Filed your first W-2 job and wondering if you're getting money back? Grab your W-2 form (your employer sends it in January) and plug in the numbers.
Your W-2 is a one-page form your employer mails or emails you by January 31. Here's what to look for:
Box 1 Wages, tips, other compensation — your total taxable earnings for the year. This goes in "Total Income" below.
Box 2 Federal income tax withheld — how much your employer already sent to the IRS on your behalf. This goes in "Federal Tax Withheld."
Box 17 State income tax — how much was withheld for your state. This goes in "State Tax Withheld."
If you had multiple jobs, add up the Box 1 amounts from all your W-2s for total income, and add up all Box 2 amounts for total federal withheld.