@one26528 - okay - the numbers you pulled were correct; how the IRS calculated 'payments' in 2021 was different than 2020, so the math you presented is correct (CTC was part of payments in 2021 but not in 2020)
Your withholdings in 2020 were $27,755 and in 2021 the withholdings were only $18,911, so that is driving how the refund is calculated. Yes, had the 2021 withholdings held steady at $27,755 , then the refund for 2021 would have been a lot higher.
The refund is a function of
1) tax LESS
2) CTC LESS
3) withholdings
but since you withholdings were so much lower, in effect, you received part of the refund with each paycheck during the year.
it makes sense.
