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Head-to-head · Tax Calculators

IRS Tax Withholding Estimator vs HMRC Income Tax Estimate

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 1 check side by side
Higher score IRS Tax Withholding Estimator #4 in Tax Calculators 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan Visit IRS Estimator
HMRC Income Tax Estimate #6 in Tax Calculators 8.4/10 Free plan Free plan Visit HMRC

IRS Tax Withholding Estimator leads on 0 checks, HMRC Income Tax Estimate on 0, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreIRS Tax Withholding Estimator · 8.6/10
  • Free planboth

IRS Tax Withholding Estimator scores higher on our rubric for tax calculators: 8.6 against 8.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #6.

On tax jurisdictions, HMRC Income Tax Estimate gives you Multiple where IRS Tax Withholding Estimator offers Federal.

IRS Tax Withholding Estimator is the better fit for U.S. workers adjusting federal withholding. HMRC Income Tax Estimate is the better fit for UK employees estimating tax and take-home pay.

  • IRS Tax Withholding Estimator fits best

    U.S. workers adjusting federal withholding

  • HMRC Income Tax Estimate fits best

    UK employees estimating tax and take-home pay

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature IRS Tax Withholding Estimator 8.6/10 Visit ↗ HMRC Income Tax Estimate 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.6 8.4
Ranking #4 in Tax Calculators #6 in Tax Calculators
Best for U.S. workers adjusting federal withholding UK employees estimating tax and take-home pay
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud, Mobile
Platforms Web Web, iOS, Android
Support Docs Docs
Built for Solo Solo
Specs
Calculator types Federal income tax withholding estimator; refund or tax owed estimate Income Tax and National Insurance estimate; take-home pay estimate
Tax jurisdictions Federal Multiple
Income sources Wages; pension; annuity; self-employment or gig work; Social Security; other income Employment income; does not estimate when state benefits are the only income
Filing statuses Not checked yet Not checked yet
Tax years Not checked yet 2026–2027
Platforms web web; iOS; Android
Our review
Pros
  • Estimates withholding across wages, pensions, and annuities
  • Accounts for income, adjustments, deductions, and credits
  • Downloads completed Form W-4 or W-4P
  • Estimates Income Tax, National Insurance and take-home pay
  • Includes pension contributions and student loan repayments
  • Available on web, iOS and Android
Cons
  • Covers federal withholding, not state taxes
  • Does not recommend withholding for Social Security or unemployment insurance
  • Does not support nonresident filers
  • Designed for employment income rather than all income types
  • State benefits as the only income are not supported
  • Multiple jobs require a separate estimate for each job
Our verdict

For workers with wages, a pension, or an annuity subject to federal income tax withholding, the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator offers a free way to check whether withholding is appropriate. It considers income, adjustments, deductions, and…

Read the review →

HMRC Income Tax Estimate is a free calculator for employees who pay tax through an employer. It estimates Income Tax and National Insurance for the current UK tax year, then shows estimated take-home pay. Employees can include pension…

Read the review →
  1. IRS Tax Withholding EstimatorTax Calculators 8.6Free plan
  2. HMRC Income Tax EstimateTax Calculators 8.4Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • IRS Tax Withholding Estimator — where it wins

    • Estimates withholding across wages, pensions, and annuities
    • Accounts for income, adjustments, deductions, and credits
    • Downloads completed Form W-4 or W-4P

    Where it doesn't

    • Covers federal withholding, not state taxes
    • Does not recommend withholding for Social Security or unemployment insurance
    • Does not support nonresident filers

  • HMRC Income Tax Estimate — where it wins

    • Estimates Income Tax, National Insurance and take-home pay
    • Includes pension contributions and student loan repayments
    • Available on web, iOS and Android

    Where it doesn't

    • Designed for employment income rather than all income types
    • State benefits as the only income are not supported
    • Multiple jobs require a separate estimate for each job
  • IRS Tax Withholding Estimator8.6/10 · Free plan

    A free federal estimator that recommends withholding adjustments and prepares W-4 forms.

    Visit IRS EstimatorFull verdict →
  • HMRC Income Tax Estimate8.4/10 · Free plan

    A free HMRC estimator for employment tax and take-home pay.

    Visit HMRCFull verdict →

More comparisons

All tax calculators comparisons → · Full ranking →

Guides on tax calculators

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update