One calculator and 2 readiness checks
These tools help you prepare and sort your situation. None of them calculate a specific refund or credit amount — those figures depend on details only the IRS and your complete return can confirm.
Credit documentation organizer
Check off what you've gathered before you start claiming any credit — income records, dependent info, receipts and prior-year returns.
Assumptions this uses
- This checklist is generic and does not know your specific credits — it only tracks what you've marked as gathered.
- It does not determine eligibility for any credit or estimate a dollar amount.
- US federal filing conventions only — state credit documentation may differ.
Limitations: This organizer does not calculate a refund, does not confirm eligibility for any specific credit, and does not replace reading the actual eligibility criteria for the credits you believe apply to you.
Runs entirely in your browser.
Check eligibility before you estimate value
It's tempting to look up how much a credit might be worth before confirming you actually qualify. Flip that order. Work through the actual eligibility criteria first — income range, dependents, expense type — using the IRS's own tools or your software's guided interview, then worry about the amount.
Which credit categories apply to you?
A short situation quiz that sorts your household and income into the credit categories worth reading up on — not a dollar estimate.
Assumptions this uses
- This quiz sorts your general situation into broad credit categories worth researching, based on your answers only.
- It does not calculate a refund or confirm you meet a specific credit's income or documentation requirements.
- US federal filing rules only.
Limitations: This quiz does not determine your actual eligibility for any specific credit and does not account for state-level credits or every possible household situation.
Runs entirely in your browser.
The Tax Credit Readiness Kit
A checklist, a worksheet, and the questions to ask before you claim any credit.
Get the free guide →Savings goal timeline
If a credit or refund gives you a lump sum, see roughly how it fits into an existing savings goal timeline.
Assumptions this uses
- Assumes a constant monthly savings amount and a fixed annual return rate you enter yourself.
- Does not model taxes on investment growth or irregular contributions.
- This is a general savings projection tool, not a tax or credit calculator.
Limitations: This does not account for irregular income, changing contribution amounts, taxes on growth, or inflation, and is not tied to any specific tax credit or refund amount.
Runs entirely in your browser.
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Get help preparing your claim
Once you know which credits might apply, filing software or a professional can help you actually claim them correctly.
Compare filing help →