Gather your total income for the tax year
Determine your filing status
Find your taxable income after deductions
Estimate your federal income tax using the tax brackets
Add any other taxes owed, such as self-employment tax
Add all tax payments already made, including withholding and estimated payments
Include refundable tax credits you qualify for
Subtract total tax liability from total payments and refundable credits
If the result is positive, that is your estimated refund
If the result is negative, that is the amount you may owe
Use a tax refund calculator for a quicker estimate
Compare your estimate with your prior year return if your income is similar