I made 33k paid 2000$ in tax this year vs 18k and 1000$ in tax last year. My refund is 46$ this year vs 420$ last year. How can this be?

[mkhalla]

Wondering how it adds up that I paid twice as much tax this year vs last year, and am yet entitled to 10% the refund amount I received last year.

[SteamTrain · Accepted solution]

The standard deduction wiped out a lot of the 18k of income last year. (single: roughly 13k deducted so tax was ~ 10% of 5000, or ~$500 assessed) so a fair refund

The extra $$, from 18k-33k this year was all taxed, and new 2023 Std Ded is roughly 14k.  so 33k-14k = 19k taxable income . The first 11k is taxed at 10%, next 8k is taxed at 12%.....so you pay more. i.e.1,100 + 960 = $2,060 assessed.

But that's VERY Rough since your numbers are not exact.

More income = more paid in taxes.