Tax Refund
A tax refund is money the government returns when you've paid more through withholding and estimated payments than you actually owed. It feels like a windfall, but it's really your own money coming back — an interest-free loan you made to the IRS all year.
A very large refund signals over-withholding; adjusting your W-4 puts that money in each paycheck instead. Some people prefer the forced-savings effect of a refund, but the same discipline in a high-yield account earns interest along the way.
Put it to work
Take-Home Pay Calculator
See your actual paycheck after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare, 401(k), health premiums, and state tax — per paycheck and per year (2026 figures).
Federal Income Tax Calculator
Estimate your 2026 federal income tax: total tax, effective and marginal rates, and a bracket-by-bracket breakdown using official IRS figures.