What to do if your tax refund is lower than expected | USAGov (2024)

FAQs

Why would my tax refund be less than what I expected? ›

All or part of your refund may be offset to pay off past-due federal tax, state income tax, state unemployment compensation debts, child support, spousal support, or other federal nontax debts, such as student loans.

Refund less than expected

If you receive a refund for a smaller amount than you expected, you may cash the check. You'll get a notice explaining the difference. Follow the instructions on the notice. If it's determined that you should have received more, you will later receive a check for the difference.

If you didn't get a notice about an offset but your tax refund is smaller than you expected, call the IRS at 800-829-1040 (or TTY/TDD 800-877-8339).

Claiming 0 allowances means that too much money will be withheld by the IRS. The allowances you can claim vary from situation to situation. If you are married with a kid, you can claim up to three allowances.

Examples that could decrease your refund include: Math errors or mistakes; Delinquent federal taxes; State income taxes, child support, student loans or other delinquent federal nontax obligations; and.

Changes to your income last year may play a role in receiving a smaller refund this tax season. Here are some examples: Salary increase: If you got a salary increase last year but neglected to increase your tax withholding, this could lead to a smaller tax refund when you file.

When you pay your TurboTax fees with your federal refund, the TurboTax fee plus a separate Refund Processing Service (RPS) fee are deducted from your total refund amount. So your IRS-issued tax refund might be less than the amount shown in TurboTax.

If a taxpayer refund isn't what is expected, it may be due to changes made by the IRS. These changes could include corrections to the Child Tax Credit or EITC amounts or an offset from all or part of the refund amount to pay past-due tax or debts. More information about reduced refunds is available on IRS.gov.

If the IRS is reviewing your return, the review process could take anywhere from 45 to 180 days, depending on the number and types of issues the IRS is reviewing.

If you reduce your tax withholding by adjusting your W-4, you will be able to hold onto more of your own money in the form of bigger paychecks throughout the year. Getting your tax refund to as close to zero as possible is technically ideal. If you do get a big tax refund, be sure to put your windfall to good use.

How do I stop my refund from being offset? ›

Prevent an offset

Pay the full amount listed on the Intent to Offset Federal Payments (FTB 1102). Use the payment coupon included in the letter when you send your check or money order. To make a payment online, visit Payment options .

There are many events that may reduce your refund, including: Starting an additional job (especially self-employment) Getting a significant raise, but your W-4 staying the same. Selling stock, crypto, or other investments.

If you owe money to a federal or state agency, the federal government may use part or all of your federal tax refund to repay the debt. This is called a tax refund offset. If your tax refund is lower than you calculated, it may be due to a tax refund offset for an unpaid debt such as child support.

By placing a “0” on line 5, you are indicating that you want the most amount of tax taken out of your pay each pay period. If you wish to claim 1 for yourself instead, then less tax is taken out of your pay each pay period.

You may be in line for a smaller tax refund this year if your income rose in 2023. Earning a lot of interest in a bank account could also lead to a smaller refund. A smaller refund isn't necessarily terrible, since it means you got paid sooner rather than loaning the IRS money for no good reason.

Depending on what amount of income and which credits you specify on the W-4, the more or less tax will be withheld. Having less taken out will give you bigger paychecks, but a smaller tax refund (or potentially no tax refund and a tax bill at the end of the year).

Ensure that you've claimed all the deductions and credits you're entitled to. Make sure you (and your spouse if you're filing jointly) have both signed the return. Check your math. Make sure all necessary tax forms and documentation have been attached to the return.