Interactive figure 01 / The individual return

Follow the dollars through Form 1040.

Income, deductions, tax, and payments are different layers. Change a hypothetical example and see how the layers connect.

Simplified learning model, not a complete Form 1040 estimate. Ordinary federal income only; tax years 2025–2027. All entries remain in this page.

A / Baseline

Tax year

Filing status

Wages and salaries ($)

Taxable interest ($)

Other ordinary income ($)

Eligible adjustments to income ($)

Deduction method

Known nonrefundable credits ($)

Federal income tax withheld ($)

Estimated and other tax payments ($)

Amounts are hypothetical. Adjustment, deduction, and credit eligibility is not calculated. Enter only ordinary income; exclude capital gains, qualified dividends, and self-employment profit that would require additional tax calculations.

B / What if?

Tax year

Filing status

Wages and salaries ($)

Taxable interest ($)

Other ordinary income ($)

Eligible adjustments to income ($)

Deduction method

Known nonrefundable credits ($)

Federal income tax withheld ($)

Estimated and other tax payments ($)

What changed?

Income tax after credits+$2,200

Withholding + payments$0

Net settlement (payments − tax)-$2,200

A larger refund can come from larger payments. Compare the tax itself separately from the amount paid in.

A / Baseline

2026 · SINGLE

01 / Total ordinary income$100,500

− Adjustments to income$0

02 / Adjusted gross income (AGI)$100,500

− Selected deduction$16,100

03 / Taxable ordinary income$84,400

04 / Regular federal income tax$13,280

− Nonrefundable credits applied$0

05 / Income tax after entered credits$13,280

06 / Withholding + payments$14,000

Illustrative refund$720Payments minus this income tax only.

Marginal bracket: 22% · Tax after entered credits ÷ gross income: 13.21%

B / What if?

2026 · SINGLE

01 / Total ordinary income$110,500

− Adjustments to income$0

02 / Adjusted gross income (AGI)$110,500

− Selected deduction$16,100

03 / Taxable ordinary income$94,400

04 / Regular federal income tax$15,480

− Nonrefundable credits applied$0

05 / Income tax after entered credits$15,480

06 / Withholding + payments$14,000

Illustrative balance due$1,480Payments minus this income tax only.

Marginal bracket: 22% · Tax after entered credits ÷ gross income: 14.01%

Show the math and tax brackets

A

$100,000 + $500 + $0 = $100,500 total income
$100,500 − $0 = $100,500 AGI
max(0, $100,500 − $16,100) = $84,400
Each bracket taxes only its own layer; see the breakdown below.
$13,280 − min($0, $13,280) = $13,280
$14,000 − $13,280 = $720 (positive: refund; negative: balance due)

Regular tax by bracket · 2026
Taxable layer	Rate	Income in layer	Tax
$0–$12,400	10%	$12,400	$1,240
$12,400–$50,400	12%	$38,000	$4,560
$50,400–$105,700	22%	$34,000	$7,480

B

$110,000 + $500 + $0 = $110,500 total income
$110,500 − $0 = $110,500 AGI
max(0, $110,500 − $16,100) = $94,400
Each bracket taxes only its own layer; see the breakdown below.
$15,480 − min($0, $15,480) = $15,480
$14,000 − $15,480 = -$1,480 (positive: refund; negative: balance due)

Regular tax by bracket · 2026
Taxable layer	Rate	Income in layer	Tax
$0–$12,400	10%	$12,400	$1,240
$12,400–$50,400	12%	$38,000	$4,560
$50,400–$105,700	22%	$44,000	$9,680

What this figure leaves out

This model uses ordinary federal rate schedules, not the return tax table. It does not calculate eligibility, phaseouts, refundable credits, capital-gain or qualified-dividend rates, self-employment or payroll taxes, AMT, NIIT, QBI, state tax, Schedule 1-A deductions, age/blindness additions, dependent deductions, special itemized-deduction limits, penalties, interest, or refund offsets. Manual credits are capped at this model’s regular tax; real credits have separate limitations.

The basic standard deduction assumes an eligible full-year U.S. resident who cannot be claimed as a dependent. Filing-status eligibility is not decided here; married separate filers must independently verify whether a standard deduction is permitted. For a custom deduction, enter an independently determined eligible amount after applicable limits.

Return to the sources

Model reviewed November 15, 2026. Educational illustration. No inputs are sent or saved.