Where to see how much tax was withheld
The tax withheld from your pay is half of the refund equation: it's what you've already paid. There are several ways to find it, depending on how you work and the time of year.
If you already have your W-2
It's the most reliable source. Federal income tax withheld is in box 2 and state income tax in box 17. If you had several jobs, add up that box from each W-2.
If it hasn't arrived yet: your pay stub
Your last pay stub of the year has a column with the running totals for the year, labeled "YTD" (year to date). Look for:
- "Federal Income Tax", "Fed Withholding" or "FIT" for federal tax.
- "State Tax", "SIT" or your state's name or abbreviation for state tax.
- Don't confuse these with "Social Security", "OASDI" or "Medicare" — those aren't part of your refund.
How much will you get back?
Federal and state in one estimate — no account, nothing saved.
Estimate my refund →In your payroll app or portal
If your pay is deposited through a payroll app or portal, it usually has a "Pay statements" or "Tax documents" section. There you can see your year-to-date totals and, from late January, download your W-2.
If you're self-employed or a contractor
Clients who pay you as a contractor send you Form 1099-NEC. Usually no tax is withheld; if it was, it shows in box 4. Estimated payments you made to the IRS yourself during the year also count as tax paid, but they're tracked separately.
Why it matters
Your refund is, in essence, the difference between what was withheld and the tax you owe. If you use an incomplete number (for example, from a mid-year pay stub), your estimate will come out lower than it really is.
Official sources
IRS — Tax withholding ↗IRS — About Form 1099-NEC ↗Figures checked on IRS.gov (reviewed October 2026). Always check the official source: amounts can change every year.