Refund Estimator
The math, line by line
| Wages + other income | $60,000 |
| Standard deduction (2025) | -$15,750 |
| Taxable income | $44,250 |
| Tax before credits | $5,072 |
| Child Tax Credit (1 × 2200) | -$2,200 |
| Tax after credits | $2,872 |
| Federal withholding | $6,500 |
| ESTIMATED refund | $3,628 |
Simplified estimate: standard deduction and Child Tax Credit only. Real returns add other credits, deductions, and the EITC — run the “Am I Missing Anything?” finder next. Verification anchor (2025, single, $60,000 wages, $6,500 withholding, 1 child): taxable $44,250 · tax $5,072 · CTC $2,200 · refund $3,628 — deterministic, twice in a row.