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Im confused because when I add my w2s in they keep subtracting more money from our refund. I would think adding the w2 would add money. Can you please help me understand

we have four total w2
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Im confused because when I add my w2s in they keep subtracting more money from our refund. I would think adding the w2 would add money. Can you please help me understand

More income = higher tax and usually less refund.

 

Because we have a progressive tax system.  The more total income you make you pay a higher percent for tax.

 

You only get one refund or tax due for all your income combined.  The Refund Monitors won't be right until you have entered all your income.  So don't look at it until you are done.

 

That's common.  It just looks that way because you put them in as separate W2s and saw the tax due change in between them. If it all was on one W2 you would get the same answer. And each job was withholding like it was your only job.

 

Because you only get one standard deduction no matter how many W2s you put in. Turbo Tax starts out by giving you the Standard Deduction.  You entered more income when you entered the second W2 but you didn't enter more deductions.  And each job only withheld taxes like it was your only job for the year.  You might want to adjust your withholding.  Also as you add more income you might not be getting as many credits as before like the EIC credit.  And it was probably giving you the EIC credit until you went over.

 

See,   https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/refunds/help/why-did-my-refund-drop-when-i-entered-a-second-w-2/00...

 

 

When you first start your return in Turbo Tax, we’ve already applied the Standard Deduction which means many people will see an artificially high refund after entering that first W-2.

 

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2 Replies

Im confused because when I add my w2s in they keep subtracting more money from our refund. I would think adding the w2 would add money. Can you please help me understand

Im confused because when I add my w2s in they keep subtracting more money from our refund. I would think adding the w2 would add money. Can you please help me understand

More income = higher tax and usually less refund.

 

Because we have a progressive tax system.  The more total income you make you pay a higher percent for tax.

 

You only get one refund or tax due for all your income combined.  The Refund Monitors won't be right until you have entered all your income.  So don't look at it until you are done.

 

That's common.  It just looks that way because you put them in as separate W2s and saw the tax due change in between them. If it all was on one W2 you would get the same answer. And each job was withholding like it was your only job.

 

Because you only get one standard deduction no matter how many W2s you put in. Turbo Tax starts out by giving you the Standard Deduction.  You entered more income when you entered the second W2 but you didn't enter more deductions.  And each job only withheld taxes like it was your only job for the year.  You might want to adjust your withholding.  Also as you add more income you might not be getting as many credits as before like the EIC credit.  And it was probably giving you the EIC credit until you went over.

 

See,   https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/refunds/help/why-did-my-refund-drop-when-i-entered-a-second-w-2/00...

 

 

When you first start your return in Turbo Tax, we’ve already applied the Standard Deduction which means many people will see an artificially high refund after entering that first W-2.

 

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