | $13,988.00 | $0.00 | $4,988.00 | 11.66% | 22% |
| Withholding $5,000 | $58,900.00 | $7,670.00 | $7,670.00 | $0.00 | $2,670.00 | 10.23% | 22% |
| Withholding $12,000 | $58,900.00 | $7,670.00 | $7,670.00 | $4,330.00 | $0.00 | 10.23% | 22% |
| Credits $2,000 | $58,900.00 | $7,670.00 | $5,670.00 | $3,330.00 | $0.00 | 7.56% | 22% |
| Credits $8,000 | $58,900.00 | $7,670.00 | $0.00 | $9,000.00 | $0.00 | 0.00% | 22% |
At the defaults — income $75,000.00, filing status single, withholding $9,000.00, credits $0.00 — the taxable income is $58,900.00, the federal tax is $7,670.00, the net tax is $7,670.00, the refund is $1,330.00, the amount owed is $0.00, the effective rate is 10.23% and the marginal rate is 22%. Check the identities: taxable income = max(0, income − standard deduction); federal tax = 2026 brackets on taxable income; net tax = max(0, federal tax − nonrefundable credits); refund = max(0, withholding − net tax); amount owed = max(0, net tax − withholding); effective rate = net tax ÷ income × 100; marginal rate = the bracket rate of the top dollar of taxable income. Rounding convention: totals are computed from unrounded values, so rounded parts may differ by a cent from their rounded sum.
Setup: income $75,000.00, filing status single, withholding $9,000.00, credits $0.00.
Line 1 — the taxable income. $75,000 − $16,100 = $58,900.00. The first $16,100 is never taxed.
Line 2 — the federal tax. The first $12,400 at 10% is $1,240.00; the next $38,000 ($12,400 to $50,400) at 12% is $4,560.00, bringing the running tax to $5,800.00; the remaining $8,500 ($50,400 to $58,900) at 22% is $1,870.00. Total: $7,670.00.
Line 3 — the net tax. There are no credits, so the net tax is $7,670.00.
Line 4 — the refund. $9,000.00 of withholding minus $7,670.00 of tax = $1,330.00. The amount owed is $0.00.
Line 5 — the rates. The effective rate is $7,670.00 ÷ $75,000 × 100 = 10.23%. The marginal rate is 22%, because the top dollar of taxable income sits in the 22% bracket.
Reverse: the income for a $0 refund is $81,045.45 (exact 81045.4545); at $81,045.45 the tax is $8,999.9990, at $81,045.44 it is $8,999.9968 — the exact value decides. The withholding for a $0 refund is $7,670.00 — exactly the tax; at $7,670.00 the refund is $0.00 and the amount owed is $0.00, at $7,669.00 the amount owed is $1.00, at $7,671.00 the refund is $1.00. The income for a $5,000 refund is $51,500.00 (exact 51500.0000); at $51,500.00 the tax is $4,000.00 and the refund is $5,000.00, at $51,499.00 the tax is $3,999.88 and the refund is $5,000.12. The income for $10,000 owed is $126,108.33 (exact 126108.3333); at $126,108.33 the tax is $18,999.9992 and the amount owed is $10,000.00, at $126,108.32 the tax is $18,999.9968. The credits for a $5,000 refund are $3,670.00; at $3,670.00 the net tax is $4,000.00 and the refund is $5,000.00, at $3,669.00 the net tax is $4,001.00 and the refund is $4,999.00. The married-filing-jointly income for a $0 refund is $111,333.33 (exact 111333.3333); at $111,333.33 the tax is $8,999.9996, at $111,333.32 it is $8,999.9984.
Income $50,000: Taxable $33,900.00, tax $3,820.00, net $3,820.00, refund $5,180.00, owed $0.00, effective 7.64%, marginal 12%. A lower income stays in the 12% bracket, so the tax is only $3,820.00 and the refund is the biggest on the page.
Income $120,000: Taxable $103,900.00, tax $17,570.00, net $17,570.00, refund $0.00, owed $8,570.00, effective 14.64%, marginal 22%. The extra $45,000 of income pushes the tax to $17,570.00 — more than the $9,000 withheld — so the refund flips to an amount owed of $8,570.00.
Income $250,000: Taxable $233,900.00, tax $51,304.00, net $51,304.00, refund $0.00, owed $42,304.00, effective 20.52%, marginal 32%. The top dollars land in the 32% bracket, so the tax is $51,304.00 and the amount owed is $42,304.00.
Married filing jointly, income $120,000: Taxable $87,800.00, tax $10,040.00, net $10,040.00, refund $0.00, owed $1,040.00, effective 8.37%, marginal 12%. The couple’s $32,200 standard deduction and wider brackets cut the tax to $10,040.00 — the amount owed is only $1,040.00 against $8,570.00 filing single.
Head of household, income $120,000: Taxable $95,850.00, tax $13,988.00, net $13,988.00, refund $0.00, owed $4,988.00, effective 11.66%, marginal 22%. The $24,150 deduction sits between single and joint, so the tax is $13,988.00 and the amount owed is $4,988.00.
Withholding $5,000: Taxable $58,900.00, tax $7,670.00, net $7,670.00, refund $0.00, owed $2,670.00, effective 10.23%, marginal 22%. The tax is unchanged at $7,670.00 — only the gap moves — so the refund disappears and the amount owed is $2,670.00.
Withholding $12,000: Taxable $58,900.00, tax $7,670.00, net $7,670.00, refund $4,330.00, owed $0.00, effective 10.23%, marginal 22%. Paying $3,000 more during the year turns the $1,330.00 refund into $4,330.00 — the same tax, a different gap.
Credits $2,000: Taxable $58,900.00, tax $7,670.00, net $5,670.00, refund $3,330.00, owed $0.00, effective 7.56%, marginal 22%. The credits cut the net tax to $5,670.00 and lift the refund to $3,330.00.
Credits $8,000: Taxable $58,900.00, tax $7,670.00, net $0.00, refund $9,000.00, owed $0.00, effective 0.00%, marginal 22%. The credits are bigger than the tax, so the net tax floors at $0.00 and the whole $9,000.00 of withholding comes back — the extra $330.00 of credit is simply unused.
The model assumes the 2026 standard deductions and brackets from IRS Rev Proc 2025-32, that the income is ordinary income taxed at the bracket rates, and that the credits you enter are nonrefundable — they cut the tax to $0 but never below it. It assumes the withholding you enter is federal income tax already paid, not state tax or FICA. It does not model state tax, FICA, self-employment tax, refundable credits (which can push a refund above the withholding), or estimated-tax payments. With a $0 income the tax is $0.00 and the refund is $9,000.00 — all the withholding comes back — and the effective and marginal rates are — (no income, no rate). With an income of exactly $16,100 the taxable income is $0.00 and the refund is $9,000.00. With $0 withholding the amount owed is $7,670.00. With $10,000 of credits the net tax is $0.00 and the refund is $9,000.00. With a $1,000,000 income the tax is $320,000.25, the amount owed is $311,000.25, the effective rate is 32.00% and the marginal rate is 37%. Rounding convention: totals are computed from unrounded values, so rounded parts may differ by a cent from their rounded sum; the reverses are nearest-value solutions, and the exact unrounded figures (81045.4545, $7,670.00, 51500.0000, 126108.3333, $3,670.00, 111333.3333) are stated wherever the rounded figures appear.
| Output | Formula | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Taxable income | income − standard deduction, floored at $0 | $58,900.00. |
| Federal tax | 2026 brackets on taxable income | $7,670.00. |
| Net tax after credits | max(0, federal tax − nonrefundable credits) | $7,670.00. |
| Refund | max(0, withholding − net tax) | $1,330.00. |
| Amount owed | max(0, net tax − withholding) | $0.00. |
| Effective rate | net tax ÷ income × 100 | 10.23%. |
| Marginal rate | the bracket rate of the top dollar of taxable income | 22%. |
| Income for a $0 refund | bisection: the income where tax = withholding | 81045.4545 → $81,045.45. |
| Withholding for a $0 refund | exactly the federal tax | $7,670.00 → $7,670.00. |
| Income for a $5,000 refund | bisection: the income where tax = withholding − $5,000 | 51500.0000 → $51,500.00. |
| Income for $10,000 owed | bisection: the income where tax = withholding + $10,000 | 126108.3333 → $126,108.33. |
| Credits for a $5,000 refund | federal tax − the $4,000 net tax that leaves a $5,000 refund | $3,670.00 → $3,670.00. |
| Married-filing-jointly income for a $0 refund | bisection: the MFJ income where tax = withholding | 111333.3333 → $111,333.33. |
| Income $50,000 | same model | Taxable $33,900.00, tax $3,820.00, net $3,820.00, refund $5,180.00, owed $0.00, effective 7.64%, marginal 12%. |
| Income $120,000 | same model | Taxable $103,900.00, tax $17,570.00, net $17,570.00, refund $0.00, owed $8,570.00, effective 14.64%, marginal 22%. |
| Income $250,000 | same model | Taxable $233,900.00, tax $51,304.00, net $51,304.00, refund $0.00, owed $42,304.00, effective 20.52%, marginal 32%. |
| Married filing jointly, income $120,000 | same model | Taxable $87,800.00, tax $10,040.00, net $10,040.00, refund $0.00, owed $1,040.00, effective 8.37%, marginal 12%. |
| Head of household, income $120,000 | same model | Taxable $95,850.00, tax $13,988.00, net $13,988.00, refund $0.00, owed $4,988.00, effective 11.66%, marginal 22%. |
| Withholding $5,000 | same model | Taxable $58,900.00, tax $7,670.00, net $7,670.00, refund $0.00, owed $2,670.00, effective 10.23%, marginal 22%. |
| Withholding $12,000 | same model | Taxable $58,900.00, tax $7,670.00, net $7,670.00, refund $4,330.00, owed $0.00, effective 10.23%, marginal 22%. |
| Credits $2,000 | same model | Taxable $58,900.00, tax $7,670.00, net $5,670.00, refund $3,330.00, owed $0.00, effective 7.56%, marginal 22%. |
| Credits $8,000 | same model | Taxable $58,900.00, tax $7,670.00, net $0.00, refund $9,000.00, owed $0.00, effective 0.00%, marginal 22%. |
The math is the 2026 federal brackets and standard deductions: taxable income = max(0, income − standard deduction); federal tax = 2026 brackets on taxable income; net tax = max(0, federal tax − nonrefundable credits); refund = max(0, withholding − net tax); amount owed = max(0, net tax − withholding); effective rate = net tax ÷ income × 100; marginal rate = the bracket rate of the top dollar of taxable income. The 4-decimal exact is shown where the rounding matters: the income for a $0 refund is 81045.4545 (shown as $81,045.45); at $81,045.45 the tax is $8,999.9990, at $81,045.44 it is $8,999.9968. The income for a $5,000 refund is 51500.0000 (shown as $51,500.00); at $51,500.00 the tax is $4,000.00 and the refund is $5,000.00. The income for $10,000 owed is 126108.3333 (shown as $126,108.33); at $126,108.33 the tax is $18,999.9992, at $126,108.32 it is $18,999.9968. The married-filing-jointly income for a $0 refund is 111333.3333 (shown as $111,333.33); at $111,333.33 the tax is $8,999.9996, at $111,333.32 it is $8,999.9984. What the model cannot do is your actual return: it does not model state tax, FICA, self-employment tax, refundable credits, or estimated-tax payments, and the brackets and standard deduction change every year — check the 2026 federal tax brackets page for the current figures. For the quarterly payments behind the withholding, see the estimated quarterly tax calculator; for what actually lands in your bank each month, see the take-home pay calculator. This is a calculator, not tax advice.
Bright Side Kit. "Tax Refund Calculator: What You Will Get Back in 2026" https://brightoolbox.com/tax-refund-calculator/ Accessed October 25, 2026.$1,330.00. On a $75,000 income a single filer owes $7,670.00 in federal tax and already paid $9,000.00 in withholding, so the refund is $1,330.00. The effective rate is 10.23% and the marginal rate is 22%.
$81,045.45. The income for a $0 refund is $81,045.45 (exact 81045.4545). At $81,045.45 the tax is $8,999.9990; at $81,045.44 it is $8,999.9968 — the exact value decides.
$7,670.00. The withholding for a $0 refund is $7,670.00 — exactly the tax. Withhold $7,669.00 and you owe $1.00; withhold $7,671.00 and you get $1.00 back.
$51,500.00. The income for a $5,000 refund is $51,500.00 (exact 51500.0000). At $51,500.00 the tax is $4,000.00 and the refund is $5,000.00.
Because the tax comes out first. Your refund is withholding minus tax — on $75,000 the tax is $7,670.00, so $9,000.00 of withholding leaves $1,330.00. A bigger refund usually means you over-withheld, not that you paid less tax.
Only up to the tax you owe. Nonrefundable credits cut the tax to $0 but never below it — $2,000 of credits lifts the refund to $3,330.00, and $8,000 of credits makes the net tax $0.00 and the refund $9,000.00 — the extra credit is unused.
$42,304.00. On a $250,000 income a single filer owes $51,304.00 in federal tax, so with $9,000 withheld the amount owed is $42,304.00. The effective rate is 20.52% and the marginal rate is 32%.
Yes — on $120,000 the amount owed falls from $8,570.00 to $1,040.00. The couple’s $32,200 standard deduction and wider brackets cut the tax to $10,040.00. The married-filing-jointly income for a $0 refund is $111,333.33.