Tax Planner Calculator
Comprehensive tax planning calculator for 2026. Calculate federal and state income tax, capital gains tax, self-employment tax, and NIIT. Estimate tax refund or amount owed, plan quarterly payments, and get tax optimization tips.
This calculator combines federal income tax, capital gains tax, self-employment tax, the Net Investment Income Tax, state income tax, and quarterly-payment planning into one return-style estimate, drawing on more than twenty separate income, deduction, and credit inputs. Gross Income and Adjusted Gross Income are built purely from your entered income sources (W2 Wages, Self-Employment Income, capital gains, dividends, interest, and Other Income) -- Deduction Type and State never touch either figure, since deductions and state tax are both applied downstream of AGI in this model. W2 Wages is a reliable, consistent driver of every federal and state tax output, but it doesn't reliably dominate them: because this calculator lets any single income source (self-employment income, dividends, capital gains, and so on) be driven arbitrarily high independent of the others, whichever income field you fill in the most heavily becomes the biggest lever on Total Tax for your own scenario, not necessarily W2 Wages. Filing Status, State, and Deduction Type each swap in a different table or formula entirely (bracket widths, a state's tax structure, and standard-vs-itemized deductions respectively), which is why they can outweigh a moderate income change for outputs like Effective Tax Rate. This is the site's most comprehensive tax model, but it still approximates several real mechanics -- the standard deduction figures and quarterly due dates are pinned to 2026, and state tax uses a simplified per-state formula rather than each state's full bracket schedule.
Tax Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates based on general tax rules and may not reflect your specific situation. Tax laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Consult a qualified tax professional or CPA for advice tailored to your circumstances.
Inputs
Results
Total Tax (Federal + State)
$12,901.60
≈ 9 months of rent
Federal Tax Status
Amount Owed
Federal Refund/Owed
$9,870.00
≈ 7 months of rent
How to Use This Calculator
- Select your filing status and enter your W-2 wages and any spouse wages.
- Add self-employment income, capital gains, dividends, and other income sources.
- Enter pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions, IRA contributions, and HSA contributions to reduce taxable income.
- Choose standard or itemized deductions, and enter child and education tax credits.
- Review your total tax liability, effective rate, and marginal rate to plan year-end strategies.
How the result changes with W2 Wages
| W2 Wages | Total Tax (Federal + State) | Federal Tax Status | Federal Refund/Owed |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200,000.00 | $44,825.60 | Amount Owed | $36,734.00 |
| $700,000.00 | $239,091.60 | Amount Owed | $209,000.00 |
| $1,300,000.00 | $487,491.60 | Amount Owed | $431,000.00 |
| $1,800,000.00 | $694,491.60 | Amount Owed | $616,000.00 |
What each input means
- Filing Status
- Your tax filing status.
- W2 Wages
- Your wages from box 1 of W2
- Spouse W2 Wages
- Spouse's wages (if filing jointly)
- Self-Employment Income
- Net profit from Schedule C
- Short-Term Capital Gains
- Gains on assets held < 1 year
- Long-Term Capital Gains
- Gains on assets held > 1 year
- Qualified Dividends
- Taxed at capital gains rates
- Ordinary Dividends
- Taxed as ordinary income
- Other Income
- Income from sources other than primary employment.
- Traditional 401(k) Contributions
- Pre-tax 401(k) contributions
- Itemized Deductions Total
- Only if itemizing (mortgage interest, SALT, charity, etc.)
- Children Under 17
- For Child Tax Credit
- Federal Tax Withheld YTD
- Total federal withholding from paychecks
- Estimated Tax Payments Made
- Quarterly payments already made
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersFiling Status = 0, W2 Wages = 85000, Spouse W2 Wages = 0, Self-Employment Income = 0 = 23 input(s) provided
- Calculate Total TaxTotal Tax12901.6 = $12,901.6
- Calculate Federal Tax StatusAmount Owed = Amount Owed
- Calculate Federal Refund/OwedFederal Refund/Owed = Math9870 = $9,870
- Calculate Gross IncomeGross Income85000 = $85,000
- Calculate Adjusted Gross IncomeAdjusted Gross Income85000 = $85,000
Engine last updated . Checked against 2 independently-derived tests — how we verify calculators.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't Deduction Type change my Gross Income or AGI?
Gross Income and Adjusted Gross Income are both computed purely from income sources and above-the-line adjustments (401(k), IRA, HSA, student loan interest, and the self-employment tax deduction) -- Deduction Type (standard vs. itemized) and Itemized Deductions Total are applied afterward, when taxable income is computed. Changing Deduction Type never moves Gross Income or AGI, only what happens between AGI and taxable income.
Does my State selection affect my federal tax calculations?
No. State Income Tax is calculated in a completely separate step from federal income tax, capital gains tax, self-employment tax, and NIIT -- Adjusted Gross Income and every federal tax output are identical regardless of which State you select. Only State Income Tax, State Tax Status, and State Refund/Owed respond to the State field.
Which income source has the biggest effect on my Total Tax?
Whichever one you enter the largest amount for. W2 Wages is a steady, always-present driver at the default inputs, but because self-employment income, capital gains, and dividend fields can each be set independently and arbitrarily high, whichever income source you fill in most heavily becomes the dominant lever on Total Tax (Federal + State) for your specific numbers -- there's no single input that always wins across every scenario.
How current are the standard deduction and quarterly due date figures used here?
Both are pinned to 2026: the standard deduction table (STANDARD_DEDUCTION_2026) and the quarterly estimated-payment due dates (QUARTERLY_DUE_DATES_2026) shown in the payment schedule table. State tax uses a simplified formula rather than each state's actual bracket schedule, so treat the State Income Tax figure as a rough estimate, not a state-specific bracket calculation.
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