I added my work expenses and child care expenses and my refund didn't update. what's going on?

[SweetieJean]

Are you  W-2 employee?

[shiggs1947]

Yes. I had to wait till today to get the rest of my info and when i updated it they said I had more deductions however the federal tax refund never changed

[Anita01 · Accepted solution]

Job expenses are an itemized deduction for federal tax purposes; they are not deductible by themselves.  You have to have enough itemized deductions in total to exceed your standard deduction before they benefit you in any way.  Without mortgage interest and property tax to deduct, it's hard to get above your standard deduction.  Even if you do have enough, but you are already getting back all the tax you had taken out o your W-2 income, you won't get a higher refund.  

The same is true of the child care credit.  You have to owe tax before it gives you back any money.  Once you are getting back all the income tax you had withheld, you can't increase your refund by adding more itemized deductions or more child care costs.

[SweetieJean]

and only the amount of job expenses that are in excess of 2% if AGI qualifes.