# Is my tax withholding on track?

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)).

- Page: https://www.acalculator.org/finance/tax-withholding-calculator
- JSON spec: https://www.acalculator.org/finance/tax-withholding-calculator.json
- Version: 421f248920a7

## Default answer

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.

## Inputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| status | Filing status | The filing status on your tax return. |
| wages | Wages for the year | Taxable wages for the whole year from all jobs (W-2 box 1): gross pay less pre-tax 401(k), health, and HSA deductions. Both spouses when married filing jointly. |
| invest | Interest and dividends for the year | Taxable interest and dividends. More than $12,200 of investment income rules out the earned income credit. |
| other | Other income for the year | Other taxable income with no withholding, such as a pension, unemployment, or taxable Social Security (not interest or dividends). |
| kids | Children under 17 | Qualifying children under 17 for the $2,200 child tax credit. |
| deps | Other dependents | Other dependents for the $500 credit. |
| itemized | Itemized deductions | Your itemized deductions, if more than the standard deduction; leave 0 to take the standard deduction. |
| ytd | Federal tax withheld so far | Federal income tax withheld this year up to now (year-to-date on your last pay stub, all jobs). |
| per | Federal tax withheld a paycheck | Federal income tax withheld from each paycheck now. |
| left | Paychecks left this year | Paychecks still to come this year. |
| date | Today | Today’s date: its year is the tax year checked. |

## Outputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| difference | Expected refund (minus: amount owed) | Tax withheld for the year less the tax owed: above 0 is a refund, below 0 is a balance due. |
| extra | Extra to withhold a paycheck | W-4 Step 4(c) amount that brings the balance due to 0 over the paychecks left. |
| tax | Federal income tax for the year | Tax after credits on Form 1040 (refundable child tax credit included). |
| projected | Withholding for the year | Withheld so far plus the withholding a paycheck times the paychecks left. |
| earnedIncomeCredit | Earned income credit | The refundable earned income credit included in the tax (0 above the income or investment limits). |
| taxableIncome | Taxable income | Income less the standard or itemized deduction. |
| verdict | Verdict | Whether withholding is on track. |

## 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.

## Assumptions

- 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.

## Worked examples

1. status = single, wages = $60,000.00, ytd = $3,500.00, per = $193.08, left = 8, date = 2026-09-29 gives taxableIncome = $43,900.00, tax = $5,023.00, projected = $5,044.64, difference = $21.64, extra = $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. status = mfj, wages = $120,000.00, other = $5,000.00, kids = 2, ytd = $3,000.00, per = $250.00, left = 6, date = 2026-09-29 gives taxableIncome = $92,800.00, tax = $6,243.00, projected = $4,500.00, difference = -$1,743.00, extra = $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. status = hoh, wages = $75,000.00, kids = 1, ytd = $2,000.00, per = $150.00, left = 10, date = 2026-09-29 gives taxableIncome = $50,850.00, tax = $3,551.00, difference = -$51.00, extra = $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. status = single, wages = $150,000.00, itemized = $30,000.00, ytd = $15,000.00, per = $800.00, left = 5, date = 2026-09-29 gives taxableIncome = $120,000.00, tax = $21,398.00, difference = -$2,398.00, extra = $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. status = single, wages = $15,000.00, kids = 1, invest = $13,000.00, ytd = $0.00, per = $0.00, left = 0, date = 2026-09-29 gives taxableIncome = $11,900.00, earnedIncomeCredit = $0.00, tax = -$1,007.00, difference = $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.

## FAQ

### 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.

## Sources

- IRS, Revenue Procedure 2025-32 (tax year 2026 brackets, standard deduction $16,100 / $32,200 / $24,150, child tax credit $2,200). https://www.irs.gov/irb/2025-45_IRB
- IRS, Form W-4 (2026), Employee’s Withholding Certificate, Step 4(c). https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf
- IRS, Tax Withholding Estimator (the IRS tool that runs this comparison with more detail). https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator
- IRS, Instructions for Form 1040 (2025): Tax Table method and Schedule 8812. https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i1040gi