I am a qualify widow single mom of a 16 year old doing my taxes i made about18656 this year when i do the turbo calculator it said i am getting back more why is that

If you are a qualified surviving spouse and you have a 16 year old dependent, you get the standard deduction for a married couple filing a joint return---which is $27,700.  That means none of your income is taxable.  And you get the child tax credit and earned income credit which are refundable credits, in addition to any amounts that were withheld from your paychecks for federal income tax.

Look at your 2022 Form 1040 to see the child-related credits you received

PREVIEW 1040

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Child Tax Credit line 19

Credit for Other Dependents line 19

Earned Income Credit line 27

Additional Child Tax Credit line 28

Child and Dependent Care Credit line 31 (from line 2 of Schedule 3)

In addition to getting back your withholding (box 2 of your W-2), there are refundable credits available to tax filers with "qualifying child" dependents.  These credit amounts are shown on lines 27 and 28 of form 1040. They are the "Earned Income Credit" (EIC) and the "Additional" Child Tax Credit.

Be advised that you will not get either the Child Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit next year when you child dependent turns 17.  Instead, you will  get the other dependent credit, which is up to $500, but not refundable. It can only help reduce your tax liability. You will still get the EIC until your child turns 19 (24 if a full time student).