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New Member
posted May 31, 2019 5:08:54 PM

My w2 says theres $0 held in federal, but $226/state and income is $15456. Is my refund AFTER the IRS takes their due amount?

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1 Best answer
Alumni
May 31, 2019 5:08:55 PM

Any refund you have coming will be computed on your tax return.  The fact that you have zero withheld for federal means you will probably not see any refund, but will end up owing taxes on the tax return.

You need to go to your employer and ask to complete a new W-4 and make sure you've chosen the correct number of allowances.  If you are single with no dependents, you shouldn't be claiming more than 1 allowance if you want to receive a refund at the end of the year.

16 Replies
Alumni
May 31, 2019 5:08:55 PM

Any refund you have coming will be computed on your tax return.  The fact that you have zero withheld for federal means you will probably not see any refund, but will end up owing taxes on the tax return.

You need to go to your employer and ask to complete a new W-4 and make sure you've chosen the correct number of allowances.  If you are single with no dependents, you shouldn't be claiming more than 1 allowance if you want to receive a refund at the end of the year.

New Member
May 31, 2019 5:08:57 PM

I'm single but claim 4. It shows a $4,314 refund with putting "$0" into the federal box. When I put a random # in the federal box it goes up.

New Member
May 31, 2019 5:08:59 PM

I am HOH, myself, my girlfriend and my son.

Alumni
May 31, 2019 5:09:01 PM

Ok, so you must have children and are receiving the Earned Income Credit.  

Yes, if you had more federal withholding it would have been refunded to you.

New Member
May 31, 2019 5:09:01 PM

Yes you're right the EIC for one child is $39,000. So does that technically mean I was exempt from federal tax withholdings?

Alumni
May 31, 2019 5:09:02 PM

Yes, you don't "need" any federal withholding in your situation.

New Member
May 31, 2019 5:09:03 PM

OK thank you I was worried for a minute! You've been very helpful!

New Member
May 31, 2019 5:09:07 PM

If you have kids you should still get something back

New Member
May 31, 2019 5:09:09 PM

We do we have a son. I'm contacting my employer today I was just curious if the refund amount was after the federal govt got their share out of it since I know that usually means you have to pay

Alumni
May 31, 2019 5:09:12 PM

The federal government didn't get any "share" of taxes from you.  They've given you free money in the form of earned income credit since your income is so low.

New Member
May 31, 2019 5:09:14 PM

OK well I switched jobs in September and my new jobs w2 shows federal taxes withheld. That means I'll be getting that back, correct? Since I was under the EIC limit?

Alumni
May 31, 2019 5:09:14 PM

Yes, if your income remains similar, any federal withholding on your paycheck will end up being refunded back to you when you file taxes next year.

New Member
May 31, 2019 5:09:16 PM

OK thank you!

Expert Alumni
Feb 22, 2020 5:32:30 AM

If you filed your W-4 for 2019 with zero allowances then your take home pay would be $61,640.

 

The employer should have withheld $6,356 for Federal if you claimed 0 allowances on your

W-4.

 

Since you have 3 children under the age of 17 you do have a $6,000 credit for your Federal tax liability.

 

So even if there was no Federal tax withheld you would still receive a refund.

 

Level 1
Feb 8, 2021 9:09:28 AM

I filled my w2 . but it shows in state refund 190 but federal is zero 

I have wife and one son 

that is mean I will not get any refund from federal 

that happens when I fills the stimulus 

Expert Alumni
Feb 8, 2021 10:09:56 AM

We cannot see your tax return and can only guess what is happening in your 2020 Federal 1040 tax return.

 

The refund/balance due amounts in the upper left hand corner only reflects the current status of your tax return.

 

If you are filing married filing jointly, your standard deduction of $24,800 is greater than your income of $15,456.

 

You would owe no tax but you receive no refund because you had no Federal taxes withheld.

  • It is possible that your dependent son could generate one or more credits.  Make sure that you answer the questions under Child and Other Dependent Tax Credit, and
  • Earned Income Credit (EIC).

These can be found be clicking on Federal down the left side of the screen, then Deductions & Credits across the top of the screen.

 

If you have not received either of the stimulus checks, you will receive your payment in the form of a Rebate Recovery Credit on line 30 of your 2020 Federal tax return when you file.

 

TurboTax will compare your one or two stimulus payment amounts to the computations within TurboTax.  The computations within TurboTax are based upon the information that you have entered into the tax software.  If you are due an additional amount, it will be issued as a Rebate Recovery Credit (RRC) on line 30 of the 2020 1040 tax return. 

 

In TurboTax Online, you are prompted to input stimulus check 1 and stimulus check 2 information under Review down the left hand side of the screen.

 

You can access your stimulus check choices by following these steps:  

  •  Down the left side of the screen, click on Federal.
  • Across the top of the screen, click on Other Tax Situations.
  • At the screen Let’s keep going to wrap up.  Click on Let’s keep going.
  • At the screen Let’s make sure you got the right stimulus amount, click Continue.
  • At the screen Did you get a stimulus payment? you can update your stimulus check entries. 

See also this TurboTax Help.