Why was my return amount different than what was estimated?

zapata526 — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 06:45:08 GMT

Why was my return amount different than what was estimated? I wasn't given a reason for the difference, but it was about $5000 less than TurboTax estimated and shown that was accepted. I would like to know what happened.

Re: Why was my return amount different than what was estimated?

bluedeb — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 16:40:40 GMT

No one here can tell you why your return was changed which caused you to receive less refund. Only the IRS (& State, if any) would know what they changed. You will be receiving a letter explaining the changes to your return and what you can do if you don't agree with the change. The letter can take 6 to 8 weeks to receive.

You can also call the IRS for more information.

IRS Toll-Free Help

You may call 800-829-1040 with any Federal tax questions.

Re: Why was my return amount different than what was estimated?

xmasbaby0 — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 17:02:15 GMT

TurboTax does not get any information from the IRS after you file your tax return, so no one at TT knows why your refund was less.

Sometimes we can make an educated guess as to the reason for your reduced refund if you mention specific amounts--for example if your refund was short by $1400 per person---it is likely to be a mix up regarding the 3rd EIP payment. If you received the 3rd stimulus check of $1400 per person in 2021 then you got letter 6475 from the IRS about it. You needed to enter the amount you received. If you already received that money then line 30 on your Form 1040 should have been blank.

If it is short by $1800 or $1500 or a multiple of that amount --- maybe a mixup regarding the advance child tax credit payments. If you received monthly child tax credit payments of $250 or $300 per month between July and December of 2021, then you got letter 6419 from the IRS, and you were required to enter the amount of the advance payments. Only the remaining amount of the CTC should have been on line 28 of your Form 1040.

The IRS knows how much they sent to you for the 3rd stimulus check and they know how much they sent for advance child tax credit payments. If you answered something incorrectly on your tax return then the IRS made a correction that resulted in a reduced refund for you.

Or---the fees you were supposed to pay for using TurboTax + the "refund processing fee" charged by the third party bank….

Did you choose to have TT fees deducted from your Federal refund? (Remember that if you did that, you also agreed to an extra refund processing fee of $39.99 or $44.99 in CA)

How can I see my TurboTax fees?

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2565973-how-do-i-review-my-fees-in-turbotax-online

What is Refund Processing Service?

The IRS will send you a letter that explains why your refund was reduced or why you owe more. Meanwhile it might help you to check your online IRS account.

https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account

https://blog.turbotax.intuit.com/tax-refunds/why-is-my-tax-refund-not-what-i-expected-49240/

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/questions-and-answers-about-the-third-round-economic-impact-payment-topic-j-payment-issued-but-lost-stolen-destroyed-or-not-received

topic Why was my return amount different than what was estimated? in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Why was my return amount different than what was estimated?

Re: Why was my return amount different than what was estimated?

Re: Why was my return amount different than what was estimated?