If your refund is low this year it means that the way you filled out your W-4 form gave you more money in your pocket throughout the year versus the government keeping it (saving it) and giving you a larger refund at the end of the year.
The situations below are some of the most common reasons why you might be getting less of a refund. For example:
- Did you receive unemployment benefits, but didn’t have taxes withheld?
- Did you earn little or no income, so you didn’t qualify for the Earned Income Credit (unfortunately, unemployment doesn’t count as earned income)?
- Did you complete a 2021 W-4, which more closely matches your tax liability (amount of taxes you paid)?
- Did you sell stock?
- Did you take an early withdrawal from your retirement account?
- Did you pay less tuition due to school closures, so you can’t deduct as much?
To maximize your refund next year, invest, and/or pay taxes you might owe, consider some of these options:
- Fill out a new form W-4 to increase the amount of withholdings for a higher refund next year; or
- Instead of withholding more, put that same amount into a savings account, an IRA, or other tax-sheltered vehicle
- If you can’t pay taxes you owe for unemployment benefits in full, the IRS offers alternate payment options. If you’ve already filed, you can complete an Online Payment Agreement application or request a payment plan by phone at 800-829-1040
- If your refund is wildly off, double check the amounts you input (a dollar amount mistype can have a big impact on your refund)
Here are some other possible reasons for a year-over-year refund decrease:
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