@Kamcginty - I think you misunderstand how the software and the Recovery Credit works:
TT looks at the number of people on your tax return and multiples by $1400 as the Recovery Credit. (I am keeping this simple and not worrying about those with higher incomes where the thresshold comes into play)
Then you enter what you actually received.
The DIFFERENCE, but not less than zero ends up on Line 30
But here is what I think the root cause is in many cases:
If you filed "joint", the IRS sent EACH spouse Letter 6475 confirming how much you received for the 3rd stimulus payment. When asked how much you received you were to enter the SUM of both letters. I suspect many didn't not realize the letters were not duplicates, but were to be added together and / or the spouse who completed the tax return didn't realize the other spouse also received a letter.
So if you filed "joint", TT multipled $1400 X 2 and calcuated $2800 of Recovery Credit
if you only entered that you received $1400, then TT put the DIFFERENCE or $1400 on Line 30.
Is that your scenario?
when the IRS reviews your tax return, it knows how much it sent you and compares that to what you stated you received. If they are not the same, the IRS adjusts your tax return (which reduces the refund) to match its records.
make sense?
