Calculate your estimated federal income tax liability. This calculator provides an approximation and should not be considered definitive tax advice.
Single
Married Filing Jointly
Married Filing Separately
Head of Household
Your Estimated Federal Income Tax
$0.00
Understanding Estimated Income Tax
This Estimated Tax Calculator helps you approximate your federal income tax liability for the year. It takes into account your income, deductions, filing status, and tax credits. Understanding these components is crucial for accurate tax planning and avoiding potential penalties.
Key Concepts:
Gross Income: This is all the money you earned from various sources before any deductions are taken out. This can include wages, salaries, tips, interest, dividends, capital gains, and business income.
Adjusted Gross Income (AGI): This is calculated by subtracting certain "above-the-line" deductions from your gross income. While this calculator simplifies by directly asking for deductions to arrive at taxable income, AGI is a critical figure in actual tax filings.
Deductions: These reduce your taxable income. You can either take the Standard Deduction (a fixed amount that varies by filing status and year) or Itemize Deductions (listing out specific deductible expenses like mortgage interest, state and local taxes up to a limit, charitable contributions, etc.). You would choose whichever results in a larger deduction. The calculator uses the value you provide.
Taxable Income: This is the portion of your income that is actually subject to tax. It's calculated as: Gross Income – Deductions.
Tax Brackets: The U.S. has a progressive tax system. This means different portions of your taxable income are taxed at different rates. Higher income portions are taxed at higher rates. The specific tax brackets depend on your filing status.
Tax Credits: Unlike deductions, tax credits directly reduce the amount of tax you owe, dollar-for-dollar. They are generally more valuable than deductions. Examples include the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, and education credits.
Estimated Tax: This refers to the income tax you pay on income that is not subject to withholding, such as income from self-employment, interest, dividends, rent, and capital gains. If you expect to owe at least $1,000 in tax, you may need to pay estimated tax quarterly.
How the Calculator Works (Simplified):
The calculator performs the following steps:
Calculates Taxable Income: Gross Income - Deductions.
Applies the appropriate tax rates based on the selected Filing Status to determine the preliminary tax. (Note: This calculator uses simplified tax brackets for illustration. Actual tax brackets and calculations can be more complex, especially with different types of income and specific tax laws.)
Subtracts Tax Credits from the preliminary tax to arrive at the final Estimated Tax Liability.
Disclaimer:
Tax laws are complex and change frequently. The calculations provided by this tool are for informational and estimation purposes only. They are based on generalized tax bracket information and simplified assumptions. For accurate tax advice and filing, please consult with a qualified tax professional or refer to official IRS publications. This calculator does not account for all possible deductions, credits, or income types (e.g., AMT, specific business deductions, capital gains rates).
function calculateEstimatedTax() {
var grossIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById("grossIncome").value);
var deductions = parseFloat(document.getElementById("deductions").value);
var filingStatus = document.getElementById("filingStatus").value;
var taxCredits = parseFloat(document.getElementById("taxCredits").value);
var taxExplanationText = "";
var estimatedTaxResult = 0;
var taxableIncome = 0;
if (isNaN(grossIncome) || grossIncome < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid positive number for Gross Annual Income.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(deductions) || deductions < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid positive number for Total Deductions.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(taxCredits) || taxCredits < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid positive number for Total Tax Credits.");
return;
}
taxableIncome = grossIncome – deductions;
if (taxableIncome < 0) {
taxableIncome = 0; // Taxable income cannot be negative
}
var preliminaryTax = 0;
// Simplified Tax Brackets for illustration (based on 2023 data, subject to change)
// These are illustrative and might not reflect all nuances or adjustments.
if (filingStatus === "single") {
if (taxableIncome <= 11000) {
preliminaryTax = taxableIncome * 0.10;
taxExplanationText = "10% on income up to $11,000";
} else if (taxableIncome <= 44725) {
preliminaryTax = (11000 * 0.10) + (taxableIncome – 11000) * 0.12;
taxExplanationText = "10% on first $11,000 + 12% on income over $11,000 up to $44,725";
} else if (taxableIncome <= 95375) {
preliminaryTax = (11000 * 0.10) + (44725 – 11000) * 0.12 + (taxableIncome – 44725) * 0.22;
taxExplanationText = "10% on first $11,000 + 12% on next $33,725 + 22% on income over $44,725 up to $95,375";
} else if (taxableIncome <= 182100) {
preliminaryTax = (11000 * 0.10) + (33725 * 0.12) + (95375 – 44725) * 0.22 + (taxableIncome – 95375) * 0.24;
taxExplanationText = "10% on first $11,000 + 12% on next $33,725 + 22% on next $50,650 + 24% on income over $95,375 up to $182,100";
} else if (taxableIncome <= 231250) {
preliminaryTax = (11000 * 0.10) + (33725 * 0.12) + (50650 * 0.22) + (182100 – 95375) * 0.24 + (taxableIncome – 182100) * 0.32;
taxExplanationText = "10% on first $11,000 + 12% on next $33,725 + 22% on next $50,650 + 24% on next $86,725 + 32% on income over $182,100 up to $231,250";
} else if (taxableIncome <= 578125) {
preliminaryTax = (11000 * 0.10) + (33725 * 0.12) + (50650 * 0.22) + (86725 * 0.24) + (231250 – 182100) * 0.32 + (taxableIncome – 231250) * 0.35;
taxExplanationText = "10% on first $11,000 + 12% on next $33,725 + 22% on next $50,650 + 24% on next $86,725 + 32% on next $49,150 + 35% on income over $231,250 up to $578,125";
} else {
preliminaryTax = (11000 * 0.10) + (33725 * 0.12) + (50650 * 0.22) + (86725 * 0.24) + (49150 * 0.32) + (578125 – 231250) * 0.35 + (taxableIncome – 578125) * 0.37;
taxExplanationText = "10% on first $11,000 + 12% on next $33,725 + 22% on next $50,650 + 24% on next $86,725 + 32% on next $49,150 + 35% on next $346,875 + 37% on income over $578,125";
}
} else if (filingStatus === "married_jointly") {
if (taxableIncome <= 22000) {
preliminaryTax = taxableIncome * 0.10;
taxExplanationText = "10% on income up to $22,000";
} else if (taxableIncome <= 89450) {
preliminaryTax = (22000 * 0.10) + (taxableIncome – 22000) * 0.12;
taxExplanationText = "10% on first $22,000 + 12% on income over $22,000 up to $89,450";
} else if (taxableIncome <= 190750) {
preliminaryTax = (22000 * 0.10) + (89450 – 22000) * 0.12 + (taxableIncome – 89450) * 0.22;
taxExplanationText = "10% on first $22,000 + 12% on next $67,450 + 22% on income over $89,450 up to $190,750";
} else if (taxableIncome <= 364200) {
preliminaryTax = (22000 * 0.10) + (67450 * 0.12) + (190750 – 89450) * 0.22 + (taxableIncome – 190750) * 0.24;
taxExplanationText = "10% on first $22,000 + 12% on next $67,450 + 22% on next $101,300 + 24% on income over $190,750 up to $364,200";
} else if (taxableIncome <= 462500) {
preliminaryTax = (22000 * 0.10) + (67450 * 0.12) + (101300 * 0.22) + (364200 – 190750) * 0.24 + (taxableIncome – 364200) * 0.32;
taxExplanationText = "10% on first $22,000 + 12% on next $67,450 + 22% on next $101,300 + 24% on next $173,450 + 32% on income over $364,200 up to $462,500";
} else if (taxableIncome <= 693750) {
preliminaryTax = (22000 * 0.10) + (67450 * 0.12) + (101300 * 0.22) + (173450 * 0.24) + (462500 – 364200) * 0.32 + (taxableIncome – 462500) * 0.35;
taxExplanationText = "10% on first $22,000 + 12% on next $67,450 + 22% on next $101,300 + 24% on next $173,450 + 32% on next $98,300 + 35% on income over $462,500 up to $693,750";
} else {
preliminaryTax = (22000 * 0.10) + (67450 * 0.12) + (101300 * 0.22) + (173450 * 0.24) + (98300 * 0.32) + (693750 – 462500) * 0.35 + (taxableIncome – 693750) * 0.37;
taxExplanationText = "10% on first $22,000 + 12% on next $67,450 + 22% on next $101,300 + 24% on next $173,450 + 32% on next $98,300 + 35% on next $231,250 + 37% on income over $693,750";
}
} else if (filingStatus === "married_separately") {
if (taxableIncome <= 11000) {
preliminaryTax = taxableIncome * 0.10;
taxExplanationText = "10% on income up to $11,000";
} else if (taxableIncome <= 44725) {
preliminaryTax = (11000 * 0.10) + (taxableIncome – 11000) * 0.12;
taxExplanationText = "10% on first $11,000 + 12% on income over $11,000 up to $44,725";
} else if (taxableIncome <= 95375) {
preliminaryTax = (11000 * 0.10) + (44725 – 11000) * 0.12 + (taxableIncome – 44725) * 0.22;
taxExplanationText = "10% on first $11,000 + 12% on next $33,725 + 22% on income over $44,725 up to $95,375";
} else if (taxableIncome <= 182100) {
preliminaryTax = (11000 * 0.10) + (33725 * 0.12) + (95375 – 44725) * 0.22 + (taxableIncome – 95375) * 0.24;
taxExplanationText = "10% on first $11,000 + 12% on next $33,725 + 22% on next $50,650 + 24% on income over $95,375 up to $182,100";
} else if (taxableIncome <= 231250) {
preliminaryTax = (11000 * 0.10) + (33725 * 0.12) + (50650 * 0.22) + (182100 – 95375) * 0.24 + (taxableIncome – 182100) * 0.32;
taxExplanationText = "10% on first $11,000 + 12% on next $33,725 + 22% on next $50,650 + 24% on next $86,725 + 32% on income over $182,100 up to $231,250";
} else if (taxableIncome <= 578125) {
preliminaryTax = (11000 * 0.10) + (33725 * 0.12) + (50650 * 0.22) + (86725 * 0.24) + (231250 – 182100) * 0.32 + (taxableIncome – 231250) * 0.35;
taxExplanationText = "10% on first $11,000 + 12% on next $33,725 + 22% on next $50,650 + 24% on next $86,725 + 32% on next $49,150 + 35% on income over $231,250 up to $578,125";
} else {
preliminaryTax = (11000 * 0.10) + (33725 * 0.12) + (50650 * 0.22) + (86725 * 0.24) + (49150 * 0.32) + (578125 – 231250) * 0.35 + (taxableIncome – 578125) * 0.37;
taxExplanationText = "10% on first $11,000 + 12% on next $33,725 + 22% on next $50,650 + 24% on next $86,725 + 32% on next $49,150 + 35% on next $346,875 + 37% on income over $578,125";
}
} else if (filingStatus === "head_of_household") {
if (taxableIncome <= 14650) {
preliminaryTax = taxableIncome * 0.10;
taxExplanationText = "10% on income up to $14,650";
} else if (taxableIncome <= 59850) {
preliminaryTax = (14650 * 0.10) + (taxableIncome – 14650) * 0.12;
taxExplanationText = "10% on first $14,650 + 12% on income over $14,650 up to $59,850";
} else if (taxableIncome <= 95350) {
preliminaryTax = (14650 * 0.10) + (59850 – 14650) * 0.12 + (taxableIncome – 59850) * 0.22;
taxExplanationText = "10% on first $14,650 + 12% on next $45,200 + 22% on income over $59,850 up to $95,350";
} else if (taxableIncome <= 182100) {
preliminaryTax = (14650 * 0.10) + (45200 * 0.12) + (95350 – 59850) * 0.22 + (taxableIncome – 95350) * 0.24;
taxExplanationText = "10% on first $14,650 + 12% on next $45,200 + 22% on next $35,500 + 24% on income over $95,350 up to $182,100";
} else if (taxableIncome <= 231250) {
preliminaryTax = (14650 * 0.10) + (45200 * 0.12) + (35500 * 0.22) + (182100 – 95350) * 0.24 + (taxableIncome – 182100) * 0.32;
taxExplanationText = "10% on first $14,650 + 12% on next $45,200 + 22% on next $35,500 + 24% on next $86,750 + 32% on income over $182,100 up to $231,250";
} else if (taxableIncome <= 578125) {
preliminaryTax = (14650 * 0.10) + (45200 * 0.12) + (35500 * 0.22) + (86750 * 0.24) + (231250 – 182100) * 0.32 + (taxableIncome – 231250) * 0.35;
taxExplanationText = "10% on first $14,650 + 12% on next $45,200 + 22% on next $35,500 + 24% on next $86,750 + 32% on next $49,150 + 35% on income over $231,250 up to $578,125";
} else {
preliminaryTax = (14650 * 0.10) + (45200 * 0.12) + (35500 * 0.22) + (86750 * 0.24) + (49150 * 0.32) + (578125 – 231250) * 0.35 + (taxableIncome – 578125) * 0.37;
taxExplanationText = "10% on first $14,650 + 12% on next $45,200 + 22% on next $35,500 + 24% on next $86,750 + 32% on next $49,150 + 35% on next $346,875 + 37% on income over $578,125";
}
}
// Subtract tax credits
estimatedTaxResult = preliminaryTax – taxCredits;
// Ensure the final tax is not negative
if (estimatedTaxResult < 0) {
estimatedTaxResult = 0;
}
document.getElementById("estimatedTaxResult").innerText = "$" + estimatedTaxResult.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("taxExplanation").innerText = "Based on: " + taxExplanationText + ". Taxable Income: $" + taxableIncome.toFixed(2) + ". Preliminary Tax: $" + preliminaryTax.toFixed(2) + ". Tax Credits Applied: $" + taxCredits.toFixed(2) + ".";
}
function resetForm() {
document.getElementById("grossIncome").value = "";
document.getElementById("deductions").value = "";
document.getElementById("filingStatus").selectedIndex = 0;
document.getElementById("taxCredits").value = "";
document.getElementById("estimatedTaxResult").innerText = "$0.00";
document.getElementById("taxExplanation").innerText = "";
}