TaxOptimizer 2026

Enter your paycheck details to calculate withholding, 401K strategy, and your projected refund or balance due.

Filing Status

Select your 2026 tax filing status.

How would you like to enter your information?

Both modes produce identical results — choose what you have in front of you.

📋

Upload Your W-2

Drag & drop here, or

Choose File

JPG, PNG, or PDF · Photo taken on your phone works great

A few extra details

Your Name

Employer (Box c)

Extra W-4 Withholding Per Period ($)

Line 4(c) of your current W-4, if any

Remaining Pay Periods in 2026

0 if W-2 is for a completed year · otherwise periods left

Spouse Name

Employer (Box c)

Extra W-4 Withholding Per Period ($)

Remaining Pay Periods in 2026

📖 W-2 box reference guide (manual lookup)

Box 1Federal wages — total taxable wages for the year

Box 2Federal income tax withheld — total withheld for the year

Box 3Social security wages

Box 4Social security tax withheld (6.2%)

Box 5Medicare wages

Box 6Medicare tax withheld (1.45%)

Box 12Code D = Traditional 401K contributions · Code AA = Roth 401K

Box cEmployer name and address

Household, Deductions & Credits

Standard Deduction ($)

2026 MFJ est. $30,800 · Single $15,400

401K Annual Limit ($)

🧒 Tax Credits

Children under 17

Child Tax Credit — $2,000 per qualifying child

Other dependents (17+)

$500 per qualifying dependent

Child & Dependent Care

Daycare/camp expenses — 20% credit up to $3K/$6K

Expenses

Education / AOTC

$2,500 per eligible college student

Other Credits

EV, energy, foreign tax, saver's credit, etc.

Amount

Total estimated tax credits $0

📋 Where to find these numbers on your paystub

→YTD Gross — "Gross Earnings YTD" or "Year-to-Date Gross" — total earned this year

→Current Period Gross — "This Period" or "Current" gross — your pay this check before deductions

→Federal Income Tax — grab both the YTD total and the current period amount

→401(k) / Retirement — grab YTD and current period amounts

→Pay Periods Elapsed — count how many paychecks you've received so far in 2026

Your Paystub

Your Name

Employer

YTD Gross Earnings ($) *

Total gross earned this year

Current Period Gross ($) *

Gross pay on this paycheck

YTD Federal Tax Withheld ($)

Current Period Federal Tax ($) *

Federal income tax on this check

YTD 401K Contributions ($)

Current Period 401K ($)

Pay Periods Elapsed This Year *

Paychecks received so far in 2026

Pre-Tax Benefits Per Check ($)

Medical, dental, HSA, etc. this period

Extra W-4 Withholding Per Period ($)

Line 4(c) on your current W-4, if any

✓ Calculated from your paystub

Annualized gross income—

Remaining pay periods—

Base federal withholding/period—

Pre-tax deductions/year (benefits)—

Spouse / Partner Paystub

Spouse Name

Employer

YTD Gross Earnings ($) *

Current Period Gross ($) *

YTD Federal Tax Withheld ($)

Current Period Federal Tax ($) *

YTD 401K Contributions ($)

Current Period 401K ($)

Pay Periods Elapsed This Year *

Pre-Tax Benefits Per Check ($)

Extra W-4 Withholding Per Period ($)

✓ Calculated from paystub

Annualized gross income—

Remaining pay periods—

Base federal withholding/period—

Pre-tax deductions/year (benefits)—

Household, Deductions & Credits

Standard Deduction ($)

2026 MFJ est. $30,800 · Single $15,400

401K Annual Limit ($)

2026 IRS est. $24,500

🧒 Tax Credits

Children under 17

Child Tax Credit — $2,000 per qualifying child · phases out at higher incomes

Other dependents (17+)

Credit for Other Dependents — $500 per qualifying dependent (college students, elderly parents, etc.)

Child & Dependent Care

Daycare, after-school, summer camp for children under 13 — up to $3,000 (1 child) or $6,000 (2+) of expenses · typically 20–35% credit

Expenses

American Opportunity / Education

AOTC for first 4 years of college — up to $2,500 per eligible student · 40% refundable

Other / Additional Credits

EV credit, energy credits, foreign tax credit, saver's credit, etc.

Amount

Total estimated tax credits $0

Your Information

Your Name

Employer

Annualized Gross Income ($) *

Annual salary + bonus, or YTD gross ÷ periods elapsed × 26

YTD Federal Tax Withheld ($)

YTD 401K Contributions ($)

Remaining Pay Periods *

26 minus periods elapsed so far

Gross Pay Per Period ($) *

Base Federal Withholding Per Period ($) *

Federal tax on this check, minus any extra W-4 amount

Extra W-4 Withholding Per Period ($)

Line 4(c) of your W-4

Pre-Tax Deductions Per Year, Non-401K ($)

HSA + medical + dental + vision + life + LTD (annualized)

Other Per-Period Deductions ($)

Spouse / Partner

Spouse Name

Employer

Annualized Gross Income ($) *

YTD Federal Tax Withheld ($)

YTD 401K Contributions ($)

Remaining Pay Periods *

Gross Pay Per Period ($) *

Base Federal Withholding Per Period ($) *

Extra W-4 Withholding Per Period ($)

Pre-Tax Deductions Per Year, Non-401K ($)

Other Per-Period Deductions ($)

Shared / Household, Deductions & Credits

Standard Deduction ($)

2026 MFJ est. $30,800 · Single $15,400

401K Annual Limit ($)

🧒 Tax Credits

Children under 17

Child Tax Credit — $2,000 per qualifying child · phases out at higher incomes

Other dependents (17+)

Credit for Other Dependents — $500 per qualifying dependent

Child & Dependent Care

Daycare, after-school, summer camp for children under 13 — up to $3,000 (1 child) or $6,000 (2+) · typically 20–35% credit

Expenses

American Opportunity / Education

AOTC for first 4 years of college — up to $2,500 per eligible student

Other / Additional Credits

EV credit, energy credits, foreign tax credit, saver's credit, etc.

Amount

Total estimated tax credits $0