Tax Refund Calculator · District of Columbia

District of Columbia Tax Refund Calculator 2026

Most District of Columbia filers get two refunds — federal and state. Estimate both for 2026 from your income and withholding, with federal credits built in.

Data verified November 10, 2026 against official sources (see below).

Filing Status

Annual Gross Income

Federal Tax Withheld (W-2 box 2)

District of Columbia Tax Withheld (W-2 box 17)

Children Under 17

Federal

+$1,880

Liability $5,620 · credits $0

District of Columbia

−$876

Estimated liability $2,876

Combined

+$1,004

Estimated refund

Worked example: $65,000 income, one child, in District of Columbia

A single filer in District of Columbia earning $65,000 with $7,500 of federal withholding and $2,000 of state withholding and one child under 17 is looking at roughly +$4,080 federal and −$876 from District of Columbia — +$3,204 combined. The Child Tax Credit ($$2,200 non-refundable plus up to $0 refundable) does most of the work at this income.

Worked example breakdown, single filer, $65,000 income, one child, 2026
Layer	Estimated liability	Withheld + refundable credits	Refund / (owed)
Federal	$3,420	$7,500	+$4,080
District of Columbia	$2,876	$2,000	−$876
Combined			+$3,204

District of Columbia refund notes

District of Columbia taxes income at progressive rates with a $14,600 standard deduction for single filers. State credits (like a state EITC match) are not modeled, so the state number here is conservative — if anything it understates your refund.

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Sources and how we calculate

Published by Financial Calculator. Editorial policy. Publisher attribution, not a claim of professional review.

District of Columbia figures come from the state's published 2026 tax data (rolling verification recorded in our data files). State refundable credits are not modeled.

Figures last checked on November 10, 2026. Read our calculation methodology for data sources and update schedule.

How We Calculate & Keep This Accurate

Federal: gross income minus the standard deduction, walked through the 2026 brackets, then the Child Tax Credit (with its phaseout), the refundable Additional Child Tax Credit and an EITC estimate. Refund = withholding + refundable credits − liability. State: the same income run through District of Columbia's 2026 brackets after the state standard deduction; refund = state withholding − state liability. State credits are not modeled.

Published by Financial Calculator. Editorial policy. No named professional review is implied.

Primary Sources

Data & Freshness

Figures reflect 2026 tax-year data.

Last updated November 10, 2026 · Maintained by the Financial Calculator editorial team.

Read our calculation methodology.

District of Columbia tax refund FAQs

Common questions about 2026 refunds for District of Columbia residents.

How do I estimate my 2026 refund in District of Columbia?

Add up the federal tax withheld from your pay (W-2 box 2) and your District of Columbia withholding (box 17), then subtract your actual tax. This calculator does both layers: federal brackets with the Child Tax Credit and EITC, plus District of Columbia's state tax at its 2026 rates.

Does District of Columbia have a state income tax refund?

Yes. If your employer withheld more District of Columbia tax than you owe for 2026, the state refunds the difference when you file your District of Columbia return.

Why is my refund smaller than last year?

Refunds shrink when withholding drops closer to your real liability, when income rises into higher brackets, or when credits phase out (the Child Tax Credit starts phasing out at $200,000 single / $400,000 joint). A smaller refund is not necessarily more tax — it can mean you kept more of each paycheck.

Is this calculator exact?

It is an estimate for a W-2 wage earner using the 2026 standard deduction. Itemized deductions, pre-tax contributions, state credits, and local taxes change the real number — use it to see the direction and rough size of your refund, then file with exact forms.