topic Re: Why did my tax return decrease with two w2s, when they are more money separate? in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Why did my tax return decrease with two w2s, when they are more money separate?

akrebs80 — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 06:08:48 GMT

When I insert the w2 by themselves, there is a bigger tax return. When they are both filed it drastically goes down.

Re: Why did my tax return decrease with two w2s, when they are more money separate?

CatinaT1 — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 20:42:39 GMT

These are the most common things that effect your refund or balance due:

The amount of federal and/or state withholding;
Income based credits, such as the Earned Income credit;
Tax bracket changes
Change in Filing Status;
Change in dependents claimed;
No longer have a child, under age 17, to claim the Child Tax Credit
Self-employment income generates a self-employment tax as well as income taxes.

Here is a TurboTax Help Article that will give you more information.

Re: Why did my tax return decrease with two w2s, when they are more money separate?

Mike9241 — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 20:53:59 GMT

More W-2 income pushes the income into higher tax brackets. Evidently, the additional withholding was not sufficient to cover the additional taxes.

Re: Why did my tax return decrease with two w2s, when they are more money separate?

xmasbaby0 — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 20:56:15 GMT

WHY DID MY REFUND GO DOWN WHEN I ADDED ANOTHER W-2?

You started off with your first W-2 and your refund looked high? Then you added another W-2 and it stopped looking so good? That is normal. When you added more income, your tax liability increased, so you saw your refund decrease. The program began by giving you your standard deduction—- which lowered your taxable income. (if you are filing joint it took $29,200 off your income right off the bat) So you are not being taxed on as much of the income on that first W-2. Then you added taxable income--so the refund went down. Your refund (or tax due) is based on the total of your income, not “per W-2.”

And…adding income may affect other credits you were getting like the earned income credit.

Wait until you have entered ALL of your income and credit/deduction information. You can't really tell anything until it is all entered. That “refund monitor” does not mean anything until everything has been entered.

WHY DID MY REFUND DROP WHEN I ADDED ANOTHER W-2?

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-refund/refund-drop-entered-second-w-2/L4wmMMBCs_US_en_US?uid=m6csd0x4