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RealPaycheckCalculator

W-4 Withholding Calculator

Enter your W-4 as it stands. We'll show the federal tax taken from each paycheck, project your 2026 refund or balance due, and tell you how to fix your W-4.

Updated Checked against IRS Pub 15-T & state tables2026 Form W-4Refund estimator

Your 2026 withholding check

Federal withheld / paycheck
$295.00
Withheld this year
$7,670
Estimated 2026 tax
$7,670
Estimated refund
$0

Your withholding looks about right. You should land within a few hundred dollars of zero at tax time.

The 2026 Form W-4, step by step

  1. Step 1 — Personal information. Your filing status sets which withholding table and standard deduction your employer uses: $16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly or $24,150 head of household.
  2. Step 2 — Multiple jobs or spouse works. Checking the box halves the brackets and standard deduction for each job so the household doesn't get the standard deduction twice.
  3. Step 3 — Dependents. Enter $2,200 for each child under 17 and $500 for other dependents if your income is under $200,000 ($400,000 joint).
  4. Step 4(a) — Other income. Interest, dividends or retirement income you want withholding to cover.
  5. Step 4(b) — Deductions. Itemized deductions above the standard deduction, plus the new 2026 lines for qualified tips, overtime, car loan interest and the senior deduction.
  6. Step 4(c) — Extra withholding. A flat dollar amount taken from every paycheck.

Our 2026 W-4 guide walks through each line with examples.

How we estimate your refund

We calculate your employer's withholding using IRS Publication 15-T (the percentage method for automated payroll), then estimate your actual 2026 federal income tax with the standard deduction (plus any Step 4(b) deductions), the 2026 brackets and your Step 3 credits. The difference is your projected refund or balance due. It's an estimate that doesn't account for every credit, such as education credits, the EITC or capital gains.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my W-4 is right?

Compare your projected withholding for the year with your projected tax. If you’re within a few hundred dollars, your W-4 is right. This calculator projects both using 2026 IRS tables. The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator is another free check.

Should I check the Step 2 box?

Check Step 2(c) if you have two jobs at once, or if you’re married filing jointly and your spouse works, and both jobs pay about the same. Check it on both W-4s. If the incomes are very different, the IRS worksheet or the estimator is more accurate.

What changed on the 2026 W-4?

The 2026 W-4 has an expanded Step 4(b) deductions worksheet for the new One Big Beautiful Bill Act deductions: qualified tips, qualified overtime, qualified passenger vehicle loan interest and the extra $6,000 deduction for people 65 and older. Dependent credits in Step 3 reflect the $2,200 child tax credit.

Is it better to get a big refund?

A big refund means you lent the IRS money interest-free all year. Many people prefer to get it in their paychecks instead. If you like the forced savings, keep some extra withholding, but aim to be within $500–$1,000 of zero.

How often should I update my W-4?

Any time your life changes: marriage, divorce, a new baby, a second job, a spouse starting or stopping work, a big raise, or new tips/overtime deductions. Also check every January when new tax tables take effect.

Can I claim exempt on my W-4?

Only if you owed no federal income tax last year and expect to owe none this year. Exempt status must be renewed by February 15 each year. Social Security and Medicare are still withheld.

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