Fidamen

Tax Refund Calculator

This estimator gives a practical, conservative approximation of federal tax liability and whether you can expect a refund or will owe tax for the selected year. It is designed for planning, not filing.

Calculations use a simplified progressive schedule and common adjustments (pre-tax contributions, standard vs itemized deduction). Results are approximate; use IRS publications and your tax professional for filing-level accuracy.

Updated Nov 7, 2025QA PASS — golden 25 / edge 120Run golden-edge-2026-01-23

Governance

Record b509778394ae • Reviewed by Fidamen Standards Committee

Quick estimate of taxable income, estimated federal tax liability, and net refund (payments + credits − tax). Uses standard deduction or itemized deduction, and a simplified progressive tax schedule for a conservative estimate.

Inputs

Results

Updates as you type

Taxable income

$27,100.00

Estimated federal tax liability

—

Total federal payments

$8,000.00

Estimated refund (positive) or amount due (negative)

—

Deduction used (standard or itemized)

$27,900.00

OutputValueUnit
Taxable income$27,100.00USD
Estimated federal tax liability—USD
Total federal payments$8,000.00USD
Estimated refund (positive) or amount due (negative)—USD
Deduction used (standard or itemized)$27,900.00USD
Primary result$27,100.00

Visualization

Methodology

The tool computes adjusted gross income by adding wage income and other taxable income, then subtracting pre-tax contributions and allowable adjustments.

It selects the larger of itemized deductions or an assumed standard deduction based on filing status, computes taxable income, applies a simplified progressive tax schedule to estimate liability, and subtracts payments and credits to estimate refund or amount due.

A second mode suggests an annual and per-paycheck withholding change by distributing any shortfall across the selected number of pay periods.

Worked examples

Example 1: Single filer, $60,000 wages, $5,000 pre-tax contributions, $8,000 withheld → conservative estimate may show a small refund or near-zero balance depending on credits.

Example 2: Married filing jointly, $120,000 wages combined, low withholding → estimator may show an amount due and provide per-paycheck adjustment to reduce year-end tax owed.

F.A.Q.

How accurate is this calculator?

This estimator provides an approximate result for planning purposes only. It uses simplified assumptions and an illustrative progressive schedule. It does not model every credit, deduction phase-out, AMT, state taxes, or detailed itemization rules. Expect differences from final IRS calculations; consult official IRS tables or a tax professional for filing-level accuracy.

Is my data stored securely?

This tool is a client-side estimator and should not be used to submit sensitive documents. For any storage, adhere to recommended security standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Do not paste full Social Security numbers or banking credentials into calculators.

Can this calculate state taxes?

No. This focuses on federal tax estimates only. State and local taxes, credits, and withholding rules vary and are not modeled here.

Can I use the result to set Form W-4?

This tool can inform withholding decisions but is not a substitute for the IRS Withholding Estimator or professional advice. Use calculated per-paycheck suggestions as guidance and confirm changes using official IRS resources.

Sources & citations

Further resources

Versioning & Change Control

Audit record (versions, QA runs, reviewer sign-off, and evidence).

Record ID: b509778394ae

What changed (latest)

v1.0.0 • 2025-11-07 • MINOR

Initial publication and governance baseline.

Why: Published with reviewed formulas, unit definitions, and UX controls.

Public QA status

PASS — golden 25 + edge 120

Last run: 2026-01-23 • Run: golden-edge-2026-01-23

Engine

v1.0.0

Data

Baseline (no external datasets)

Content

v1.0.0

UI

v1.0.0

Governance

Last updated: Nov 7, 2025

Reviewed by: Fidamen Standards Committee (Review board)

Credentials: Internal QA

Risk level: low

Reviewer profile (entity)

Fidamen Standards Committee

Review board

Internal QA

Entity ID: https://fidamen.com/reviewers/fidamen-standards-committee#person

Semantic versioning

  • MAJOR: Calculation outputs can change for the same inputs (formula, rounding policy, assumptions).
  • MINOR: New features or fields that do not change existing outputs for the same inputs.
  • PATCH: Bug fixes, copy edits, or accessibility changes that do not change intended outputs except for previously incorrect cases.

Review protocol

  • Verify formulas and unit definitions against primary standards or datasets.
  • Run golden-case regression suite and edge-case suite.
  • Record reviewer sign-off with credentials and scope.
  • Document assumptions, limitations, and jurisdiction applicability.

Assumptions & limitations

  • Uses exact unit definitions from the Fidamen conversion library.
  • Internal calculations use double precision; display rounding follows the unit's configured decimal places.
  • Not a substitute for calibrated instruments in regulated contexts.
  • Jurisdiction-specific rules may require official guidance.

Change log

v1.0.0 • 2025-11-07 • MINOR

Initial publication and governance baseline.

Why: Published with reviewed formulas, unit definitions, and UX controls.

Areas: engine, content, ui • Reviewer: Fidamen Standards Committee • Entry ID: 14f48310d783