I checked mine. I had also Net investment tax on schedule 2 from 8960. It went to 1040 line 23 and is included on line 24 total tax. My line 34 & 35a are the same amount. I have the Windows Home & Business program. The only way line 35a could be less than 34 is if you applied some refund to next year on line 36 or had a tax penalty on line 38, which is possible even if you had a refund.
I had a refund once and still had a penalty for not paying in evenly during the year.
If you do not pay in enough tax from withholding and estimates, you may have to pay a penalty for underpayment of estimated tax. Even if you are getting a refund you can still owe a penalty for not paying in evenly during the year. Generally, most taxpayers will avoid this penalty if they owe less than $1,000 in tax after subtracting their withholdings and credits, or if they paid at least 90% of the tax for the current year, or 100% of the tax shown on the return for the prior year, whichever is smaller. It is included in your tax due or reduces your refund.
You might be able to eliminate it or at least reduce it. You can go to Federal Taxes tab or Personal tab, under Other Tax Situations and select Start by the Underpayment Penalties. You will answer a series of questions that may reduce or eliminate the penalty. Or you can elect to have the IRS figure the penalty for you. It's form 2210.
How to add form 2210 for Underpayment Penalty
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-payments/help/how-do-i-add-form-2210/00/25703
It's under
Federal or Personal (for Home & Business Desktop)
Other Tax Situations
Additional Tax Payments
Underpayment Penalties - Click the Start or update button
If you have the desktop program you can switch to Forms Mode (click forms in the upper right (left for Mac)) and open the 2210 form. If the 2210 doesn't show up in the left column, click on Open Forms at the top of the left column. Type 2210 in the search box and open the 2210 form. Check box C to let the IRS calculate it.
