If the IRS decreased your Federal refund, you should get a postal
letter from them in about 3 weeks or so explaining why your Federal refund
is less than what you filed. The letter should also tell you steps you
can take if you disagree with their decision, including a contact number
for you to phone them if desired. The following help article will tell
you a bit more about possible causes, how to check for any offsets,
etc.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894477-why-did-my-federal-tax-refund-decrease-after-i-filed
The IRS has said:
"Examples
that could decrease your refund include math errors, mistakes,
delinquent federal taxes, state taxes, child support, student loans or
other delinquent federal nontax obligations, and when the IRS withholds a
portion of your refund, if further review is needed."
If you want to talk to the IRS before you receive the letter to see if you can learn anything, here's how: 800-829-1040 hours 7 AM - 7 PM local time Mon-Fri
- First choose your language. Press 1 for English.
- Then do not choose the first choice re: "Refund", or it will send you to an automated phone line.
- Instead, press 2 for "personal income tax".
- Then press 1 for "form, tax history, or payment".
- Then press 3 "for all other questions."
- Then press 2 "for all other questions." It should then transfer you to an agent, but there is likely to be a long wait.
I usually use a speaker phone so I can work on something else.
