It is possible that you did not receive a refund because your tax credits (e.g. W-2 withholding, estimated tax payments) and deductions were equal to or less than your tax liability.
Tax liability means the amount
that you were expected to pay during the year. For example, your yearly
payroll statement or Form W-2 reflect income tax withholding of $9,000. After
calculating your taxable income, your tax liability is $9,000. This will result in a "wash," which means the government doesn't owe you a refund and you don't owe the government.
Now, let's say for instance your withholding is $9,000 but your tax liability is $10,000 then you will owe $1,000 to the government because you did not have enough withheld from your pay during the year.
