Let me try it this way. If you look at your W2 and federal taxes withheld are more than the $1,200 (say the $9,000 mentioned above), then you get $1,200 added to your small refund you mentioned above. Non-refundable doesn’t mean that you can’t get a refund at all. A refund before credits (which you said you were getting a small one) is the government returning your money that was withheld (W2 listed) in excess of what it turns out you owe. Some credits allow for you to get a “refund” even if that number ends up zero. As long as the number on your W2 exceeds $1,200 you will get $1,200 added to your refund. If it is say only $1,000 you should see only $1,000 added to your refund and the $200 would then not appear.
