topic Hi: My refund is not per tax return computation by TurboTax. I don't owe any back taxes. Haven't received any explanation from IRS. How to find out why the discrepency? in After you file

Hi: My refund is not per tax return computation by TurboTax. I don't owe any back taxes. Haven't received any explanation from IRS. How to find out why the discrepency?

girigiri — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 10:45:23 GMT

My refund not per Turbo Tax computation. I don't owe any back taxes.
How to find out why there is a difference between Turbotax refund computation as submitted via Tax return and what IRS has refunded me?
I haven't received any notice or explanation letter. Please advise how to proceed.

Re: Hi: My refund is not per tax return computation by TurboTax. I don't owe any back taxes. Haven't received any explanation from IRS. How to find out why the discrepency?

VolvoGirl — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 17:29:50 GMT

Federal and state refunds come separately. How much is missing? The IRS will send you a letter why. Were you having the fees deducted from your refund? There is an extra $40 service fee to have the fees deducted.

I would check over your return and see if you can see anything wrong especially in the payments section. Make sure you agree with all the amounts listed. Like is the difference the same or close to the refund you got last year? Maybe you put down that you applied last year's refund to this year? Or you applied part of your refund to next year as an estimated payment. Or you put down you made a payment with an extension or paid an estimated payment that you didn't make?

Re: Hi: My refund is not per tax return computation by TurboTax. I don't owe any back taxes. Haven't received any explanation from IRS. How to find out why the discrepency?

girigiri — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 17:38:19 GMT

Hi Volvogirl:

Thank you for your input.

None of the items you have listed applies. Everything is in agreement and correct from Turbotax computation perspective.

How many days does it take for IRS to send the reason / explanation letter?

Do I need to specifically contact them for this or is it the part of the process for them to send out the explanation?

Regards,

Re: Hi: My refund is not per tax return computation by TurboTax. I don't owe any back taxes. Haven't received any explanation from IRS. How to find out why the discrepency?

girigiri — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 13:53:17 GMT

Does it take couple of weeks before I get explanation from IRS on why my refund is less than Turbo Tax computation?

Re: Hi: My refund is not per tax return computation by TurboTax. I don't owe any back taxes. Haven't received any explanation from IRS. How to find out why the discrepency?

xmasbaby0 — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 17:32:20 GMT

If the IRS changed something on your return and reduced your refund, it will take several weeks before you receive a letter from the IRS explaining the change.

MY REFUND WAS LESS THAN I EXPECTED

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/refunds/help/why-is-my-direct-deposited-refund-or-check-lower-than-the-amount-in-turbotax/00/25594

There can be a number of reasons why your refund was less than the amount you expected. First of all, look carefully at your actual tax returns. There is sometimes confusion about the amount of refund to expect when users misinterpret the “summary” they saw in TurboTax. The amount of your refund is on your tax return. Federal refund is on line 35a on Form 1040 State tax forms are all different so we cannot tell you what line to look at on your state form. BUT it is important to actually LOOK at your tax return forms yourself and see the amounts of your tax refunds and/or tax due. A lot of confusion would be avoided by doing that.

Be aware also that your Federal refund and state refund do NOT come together. Federal and state tax returns are processed by two completely separate entities. There is no rule as to which one will come first,

It is also possible that your state reduced your refund for debts owed in your state—if the state reduced your state refund you will receive a letter from the state.

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 $40 or $45 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?

refund offset.

https://www.irs.gov/uac/tax-refund-offsets-pay-unpaid-debts

IRS Treasury Offset Program Call Center at 1-800-304-3107

https://www.irs.gov/uac/tax-refund-offsets-pay-unpaid-debts

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/refunds/help/what-is-a-refund-offset/00/26301

Reduced Refund https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc203

NOTE: You can contact the IRS Treasury Offset Program Call Center at 1-800-304-3107 to ask if they have an offset for you on file. TurboTax would not have that information.

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/tax-payments/who-can-garnish-an-income-tax-refund/L7cPPzDyc

TurboTax does not receive feedback from the IRS regarding money that was offset from your refund. If you owed back taxes or child support, you will receive a letter of explanation from the IRS in several weeks. The WMR site will contain a message regarding your offset. It is also possible that the IRS caught a mistake you made and reduced your refund.