acalculator

Is my tax withholding on track?

Enter your wages, the federal tax withheld so far, and what each paycheck withholds to see whether you are on track for a refund or a balance due, and the extra amount to put in Form W-4 Step 4(c). An estimate, not tax advice.

Your numbers

Deductions
Expected refund (minus: amount owed)
$21.64

With $5,044.64 withheld for the year against $5,023.00 of tax, you are on track for a refund.

Extra to withhold a paycheck
$0.00
Federal income tax for the year
$5,023.00
Withholding for the year
$5,044.64
Earned income credit
$0.00
Taxable income
$43,900.00
Verdict
on track for a refund

Answer for the example date Wednesday, September 30, 2026. It changes to today's date when the page loads.

Expected refund (minus: amount owed): $21.64. With $5,044.64 withheld for the year against $5,023.00 of tax, you are on track for a refund.

Expected refund (minus: amount owed) by federal tax withheld a paycheck

The results are estimates for information only. They are not financial, tax, or legal advice. Check the numbers with your lender or a qualified professional before you decide. Terms of use

How to calculate

Compares the federal income tax withheld from your pay this year with the tax you will owe, shows the refund or amount due, and the extra to withhold per paycheck (W-4 Step 4(c)).

Example with the default inputs (Filing status Single, Wages for the year $60,000.00, Interest and dividends for the year $0.00, Other income for the year $0.00, Children under 17 0, Other dependents 0, Itemized deductions $0.00, Federal tax withheld so far $3,500.00, Federal tax withheld a paycheck $193.08, Paychecks left this year 8, Today September 30, 2026) on the example date Wednesday, September 30, 2026: With $5,044.64 withheld for the year against $5,023.00 of tax, you are on track for a refund.

Method: Tax for the year = Form 1040 tax on wages + other income − the standard (or itemized) deduction, less the child tax credit ($2,200 a child under 17, $500 per other dependent, with the refundable part) and the earned income credit. Withholding for the year = withheld so far + withheld a paycheck × paychecks left. Refund = withholding − tax. Extra a paycheck (W-4 Step 4(c)) = the shortfall ÷ paychecks left.

  • An estimate, not tax advice. Uses 2026 federal rates (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and the Form 1040 Tax Table method below $100,000 of taxable income.
  • Every paycheck left withholds the same amount. Wages are the year’s taxable wages from all jobs.
  • The earned income credit is included for incomes that qualify, taking you as 25 to 64 when you have no qualifying child. Not modelled: self-employment tax, capital gains rates, the Schedule 1-A deductions for tips, overtime, car loan interest, and seniors, AMT, the premium tax credit, education credits, estimated tax payments, and state tax. Additional Medicare Tax is withheld separately and left out.

Machine-readable copies: Markdown, JSON.

Worked examples

Each example is checked against the calculator on every build.

  1. Filing status Single, Wages for the year $60,000.00, Federal tax withheld so far $3,500.00, Federal tax withheld a paycheck $193.08, Paychecks left this year 8, Today 2026-09-29 gives Taxable income $43,900.00, Federal income tax for the year $5,023.00, Withholding for the year $5,044.64, Expected refund (minus: amount owed) $21.64, Extra to withhold a paycheck $0.00.Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (2026 brackets, standard deduction, $2,200 child tax credit) and the Form 1040 Tax Table method
  2. Filing status Married filing jointly, Wages for the year $120,000.00, Other income for the year $5,000.00, Children under 17 2, Federal tax withheld so far $3,000.00, Federal tax withheld a paycheck $250.00, Paychecks left this year 6, Today 2026-09-29 gives Taxable income $92,800.00, Federal income tax for the year $6,243.00, Withholding for the year $4,500.00, Expected refund (minus: amount owed) -$1,743.00, Extra to withhold a paycheck $290.50.Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (2026 brackets, standard deduction, $2,200 child tax credit) and the Form 1040 Tax Table method
  3. Filing status Head of household, Wages for the year $75,000.00, Children under 17 1, Federal tax withheld so far $2,000.00, Federal tax withheld a paycheck $150.00, Paychecks left this year 10, Today 2026-09-29 gives Taxable income $50,850.00, Federal income tax for the year $3,551.00, Expected refund (minus: amount owed) -$51.00, Extra to withhold a paycheck $5.10.Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (2026 brackets, standard deduction, $2,200 child tax credit) and the Form 1040 Tax Table method
  4. Filing status Single, Wages for the year $150,000.00, Itemized deductions $30,000.00, Federal tax withheld so far $15,000.00, Federal tax withheld a paycheck $800.00, Paychecks left this year 5, Today 2026-09-29 gives Taxable income $120,000.00, Federal income tax for the year $21,398.00, Expected refund (minus: amount owed) -$2,398.00, Extra to withhold a paycheck $479.60.Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (2026 brackets, standard deduction, $2,200 child tax credit) and the Form 1040 Tax Table method
  5. Filing status Single, Wages for the year $15,000.00, Children under 17 1, Interest and dividends for the year $13,000.00, Federal tax withheld so far $0.00, Federal tax withheld a paycheck $0.00, Paychecks left this year 0, Today 2026-09-29 gives Taxable income $11,900.00, Earned income credit $0.00, Federal income tax for the year -$1,007.00, Expected refund (minus: amount owed) $1,007.00.Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (2026 brackets, standard deduction, $2,200 child tax credit) and the Form 1040 Tax Table method; $13,000 of interest is over the $12,200 EIC investment limit (IRC 32(i), Rev. Proc. 2025-32 section 4.06), so no EIC

How it works

Tax for the year (Form 1040, 2026 rates from Rev. Proc. 2025-32):

  1. Adjusted gross income = wages + interest and dividends + other income. Interest and dividends are taxed as ordinary income here (the lower qualified dividend rates are not applied).
  2. Taxable income = AGI − the larger of the standard deduction ($16,100 single or married filing separately, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household) and your itemized deductions, not below 0.
  3. Income tax: below $100,000 of taxable income, the Tax Table method (the tax on the midpoint of the $50 row that holds the income, rounded to whole dollars; $25 rows below $3,000); from $100,000 up, the exact brackets. 2026 single brackets: 10% to $12,400, 12% to $50,400, 22% to $105,700, 24% to $201,775, 32% to $256,225, 35% to $640,600, 37% above. Married filing jointly: 10% to $24,800, 12% to $100,800, 22% to $211,400, 24% to $403,550, 32% to $512,450, 35% to $768,700. Head of household: 10% to $17,700, 12% to $67,450, 22% to $105,700, 24% to $201,750, 32% to $256,200, 35% to $640,600.
  4. Credits: $2,200 per child under 17 and $500 per other dependent, less $50 for each $1,000 (or part) of AGI over $400,000 (married filing jointly) or $200,000 (others). The part above the income tax is refundable up to $1,700 a child and 15% of wages over $2,500 (Schedule 8812). The earned income credit (Rev. Proc. 2025-32 section 4.06) applies where your earned income and AGI qualify, but not when interest and dividends are more than $12,200 (the investment income limit, IRC 32(i)); other income such as a pension does not count toward that limit. With no qualifying child it takes you as 25 to 64.
  5. Tax = income tax − credits. The 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax is left out, because employers withhold it separately. When you enter interest and dividends, the tax also includes the 3.8% net investment income tax (IRC 1411, Form 8960): 3.8% of the smaller of the interest and dividends and the amount by which AGI is over $200,000 ($250,000 married filing jointly, $125,000 married filing separately), as Form 1040 adds it.

Withholding for the year = withheld so far + withheld a paycheck × paychecks left.

Result: refund = withholding − tax (below 0 means you owe). Extra a paycheck for W-4 Step 4(c) = max(0, tax − withholding) ÷ paychecks left.

Worked examples by hand

  1. Single, $60,000 wages, $3,500 withheld, $193.08 a paycheck, 8 left. Taxable 60,000 − 16,100 = 43,900; Tax Table row 43,900 to 43,950, midpoint 43,925: 1,240 + 12% × 31,525 = 5,023. Withholding 3,500 + 193.08 × 8 = 5,044.64. Refund $21.64.
  2. Married filing jointly, $120,000 wages + $5,000 other, 2 children, $3,000 withheld, $250 a paycheck, 6 left. Taxable 125,000 − 32,200 = 92,800; midpoint 92,825: 2,480 + 12% × 68,025 = 10,643. Credits 4,400. Tax 6,243. Withholding 4,500. Owed $1,743; extra 1,743 ÷ 6 = $290.50 a paycheck.
  3. Head of household, $75,000, 1 child, $2,000 withheld, $150 a paycheck, 10 left. Taxable 75,000 − 24,150 = 50,850; midpoint 50,875: 1,770 + 12% × 33,175 = 5,751. Less 2,200: 3,551. Withholding 3,500. Owed $51; extra $5.10 a paycheck.
  4. Single, $150,000, itemized $30,000, $15,000 withheld, $800 a paycheck, 5 left. Taxable 120,000 (over $100,000, so exact brackets): 1,240 + 4,560 + 12,166 + 24% × 14,300 = 21,398. Withholding 19,000. Owed $2,398; extra $479.60.
  5. Single, $15,000 wages, 1 child, $13,000 of interest, nothing withheld. AGI 28,000; taxable 28,000 − 16,100 = 11,900; Tax Table row 11,900 to 11,950, midpoint 11,925: 10% = 1,192.50, rounds to 1,193. Child tax credit 2,200: 1,193 against the tax, and the refundable part min(1,007, 1,700, 15% × (15,000 − 2,500) = 1,875) = 1,007. Interest is over $12,200, so no earned income credit. Tax −$1,007, a refund of $1,007. With $12,200 of interest the earned income credit would apply.

Other questions people ask

How do I know if enough tax is withheld from my pay?

Add the federal income tax withheld so far this year (on your latest pay stub) to what your remaining paychecks will withhold, and compare the total with the tax you will owe for the year. If withholding is higher you get a refund; if it is lower you owe the difference when you file.

How do I fix withholding that is too low?

Give your employer a new Form W-4 with an extra amount per paycheck in Step 4(c). This calculator divides the shortfall by the paychecks left in the year. Starting early in the year keeps the extra amount small.

Will I pay a penalty if I owe?

Usually not if you owe less than $1,000 after withholding and credits, or if your withholding covers at least 90% of this year’s tax or 100% of last year’s (110% if your adjusted gross income was over $150,000). Check IRS Form 2210 for the details.

Why is my refund smaller or bigger than last year?

A raise, a second job, a new child, a change in filing status, or a new Form W-4 all change the balance between withholding and tax. For 2026 the standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers and $32,200 for married couples filing jointly, and the child tax credit is $2,200 per child.

What tax does this compare against?

Federal income tax after credits on Form 1040: your wages and other income, less the standard deduction or your itemized deductions, taxed at the 2026 rates, less the child tax credit, the credit for other dependents, and the earned income credit if you qualify. Social Security, Medicare, and state tax are not part of it.

What if two of us work?

When married filing jointly, enter both incomes as wages and add up the tax withheld from both jobs. The extra amount can go on either spouse’s W-4; divide it by that job’s paychecks left.