The Summary/Print page within your account provides a high-level overview of your tax return. It’s a valuable tool for reviewing your return before filing, especially since it allows you to see key calculations without needing to pay to view the full return. If you're unsure how to interpret the information shown, this guide breaks down each section for you.
How to Navigate to the Summary Page
- Go to Federal Section > Review > Summary to access the Tax Return Summary.
⚠️ Note: The State Section does not have a Review tab. To review your state return, you must open the PDF copy of your return. This PDF will display your state calculations, refund amount, and any accompanying forms.
Total Income
This section displays the total amount of income reported on your return. It includes all income sources such as:
- Wages and salaries (Form W-2)
- Interest and dividends
- Business income (Schedule C)
- Rental or royalty income
- Retirement distributions
- Capital gains
- Other miscellaneous income
You can click on Total Income to view an itemized breakdown of each income source. Selecting an item from the list will take you directly to the entry screen for that income type, allowing you to review or edit the details.
Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
Your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is a key figure in your tax return. It is calculated by subtracting above-the-line deductions (also known as income adjustments) from your Total Income. These adjustments may include:
- Educator expenses
- Student loan interest
- Retirement contributions
- Self-employed health insurance
- Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions
🔎 Important: AGI is calculated before your standard or itemized deductions (line 12e of Form 1040) are applied. It serves as the foundation for determining your eligibility for many credits and deductions.
Clicking on Adjusted Gross Income will show you the specific adjustments that were applied to your income.
Tax and Credits
This section outlines how your tax liability is calculated and how credits affect it.
- Taxable Income is calculated by subtracting your standard deduction or itemized deductions (line 12e of Form 1040) from your AGI.
- The IRS tax tables* are then used to determine your income tax liability based on your filing status and taxable income.
- Nonrefundable credits (such as the Child Tax Credit or Education Credits) are subtracted from your income tax liability to reduce the amount you owe.
📌 *Capital Gains & Qualified Dividends: If your return includes these, the IRS tax tables are not used. Instead, the Qualified Dividends and Capital Gain Tax Worksheet is applied to calculate your tax liability more accurately.
⚠️ Self-Employment (SE) Tax Impact: If you are self-employed, your return includes SE tax, which is calculated separately from income tax. Nonrefundable credits only reduce income tax, not SE tax. This means that even if you qualify for credits, your total tax may remain higher due to the SE tax portion. SE tax covers Social Security and Medicare contributions for self-employed individuals and is added to your total tax after credits are applied.
Total Tax
The Total Tax section shows the final amount of tax you owe for the year. It includes:
- Income tax (after credits)
- SE tax (if applicable)
- Additional taxes (e.g., early withdrawal penalties, household employment taxes)
Clicking on Total Tax will display a breakdown of these components. This is the total amount you are responsible for paying to the IRS.
Payments
This section includes all payments and refundable credits applied to your return, such as:
- Federal income tax withheld (from W-2s, 1099s, etc.)
- Estimated tax payments
- Extension payments
- Refundable credits (e.g., Earned Income Credit, Additional Child Tax Credit)
These payments are subtracted from your Total Tax to determine whether you owe money or are due a refund.
Federal Refund
If your payments and refundable credits exceed your total tax liability, you will receive a refund for the difference. This amount is shown in the Federal Refund section.
Refunds may be issued via direct deposit or paper check, depending on your selection during the filing process.
Federal Amount Due
If your total tax liability is greater than your payments and credits, you will see a Federal Amount Due. This is the amount you must pay to the IRS by the tax deadline (typically April 15).
Failure to pay on time may result in penalties and interest; therefore, it’s essential to address any outstanding balance promptly.
States
If you filed a state return, you would see one of the following:
- State Refund – if your state payments and credits exceed your state tax liability.
- State Amount Due – if your state tax liability exceeds your payments and credits.
📄 Reminder: The State Section does not have a Review tab. To view your state return details, open the PDF copy of your return. This will display your state-specific forms, calculations, and refund amount or balance due.