Estimate your New York State tax refund based on your income and filing status.
Single
Married Filing Jointly
Head of Household
Married Filing Separately
Estimated NYS Refund
$0.00
Understanding Your NYS Tax Refund
Calculating your New York State tax refund involves understanding how your state income tax is determined, comparing it to what you've already paid through withholding, and accounting for any credits or deductions you may be eligible for. This calculator provides an *estimate* based on common factors, but your actual refund may vary.
The core of the calculation relies on:
Total Income: This is your gross income from all sources before any deductions.
NYS Taxable Income: This is your total income minus any allowable deductions (e.g., standard deduction, itemized deductions). NYS has its own set of rules for what constitutes a deduction.
Tax Rate: New York State uses a progressive tax system, meaning higher income levels are taxed at higher rates. The tax rate applied depends on your filing status and your NYS taxable income bracket.
NYS Tax Withheld: This is the amount of New York State income tax that your employer has already deducted from your paychecks throughout the year.
Tax Credits: Various tax credits can reduce your tax liability dollar-for-dollar. Common examples include the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, and credits for education expenses.
How the Estimate Works:
This calculator approximates your NYS tax liability by:
Using your provided Total Income and NYS Filing Status to estimate your NYS Taxable Income. For simplicity in this calculator, we're not factoring in specific deductions beyond the standard deduction which varies by filing status.
Applying the relevant NYS tax brackets and rates for your filing status to estimate your total tax liability.
Subtracting the NYS Income Tax Withheld from your estimated tax liability.
Note: This calculator does NOT factor in specific tax credits or complex deductions, which can significantly impact your final refund.
Refund Calculation: If your NYS Income Tax Withheld is greater than your estimated tax liability, the difference is your estimated refund. If your withheld tax is less, you may owe additional tax.
Formula (Simplified): Estimated NYS Refund = (Estimated NYS Tax Liability) - (NYS Income Tax Withheld)
Where Estimated NYS Tax Liability is determined by applying NYS tax rates to your estimated taxable income based on your filing status and total income.
Disclaimer:
This calculator is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional tax advice. Tax laws are complex and subject to change. Your actual tax situation may differ. Consult a qualified tax professional or refer to the official New York State Department of Taxation and Finance for precise calculations and guidance.
function calculateNysRefund() {
var totalIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById("totalIncome").value);
var federalTaxWithheld = parseFloat(document.getElementById("federalTaxWithheld").value); // Not directly used for NYS refund but good context
var stateTaxWithheld = parseFloat(document.getElementById("stateTaxWithheld").value);
var filingStatus = document.getElementById("filingStatus").value;
var refundAmountElement = document.getElementById("refundAmount");
refundAmountElement.style.color = "#28a745"; // Default to green
// Basic validation
if (isNaN(totalIncome) || isNaN(stateTaxWithheld) || totalIncome < 0 || stateTaxWithheld < 0) {
refundAmountElement.textContent = "Invalid input";
refundAmountElement.style.color = "red";
return;
}
// — Simplified NYS Tax Calculation —
// This uses simplified standard deductions and tax brackets.
// Real NYS tax calculation is more complex.
var standardDeduction = 0;
var taxRate = 0;
var taxableIncome = 0;
var estimatedTaxLiability = 0;
// Define standard deductions and tax brackets (simplified and approximate)
var deductions = {
"single": 8500,
"married_filing_jointly": 17000,
"head_of_household": 12750,
"married_filing_separately": 8500
};
// Approximate NYS Tax Brackets and Rates (as of recent years, can change)
// These are simplified effective rates or marginal rates applied to income bands.
// A truly accurate calculator would need precise bracket definitions and phase-outs.
var taxBrackets = {
"single": [
{ limit: 11200, rate: 0.04 },
{ limit: 27350, rate: 0.045 },
{ limit: 81750, rate: 0.055 },
{ limit: 224350, rate: 0.0645 },
{ limit: 448600, rate: 0.0665 },
{ limit: Infinity, rate: 0.0685 } // Top rate
],
"married_filing_jointly": [
{ limit: 22400, rate: 0.04 },
{ limit: 54700, rate: 0.045 },
{ limit: 163500, rate: 0.055 },
{ limit: 448700, rate: 0.0645 },
{ limit: 897200, rate: 0.0665 },
{ limit: Infinity, rate: 0.0685 }
],
"head_of_household": [
{ limit: 14000, rate: 0.04 },
{ limit: 34150, rate: 0.045 },
{ limit: 102100, rate: 0.055 },
{ limit: 280450, rate: 0.0645 },
{ limit: 560900, rate: 0.0665 },
{ limit: Infinity, rate: 0.0685 }
],
"married_filing_separately": [ // Same brackets as single, but doubled limits
{ limit: 11200, rate: 0.04 },
{ limit: 27350, rate: 0.045 },
{ limit: 81750, rate: 0.055 },
{ limit: 224350, rate: 0.0645 },
{ limit: 448600, rate: 0.0665 },
{ limit: Infinity, rate: 0.0685 }
]
};
standardDeduction = deductions[filingStatus] || deductions["single"];
taxableIncome = Math.max(0, totalIncome – standardDeduction);
var incomeRemaining = taxableIncome;
var brackets = taxBrackets[filingStatus] || taxBrackets["single"];
for (var i = 0; i < brackets.length; i++) {
var bracket = brackets[i];
var incomeInBracket = 0;
if (incomeRemaining 0) {
refundAmountElement.textContent = "$" + estimatedRefund.toFixed(2);
refundAmountElement.style.color = "#28a745";
} else if (estimatedRefund < 0) {
refundAmountElement.textContent = "$" + Math.abs(estimatedRefund).toFixed(2) + " (Owed)";
refundAmountElement.style.color = "red";
} else {
refundAmountElement.textContent = "$0.00";
refundAmountElement.style.color = "#333";
}
}