Tax Calculator review

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

TaxAct’s Tax Calculator is a free web tool for individuals estimating a 2025 federal income tax refund or balance due when filing in 2026. It is aimed at U.S. filers who want to organize income, deductions, and credits into an estimate before filing, rather than at businesses seeking a multi-jurisdiction tax calculator. Users enter filing status and dependent details, then add taxable income and relevant adjustments or credits. The result displays estimated tax, withholding, refund credits, refund, and balance due. TaxAct describes the calculation as an estimate, not tax advice.

Its breadth of inputs is useful for filers with more than straightforward wage income. Supported income includes wages, business income, interest, dividends, capital gains, state tax refunds, IRA and pension income, Social Security, unemployment, and other taxable income. Filing choices include single, married filing jointly or separately, head of household, and qualifying surviving spouse. The calculator also accounts for deductions such as student loan interest, medical expenses, state and local taxes, mortgage interest, and charitable contributions, along with childcare, energy, education, and other credits. It can print calculation results, giving users a record to refer to while preparing a return.

The scope is deliberately narrower than a full tax-preparation product: this is a federal estimator for the 2025 tax year, not a state tax calculator or a substitute for filing software or professional advice. It makes sense for solo filers who want a free preliminary view of likely federal tax, refund, or balance due and whose situation can be represented by its listed inputs. Filers needing state calculations, tax guidance, or a different tax year should look for a tool that covers those needs. TaxAct also documents a Tax Calculator within its online and desktop tax-preparation products, but this standalone calculator’s stated job is estimation.

Tax Calculator pros and cons

• Where it wins
  • Covers wage, business, investment, retirement, and other taxable income
  • Includes filing status, dependents, deductions, and credits
  • Shows estimated tax, withholding, refund, and balance due; results can be printed
• Where it doesn't
  • Limited to federal income tax estimates
  • Specifies the 2025 tax year only
  • Provides estimates, not tax advice

Tax Calculator fact sheet, pricing and score →

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Last updated 5 Oct 2026 · How we research and update