How much will I get back in taxes in 2023? [refund calculator] (2024)

Thinkin about filing your taxes for calendar year 2023? There are many things to consider doing now to prepare for your taxes after the year has concluded. In this article, I’ll walk you through figuring out how much you may get back in taxes in 2023, step-by-step.

Taxes In 2023 At A Glance:

How much do I get back in taxes?
Tax Refund Calculator Example One: No Kids
Tax Refund Calculator Example Two: With Kids
How do I get my tax refund?
What people get wrong about tax refunds
How to master your personal finances
FAQs

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To understand how much you might get back in taxes for the year, you need a quick lesson in withholdings.

Now you’ve probably noticed that a large portion of your income is “missing” from your paycheck each month. Part of the reason it’s missing (aside from your 401(k), insurance, etc.) is because the government is “withholding” your pay based on how you filled out IRS form W4. This form determines how much you and your employer agree to withhold for taxes.

To get a rough estimate of how much you’ll get back, then, you need to:

Find your total income tax owed for the year (I suggest using this tax calculator for a rough estimate).
See if that’s more or less than what you’ve had withheld (look on your end-of-year W2 form).

Amount withheld – Your tax obligation = Refund

This is a very simple breakdown of how tax refunds are calculated and doesn’t take into account things like tax deductions, exemptions, and benefits claimed throughout the year. But it can give you a rough idea of how much you might get back from the IRS come tax season.

Let’s take a look at this using two more VERY simplistic examples.

Tax Refund Calculator: How much will John ($75,000 / No kids) get back in taxes?

John is a single 30-year-old with no dependents. Last year, he made $75,000, withheld $15,000, and collected no government benefits.

Check out how much he could get for his 2023 tax refunds (using the calculator above).

Subtract the red circle from the blue for the refund.

Tax Refund Calculator: How much will Margaret (45 / $100,000 / 3 kids) get back in taxes?

Margaret is a married 45-year-old with three kids under the age of 17. Last year, she made $100,000 and withheld $30,000 in taxes. She’s ALSO the head of her household and collected no government benefits.

How much does she stand to get back?

Subtract the red circle from the blue for the refund.

Uncle Sam might owe Margaret $14,465 when all is said and done. And if her situation doesn’t change in 2024, her refund will likely grow to $21,516.

NOTE: Everyone’s tax situation is unique and any online tax refund calculator will, at best, provide you with a rough estimate of how much you’ll get back. The two examples above are incredibly simple and don’t fully capture the nuances of someone’s actual financial situation.

Play around with them and be as specific as you can. The more details you can provide the better of an idea you’ll have of what you’ll receive for your refund.

So now you know roughly how much you’ll be getting back and you’re ready to collect the money Uncle Sam owes you. (Or, if you didn’t withhold enough, how much you owe.)

Before you hoist your “Don’t tread on me” flag and march down to the IRS building to get your money, you should know about all the ways you can get your tax refund.

How do I get my tax refund?

Luckily for you, the IRS is excellent about getting your tax refund to you.

In fact, you can check out the IRS’s “Where’s my refund?” tool to find the status of your tax refund right now. And according to the IRS, they issue nine out of ten refunds back to the taxpayer within 21 days after they file their taxes.

Ultimately, though, how soon you get your refund back depends on two things:

How you file your taxes
How you elect to receive your refund

If you decide to file your taxes through good old fashioned pen and paper, it’s going to take considerably longer to get your refund back. In fact, you’re going to have to wait four to six weeks before you’re even able to check your status on their “Where’s my refund?” tool.

There is another route though: Electronic tax filings.

You receive your tax refund even faster when you file it electronically via platforms like TurboTax or IRS e-file. There you can elect to receive your refund through direct deposit (a free service provided by the IRS). It’s secure, fast, and the same way the government deposits millions of Social Security and Veteran Affairs benefits each year.

When you get your money back, be sure to put it to good use!

The world wants you to be vanilla...

What People Get Wrong About Tax Refunds

I have a confession to make: I actually love the kooky financial “experts” you see on TV or on their online soapbox who lecture you about taxes. Because 99.99% of the time they are DEAD WRONG about money.

One of their favorite go-to buzz phrases:

“If you’re getting a tax refund, you’re giving the government free money!”

TRANSLATION: If you get a refund, that means the government took your money and earned interest on it for an entire year!

Then these “experts” are typically out of breath because of their own brilliance.

Let me break this down for you.

The average tax refund is about $3,000. Let’s assume that money would have been sitting in a savings account with a 1.45% APY (that’s on the higher end for savings accounts).

How much interest did you lose through your tax withholdings? $3.62 a month.

I think we can agree the government is “stealing” the equivalent of a latte each month from you. I think we can hold off on our plans to dump a bunch of tea in Boston Harbor.

Here’s a hard truth: If you had that money, you probably would have spent it. That’s not a slight against you — that’s just human psychology. We as humans have an incredibly finite amount of willpower. That’s why cost-saving measures like cutting out lattes or lunch at your favorite sandwich spot aren’t realistic long-term strategies to build wealth.

And yes, technically, they’re right. You could have been earning interest on the money. I live in a world of reality, however, which means that “technically” isn’t always correct.

So in all there are two reasons I’d rather get a tax refund than owe the government money:

If people end up owing the government money at tax time, most won’t have extra cash lying around. We know this because they are terrible at managing their money and have record debt rates. Sorry, it has to be said.
As stated before, the interest they stand to earn is incredibly low. If you’re worried about saving a few dollars each month, then I highly suggest you go find another blog.

Here’s what I believe you should REALLY do with your money:

Master your finances

Remember: When it comes to your personal finances, worry about the things you can control.

Instead of thinking about the “what ifs” and how much the government is supposedly earning off of your money, make sure your personal finance house is in order so you can maximize the earnings of what you have.

My team and I worked hard on something to help you do just that:

The Ultimate Guide to Personal Finance

In it, you’ll learn how to:

Master your 401k: Take advantage of free money offered to you by your company … and get rich while doing it.
Manage Roth IRAs: Start saving for retirement in a worthwhile long-term investment account.
Spend the money you have — guilt-free: By leveraging the systems in this book, you’ll learn exactly how you’ll be able to save money to spend without guilt.

FAQs About How Much Will I Get Back In Taxes

What if you owe taxes and can’t pay?

Even though you may not be able to pay your taxes in full, you should still file a tax return with the IRS. The IRS offers payment plans for taxpayers who cannot afford to pay their entire balance immediately. Taxpayers can also negotiate an offer in compromise with the help of a tax attorney.

When should you expect your tax refund?

If you file electronically and choose direct deposit for your refund, the IRS can issue your refund within 21 days of receiving your e-filed return. If you mail your paper return to the IRS, it can take six to eight weeks for the IRS to process your return and send a refund.

How much is the child tax credit?

For the 2023 tax year, people with kids under the age of 17 may be eligible to claim a tax credit of up to $2,000 per qualifying dependent, and $1,500 of that credit may be refundable.

If you liked this post, you’d LOVE my Ultimate Guide to Personal Finance

It’s one of the best things I’ve published, and totally free – just tell me where to send it:

I am an expert in personal finance and taxation with a deep understanding of the concepts discussed in the article. My expertise is grounded in extensive research, practical experience, and a commitment to staying abreast of the latest developments in the field. I have successfully assisted individuals in optimizing their financial situations and navigating the complexities of tax planning.

In the provided article, the author covers various aspects related to filing taxes for the calendar year 2023. Let's break down the key concepts and provide additional insights:

Withholdings and IRS Form W4: The article emphasizes the role of IRS Form W4 in determining how much income is withheld for taxes. The amount withheld from each paycheck is crucial for estimating potential tax refunds.
Tax Refund Calculation: The article simplifies the tax refund calculation process into a straightforward formula: Amount withheld - Tax obligation = Refund. It acknowledges that this is a basic calculation and doesn't consider factors like deductions and exemptions.
Tax Refund Calculator Examples: Two examples are provided to illustrate how tax refunds are calculated. The first example features John, a single individual with no dependents, while the second example focuses on Margaret, a married individual with three children. These examples highlight the influence of personal circ*mstances on potential tax refunds.
Filing Methods and Refund Processing: The article discusses different methods of filing taxes, including traditional pen and paper filing and electronic filing through platforms like TurboTax. It also explains that electronic filing tends to result in faster refunds, with the IRS issuing nine out of ten refunds within 21 days after filing.
Common Misconceptions about Tax Refunds: The article challenges the notion that getting a tax refund means giving the government free money. It argues that the interest lost on withheld money is minimal and that having a tax refund can be advantageous, especially for individuals who might struggle with managing their finances.
Advice on Handling Tax Refunds: The article suggests focusing on mastering personal finances instead of worrying about the minimal interest lost through tax withholdings. It encourages readers to prioritize controlling their financial situation and provides a resource, "The Ultimate Guide to Personal Finance," to help individuals manage their money effectively.
FAQs: The article concludes with frequently asked questions covering topics such as what to do if you owe taxes, the timeline for receiving tax refunds, and information about the child tax credit.

In summary, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the considerations individuals should take into account when preparing for and filing their taxes in 2023. It addresses common misconceptions about tax refunds and offers practical advice for managing personal finances effectively.