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amwebb11
Level 1
Jun 4, 2019 9:14 PM UTC
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Why did my federal refund decrease so much when I put in the student loan interest I paid?

My federal refund was at a couple hundred dollars and then when I put in the student loan interest that I paid my AZ refund went up, but my federal refund went down to $52. Why is that?
Answer
Jun 4, 2019 9:14 PM UTC

Only $2,500 of student loan interest can be reported on a federal tax return. 

The student loan interest is entered as an Adjustment to Income, not a tax refund or credit. 

An adjustment to income reduces the Adjusted Gross Income thereby reducing the amount of taxable income.


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Anonymous
Answer
Jun 4, 2019 9:14 PM UTC

Only $2,500 of student loan interest can be reported on a federal tax return. 

The student loan interest is entered as an Adjustment to Income, not a tax refund or credit. 

An adjustment to income reduces the Adjusted Gross Income thereby reducing the amount of taxable income.


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