My return was reduced

dpierson — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 05:09:00 GMT

I got a letter from the irs that said they changed my return due to a dependent ssi was wrong but it’s not what do I do I payed extra money for turbo tax to do my taxes can they help me

Re: My return was reduced

xmasbaby0 — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 15:54:26 GMT

Sounds like you got the generic message that includes several possible reasons for a reduced refund. In most cases, the reason is a mistake made with the recovery rebate credit or the child tax credit. So you are going to need to look at your Form 1040 lines 28 and 30.

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.

You have not mentioned any specific amounts. 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.

The IRS will send you a letter that explains why your refund was reduced. 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

If you need to trace a payment that the IRS says has been issued to you, mail or fax a completed IRS Form 3911, Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund.

Updated IRS FAQ about recovery rebate credit

https://www.irs.gov/pub/taxpros/fs-2022-27.pdf

Re: My return was reduced

SweetieJean — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 22:14:34 GMT

dependent ssi was wrong

Do you mean your dependent's SSN (Social Security Number)? SSI stands for Supplemental Security Income, which is not reported on a tax return.

Re: My return was reduced

NCperson — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 22:19:07 GMT

@dpierson most every post about an adjusted tax return has to do with Line 28 or Line 30 of Form 1040

1) what is the EXACT amounf of the IRS adjustment?

2) what is on Line 28 of Form 1040?

3) what is on Line 30 of Form 1040?

If you respond we can probably figure out what went sideways....

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